2025 Buick Enclave vs 2025 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2025 Buick Enclave presented a bold and modern design, reminiscent of the Envista with its sharp lines and angular grille. Its exterior was characterized by slim DRLs and a high beltline, giving it a more assertive presence compared to its predecessor. The Enclave's side profile was slightly more generic, but the overall design was less cluttered, featuring fewer creases and a more upright profile. Standard 20-inch wheels on the base and Sport Touring trims, with the Avenir trim boasting 22-inch wheels, added to its commanding look. Inside, the Enclave offered a premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display, echoing the futuristic design often seen in EVs. The Sport Touring trim featured perforated leatherette seats with contrast piping, enhancing the interior's upscale ambiance. However, the limited availability of a panoramic sunroof was a drawback, especially for a near-luxury SUV.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, tested in challenging snowy conditions near Mount Rainier, showcased its rugged capabilities, particularly in the Rock Creek trim. Equipped with 3-Peak Mud-and-Snow-rated tires and standard AWD, the Pathfinder handled the terrain with ease. Its design was robust, featuring an assertive front end and protective cladding, with the Rock Creek trim adding a mesh-patterned grille and stacked LED lights. Despite its adventurous look, the Pathfinder was a unibody crossover, lacking additional ground clearance or skid plates. Inside, the Pathfinder offered a comfortable experience with cloth seats in lower trims and leatherette in the Rock Creek. The interior was spacious, accommodating four adults and their gear comfortably during a ski trip. The Pathfinder's EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy access to the third row, even with a car seat in place, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2025 Buick Enclave was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in both FWD and AWD configurations, with the latter costing an additional $2,000. The Enclave's fuel economy was slightly affected by the AWD option, dropping from 23 to 21 mpg combined. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave featured Active Noise Cancellation, with the engine noise version standard only on the top trim. The turbo engine was noted for its loudness and tendency to rev, making the noise cancellation a worthwhile consideration. The Enclave drove like a full-size vehicle, with noticeable bulk and loose steering at lower speeds, which was typical for its class.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque in most trims, while the Rock Creek trim offered 295 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque with premium fuel. The engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth shifts. The Pathfinder's towing capacity reached 6,000 pounds with the Platinum and Rock Creek trims, thanks to a standard transmission oil cooler. The Pathfinder's ride was soft, suitable for light off-roading but less composed on twisty roads. Its fuel economy was competitive, with the Rock Creek trim achieving 20 mpg city, 23 highway, and 21 combined. The Pathfinder featured seven drive modes, including a dedicated snow mode, which proved effective in snowy conditions.

The 2025 Buick Enclave offered a spacious interior with eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger. It accommodated up to seven passengers with standard captain's chairs in the second row. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with the Avenir trim adding heated second-row seats and front-row ventilation. The Enclave featured tri-zone climate control, and the top trim offered power-folding second and third-row seats. The AutoSense liftgate provided easy access to the cargo area, which offered 22.9 cubic feet of space with all seats in place, expanding to 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, while not offering as much cargo space as some competitors, provided ample room for passengers and gear. It offered 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 80.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Pathfinder featured three-zone climate control and comfortable seating, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver's seat in the Rock Creek trim. The EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy access to the third row, even with a car seat in place. The Rock Creek trim came with captain's chairs and a removable center console in the second row, enhancing its practicality for families.

The 2025 Buick Enclave stood out with its technology offerings, featuring a standard 30-inch curved display integrating the infotainment system and digital gauge cluster. It included a 12-speaker Bose audio system, with the Avenir trim upgrading to a 16-speaker system. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. The Enclave offered wired charging with USB ports in each row.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder's technology was less impressive, with an older interface compared to some competitors. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen in lower trims and a 9-inch screen in higher trims, with wireless Apple CarPlay available only on the latter. A 6-speaker stereo was standard, with a 13-speaker Bose system available on higher trims. The Pathfinder included four USB ports, with additional ports in higher trims. Navigation was standard only on the SL and Platinum trims, and a head-up display was exclusive to the Platinum.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision and adaptive cruise control were standard, with Super Cruise available as an option. The 2024 Enclave received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and performed well in most IIHS tests.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with a range of advanced driver assistance systems, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and rear automatic braking. Adaptive cruise control and ProPilot Assist were standard on all but the base trim, with traffic sign recognition available on higher trims.