Top Safety Pick +Top Safety Pick criteria

2024 Nissan Pathfinder

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles built after November 2023

2024 Nissan Pathfinder 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front
Moderate overlap front: original test
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Standard system

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use
+

Other available safety features

  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • Good
  • Acceptable
  • Marginal
  • Poor

Small overlap front

The small overlap front evaluation consists of a driver-side and a passenger-side component. If the results of the two evaluations differ, then the combined small overlap rating is equal to the lower rating.

Driver-side

  • Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Pathfinder S 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 were redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one year absence from the market. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 Pathfinder conducted by Nissan.

Overall driver-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN2111
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Footrest (cm) 6
Left toepan (cm) 2
Brake pedal (cm) 4
Parking brake (cm) 0
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 6

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN2111
Head
HIC-15 109
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.16
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 0.3
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.54
Right 0.36
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 0.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 38
Right 46

Passenger-side

  • Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Pathfinder S 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 were redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one year absence from the market. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 Pathfinder conducted by Nissan.

Overall passenger-side evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP2114
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 12
Footrest (cm) 9
Right toepan (cm) 5
Center toepan (cm) 4
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 8
Upper dash (cm) 6
Right lower dash (cm) 4

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2114
Head
HIC-15 95
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 13
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.28
Right 0.39
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.3
Right 1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 29
Right 67

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2114
Head
HIC-15 27
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.15
Chest maximum compression (mm) 27
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.26
Right 0.19
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.9
Right no data
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 28
Right 35

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2022-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Pathfinder S 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 were redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one year absence from the market. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2022 Pathfinder conducted by Nissan.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF2111
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 6
Left (cm) 8
Center (cm) 7
Right (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 1
Right (cm) 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 3
Rearward (cm) -3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF2111
Head
HIC-15 174
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.4
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.7
Femur force - right (kN) 0.8
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.29
Maximum tibia index - right 0.30
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 57

About the original moderate overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2024-25 models built after November 2023

Tested vehicle: 2024 Nissan Pathfinder SL4-door 4wd

The Nissan Pathfinder was redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one year absence from the market. Beginning with 2024 models, built after November 2023, improvements were made to the rear seat belts to improve occupant protection in moderate overlap front with rear occupant crashes. (Information about when a specific vehicle was manufactured is on the certification label typically affixed to the car on the driver door or adjacent B-pillar.) These ratings do not apply to the Infiniti QX60.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head approached the front seatback, which increases the risk of head injuries.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a low risk of injury to the head or neck and chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt remained in the ideal position on the pelvis.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2413
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 7
Left (cm) 10
Center (cm) 10
Right (cm) 8
Brake pedal (cm) 5
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3
Rearward (cm) -3
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2413
Head
HIC-15 123
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 14
Maximum Nij 0.29
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 1.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.36
Right 0.42
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.8
Right 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 55
Right 43

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2413
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.8
Compression (kN) 0.0
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 34
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 4.2
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.1
Right femur compression 0.1

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Nissan Pathfinder SV 4-door 4wd

The Nissan Pathfinder and Infiniti QX60 were redesigned for the 2022 model year after a one year absence from the market.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2210
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -14.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2210
Head
HIC-15 125
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 16
Lateral force (kN) 0.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 24
Average deflection (mm) 21
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.36
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.17
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 5.2

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2210
Head
HIC-15 65
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 14
Lateral force (kN) 0.8
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 19
Average deflection (mm) 16
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.61
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.15
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.6

About the side crash test

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp left and both right curves and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was fair on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and fair on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2022-25 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 95.2 m None
Straightaway left edge 51.9 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 60.7 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 49.1 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 47.7 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 46.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 137.1 m
Straightaway left edge 139.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 78.7 m
250m radius left curve, right edge 72.6 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 56.5 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 57.2 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: pedestrian

Rating applies to all 2024-25 models

System details

  • standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection
Overall evaluation
Includes high-beam assist credit

Crossing child — day

  • In the 12 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 11 mph.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult — night

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult — night

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams and a warning was issued 1.7 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision and a warning was issued 1.5 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2022-25 models

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimSV
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 3 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 2 additional seating positions with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trimSV
Seat type cloth
1 3 6 4 5
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
4
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
5
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
6
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 5
Clearance angle (degrees) 88
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 7
Clearance angle (degrees) 85
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 7
Clearance angle (degrees) 81
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 5
Clearance angle (degrees) 80
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 31

6

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 12
Clearance angle (degrees) 82
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 18
Clearance angle (degrees) 81
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 32

5

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 33

4

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation