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 Traverse doesn't offer knee airbags.

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 Traverse doesn't offer front seat center airbags.

With its standard Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, the Nissan Pathfinder is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Chevrolet Traverse, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

Both the Pathfinder and the Traverse have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact 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, 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 Chevrolet Traverse:

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

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Pathfinder is safer than the Traverse:

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 Chevrolet Traverse:

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 1.9% to 3% less likely to roll over than the Traverse.

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 Traverse is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

The Pathfinder's corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Traverse's (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked fifth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports' March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Nissan 4 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the Chevrolet Traverse:

On the EPA test cycle the Pathfinder gets better mileage than the Traverse:

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 Traverse.

For better stopping power the Pathfinder's brake rotors are larger than those on the Traverse:

The Pathfinder's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Traverse LT's standard 65 series tires.

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 Traverse doesn't offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder's turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Traverse's (37.4 feet vs. 39 feet). The Pathfinder's turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the Traverse with 22-inch wheels' (37.4 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Pathfinder has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Traverse (7.1 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Pathfinder to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Pathfinder is 6.8 inches shorter than the Traverse, making the Pathfinder easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Pathfinder has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Traverse doesn't offer seats that fold into the floor.

A standard locking glovebox (which can't be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Pathfinder. The Traverse doesn't offer locking storage for small valuables.

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

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and incoming text message readouts in front of the driver's line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Traverse doesn't offer a heads-up display.

The Pathfinder's front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Traverse's passenger windows don't close automatically.

The Pathfinder's standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn't have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Traverse's standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Pathfinder to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Traverse doesn't offer rear side window sunshades.

The Nissan Pathfinder has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the infotainment. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Traverse RS/High Country.