The Pathfinder is looking like more of a niche vehicle with each passing year.
More carlike choices such as the Ford Edge, Honda Pilot, Chevrolet Traverse, or Nissan's own Murano are simply better choices if you plan to carry passengers more often than serious towing or off-roading.
But among tough truck-based alternatives, the Toyota 4Runner was redesigned just two years ago, and it's better appointed inside and offers a bit more comfort.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee has smooth, responsive powertrains, a well-tuned chassis, and top-notch safety, and it's quite possibly the best vehicle in this class for those who need to tow but don't want to give up luxury.
The Dodge Durango is closely related to the Grand Cherokee and is another good alternative for those who need solid towing ability but plan to keep it mostly to streets and highways.
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 2012 Nissan PathfinderBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Ford ExplorerBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Jeep Grand CherokeeBrowse Used Listings |  2012 Toyota 4RunnerBrowse Used Listings |
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| Quick Specs | |||
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The 2012 Nissan Pathfinder appeals to those who need tow or off-road, yet occasionally carry passengers; if it's the other way around, you can do better. |
It's a rifle shot at the heart of the crossover market: the 2012 Ford Explorer gives any SUV loyalist a reason to leap off their very high horse. |
The 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee only gets better this year with the addition of the SRT8's thundering HEMI V-8. |
The brawny 2012 Toyota 4Runner targets off-road purists who sometimes need to haul the family—and it's better on the highway than you might think. |
| MSRP From | |||
| $29,290 | $28,280 | $27,195 | $31,090 |
| Gas Mileage | |||
| 13 MPG City / 22 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 25 MPG Hwy | 12 MPG City / 23 MPG Hwy | 17 MPG City / 23 MPG Hwy |
| Engine | |||
| Gas V6 | Gas V6 | Gas/Ethanol V6 | Gas V6 |
| EPA Class | |||
| 2WD Sport Utility | Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD | 2WD Sport Utility Vehicle | Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD |
| Style Name | |||
| 2WD 4-Door V6 S | FWD 4-Door Base | RWD 4-Door Laredo | RWD 4-Door V6 SR5 (GS) |
| Drivetrain | |||
| Rear Wheel Drive | Front Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Passenger Capacity | |||
| 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Passenger Doors | |||
| N/A | N/A | 4 | N/A |
| Body Style | |||
| Sport Utility | Sport Utility Vehicle | Sport Utility Vehicle | Sport Utility Vehicle |
| Transmission | |||
| Automatic | Automatic w/manual shift | Automatic | Automatic w/Manual Shift |
| Detailed Spec Comparison | |||
| 2012 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2012 Ford Explorer | 2012 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 2012 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2012 Toyota 4Runner | |
