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 Palisade doesn't offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Both the Pathfinder and the Palisade have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, 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 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 Palisade:

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

There are over 25 percent more Nissan dealers than there are Hyundai dealers, which makes it 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 Palisade 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 Hyundai vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan second in initial quality, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Hyundai is ranked third.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2025 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are more reliable than Hyundai With 7 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Nissan higher than Hyundai.

The Pathfinder Rock Creek's standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 8 more horsepower (295 vs. 287) and 10 lbs.-ft. more torque (270 vs. 260) than the Palisade's standard 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the Hyundai Palisade V6:

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

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 Palisade 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 Palisade.

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

The Pathfinder stops shorter than the Palisade:

For better traction, the Pathfinder has larger tires than the Palisade (255/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

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 Palisade'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 Palisade doesn't offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Pathfinder SL handles at .80 G's, while the Palisade XRT PRO pulls only .76 G's of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Pathfinder Platinum executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Palisade XRT PRO (28.4 seconds @ .59 average G's vs. 29 seconds @ .57 average G's).

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder's turning circle is 1.6 feet tighter than the Palisade XRT PRO's (37.4 feet vs. 39 feet). The Pathfinder's turning circle is 1.8 feet tighter than the Palisade's (37.4 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Pathfinder has .8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more third row hip room and 2.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the Palisade.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pathfinder easier. The Pathfinder's cargo hatch lift-over height is 31.7 inches, while the Palisade's liftover is 32.8 inches.

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

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

The Pathfinder's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Palisade's standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

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 Palisade's standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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. Hyundai charges extra for Homelink® on the Palisade.