2025 Dodge Durango vs 2025 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a wide price range, starting at approximately $43,000 for the base GT model with a V6 engine and rear-wheel drive, and reaching nearly $100,000 for the SRT Hellcat with a supercharged V8 engine and all-wheel drive. The SRT Hellcat Premium model, equipped with the Silver Bullet special edition package, featured Triple Nickel paint and additional visual enhancements like a satin black hood and dark badges, bringing its MSRP to $115,315. Inside, the SRT Hellcat maintained a subdued aesthetic with dark red premium Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner, though some plastic surfaces detracted from the overall luxury feel.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, tested in the challenging conditions near Mount Rainier National Park, showcased its capability in snowy terrain. The Rock Creek trim, equipped with 3-Peak Mud-and-Snow-rated Toyo Open Country AT3 tires and standard all-wheel drive, excelled in traction. Redesigned for the 2022 model year, the Pathfinder featured an assertive front end and protective cladding, with the Rock Creek trim adding a V-Motion grille and stacked LED lighting. Despite its rugged appearance, the Pathfinder remained a unibody crossover, lacking additional ground clearance and protective skid plates. Inside, the Rock Creek trim offered leatherette-and-cloth upholstery with bright orange logos, and the Pathfinder's interior was generally comfortable, though not cutting-edge in terms of technology.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a simplified lineup with three engine options: a 295-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 for the GT, a 360-hp 5.7-liter V8 for the R/T, and a 710-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 for the SRT Hellcat. All models used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with rear-wheel drive standard on the GT and all-wheel drive standard on the R/T and SRT Hellcat. The SRT Hellcat's engine delivered 645 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and towing up to 8,700 pounds. However, its fuel economy was poor, rated at 12/17/13 mpg city/highway/combined. The Durango SRT Hellcat featured a full-time AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes, offering a track-ready performance.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder came with a single engine option: a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. The S, SV, SL, and Platinum trims produced 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque, while the Rock Creek trim offered 295 hp and 270 lb-ft. A nine-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous CVT, providing smooth shifts. The Pathfinder's maximum towing capacity reached 6,000 pounds with the Platinum and Rock Creek trims, thanks to a transmission oil cooler. The Rock Creek trim's soft suspension suited light off-roading but resulted in a floaty ride on twisty roads. Fuel economy for the Rock Creek was 20/23/21 mpg city/highway/combined, with 4WD standard and seven drive modes available.

The 2025 Dodge Durango excelled in form and function, offering a roomy and comfortable interior. The SRT Hellcat Premium model featured heated and ventilated front seats with Nappa leather, though the performance seats lacked secure support during spirited driving. The second-row captain's chairs provided good leg support, and the third-row seat offered ample room for adults. The Durango's cargo space measured 17.2 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 43.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 85.1 cubic feet. A power liftgate and thoughtful storage solutions added to its practicality.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, while not offering as much cargo capacity as some competitors, provided ample interior space. During a three-day ski trip, it comfortably accommodated four adults and their gear. The Pathfinder offered 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 45 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 80.5 cubic feet with both rows down. The Rock Creek trim featured captain's chairs and a removable center console in the second row. The EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy access to the third row without removing car seats, enhancing its family-friendly design.

The 2025 Dodge Durango featured a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a native navigation system. The system included SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, Dodge Connect, and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The SRT Hellcat came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system, and the SRT Performance Pages allowed tracking of performance metrics. The voice recognition system worked well, though it required specificity in commands.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder's technology lagged behind some competitors, with an older interface compared to the new Google OS in the Nissan Rogue. The Pathfinder's screen sizes ranged from 8 inches in lower trims to 9 inches in SL and Platinum trims. The SL trim could be optioned with a 13-speaker Bose system, standard on the Platinum. NissanConnect supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless projection available only on the 9-inch screen for Apple devices. Voice recognition, Bluetooth connectivity, and SiriusXM satellite radio were standard, but navigation was limited to higher trims.

The 2025 Dodge Durango's safety features were limited, with standard forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and trailer detection. The Durango earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a three-star rollover resistance rating for AWD models. The IIHS had concerns about its small overlap frontal-impact test performance.

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, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and rear automatic braking. Adaptive cruise control and ProPilot Assist were standard on all but the base S trim. Traffic sign recognition was standard on the SL and Platinum trims.