Compare the2026 Nissan PathfinderVS 2026 Lexus TX

The Nissan Pathfinder has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The TX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The TX doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Pathfinder and the TX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Pathfinder is safer than the Lexus TX:

	Pathfinder	TX
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	150	218
Neck Injury Risk	31%	39.3%
Neck Stress	348 lbs.	355 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	156/136 lbs.	331/316 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	312	356
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	236/309 lbs.	384/277 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Nissan Pathfinder is safer than the TX:

	Pathfinder	TX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	109	112
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Femur Force R/L	.7/.3 kN	3.5/1.3 kN
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.54/.36	.69/.57

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Pathfinder is safer than the Lexus TX:

	Pathfinder	TX
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	39 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	17 inches
HIC	234	344
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	466 lbs.	823 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Pathfinder is 1.4% to 1.9% less likely to roll over than the TX.

The Nissan Pathfinder has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The TX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

There are over 4 times as many Nissan dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pathfinder’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Pathfinder third among upper midsize SUVs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The TX isn’t in the top three in its category.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the TX 350:

	Pathfinder	TX
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.3 MPH	88.8 MPH

On the EPA test cycle the Pathfinder 4WD with its standard engine gets better fuel mileage than the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder 8-speed Auto AWD running its gasoline engine (21 city/26 hwy vs. 20 city/26 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Nissan Pathfinder uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended on Pathfinder Rock Creek for maximum performance). The TX requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Pathfinder has 4 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 550h+’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Pathfinder has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The TX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Pathfinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the TX.

For better stopping power the Pathfinder’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the TX:

	Pathfinder	TX
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.3 inches

The Pathfinder has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The TX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Pathfinder is 5.4 inches shorter than the TX, making the Pathfinder easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Pathfinder has standard seating for 8 passengers; the TX can only carry up to 7.

The Pathfinder has .9 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front legroom, 1.8 inches more front hip room, .8 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom, 1 inch more third row hip room and 1 inch more third row shoulder room than the TX.

Maximum trailer towing in the Lexus TX is limited to 5000 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Nissan Pathfinder outsold the Lexus TX by 77% during 2025.