2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2025 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E retained its distinctive and sharp styling, with an aggressive front fascia and a sloping profile that maintained the Mustang's iconic tri-bar tail lights. The 2024 update included refreshed lamps to match the signature lighting of the seventh-generation Ford Mustang, while other changes focused on individual trims. The new Rally trim emerged as the top-of-the-line model, featuring unique styling elements like LED fog lamps, a black roof, and Oxford White 19-inch wheels that paid homage to rally racing. The interior continued with a minimalist design, highlighted by a large touchscreen and Ford Performance front seats, which were standard on the GT and Rally trims.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, redesigned for the 2022 model year, presented a robust and adventurous look, especially in the Rock Creek trim. Equipped with 3-Peak Mud-and-Snow-rated tires and standard all-wheel drive, it was well-suited for off-road adventures. The Rock Creek trim featured a V-Motion grille with mesh patterns, stacked LED lighting, and a metal roof rack, emphasizing its rugged appeal. Inside, the Pathfinder offered a comfortable experience with leatherette-and-cloth upholstery in the Rock Creek trim, while higher trims boasted full leather and quilted semi-aniline leather seats. Despite its unibody crossover design, the Pathfinder maintained a capable appearance, though it lacked additional ground clearance and protective skid plates.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E continued to deliver a sporty driving experience, with a firm ride and tight steering feel. The GT trim, equipped with a MagneRide damping system, offered adjustable drive modes and a Performance Upgrade package that increased torque to 700 lb-ft, maintaining 480 horsepower. This translated to impressive acceleration, with a zero-to-60-mph time of 3.3 seconds. The Mach-E's range varied by trim, with the base model offering 250 miles and the Premium trim reaching 320 miles. The GT and Rally trims, with all-wheel drive, provided ranges of 280 and 265 miles, respectively. Ford also improved the DC fast-charging experience, reducing charging times by about 20%.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower in most trims, while the Rock Creek trim offered 295 horsepower. Despite the power difference, the Rock Creek's all-terrain tires affected acceleration. A nine-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts, and the Rock Creek and Platinum trims included a transmission oil cooler, increasing towing capacity to 6,000 pounds. The Pathfinder's ride was soft, suitable for light off-roading, but less composed on twisty roads. Fuel economy for the Rock Creek trim was 20 mpg city, 23 highway, and 21 combined, with other 4WD trims achieving slightly better efficiency.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E excelled in interior space, offering 34.1 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 59.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The frunk added convenience with its drainable design. The Mach-E provided ample headroom and legroom, with power-adjustable seats standard across trims. ActiveX seating surfaces, with Miko inserts and performance-inspired perforation, were standard, enhancing comfort and style.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, while smaller than some competitors, offered ample interior space. During a ski trip, it comfortably accommodated four adults and their gear. Cargo space measured 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 80.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Pathfinder featured three-zone climate control and comfortable seating, with the Rock Creek trim offering 10-way power adjustment for the driver's seat. The EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy access to the third row without removing car seats.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E came standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, operating through a 15.5-inch touchscreen with Ford's SYNC 4A software. The system included Intelligent Range, a cloud-based feature that provided real-time range updates. While screen-based controls were prevalent, the Mach-E's user experience could be improved with automatic self-dismissal of full-screen interfaces.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder's technology lagged behind some competitors, with an older interface compared to other Nissans. The Pathfinder featured an 8-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 9-inch screen in higher trims, supporting Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 6-speaker stereo was standard, with a 13-speaker Bose system available on higher trims. Navigation was limited to the SL and Platinum trims, and a head-up display was exclusive to the Platinum.

The 2024 Ford Mustang Mach-E offered BlueCruise 1.3, a hands-free highway-driving assist software, available on all trims. The Ford CoPilot 360 suite included advanced driver-assistance technologies like blind-spot monitoring, pre-collision assist, and adaptive cruise control. The Mach-E earned a Top Safety Pick Award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control and ProPilot Assist were standard on all but the base trim, with traffic sign recognition available on higher trims.