Nissan Pathfinder Ground Clearance

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder has a ground clearance of 7.1 inches, which is one-tenth of an inch higher than the ground clearance of previous model years.
Written by Mary Cahill
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
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The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder has a ground clearance of 7.1 inches for all trim levels, up 0.1 inches from the 7-inch ground clearance of the 2015-2020 model years
In its five generations of production, the Nissan Pathfinder evolved from a rugged, trucklike 1980s SUV, to a soccer mom-friendly three-row seater—and by 2022, has landed somewhere in between. The latest model’s 7.1-inch ground clearance exemplifies this happy medium perfectly. You may not be able to careen over rocks in the wilderness, but you can drive your child to hockey practice on a snowy day. 
If you’re wondering what the ground clearance is on your
Nissan Pathfinder
, you’ve come to the right place. We're bringing you all the ground clearance specs for the Nissan Pathfinder. Keep reading to find out more! 
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2022 Nissan Pathfinder ground clearance

The 2022 Nissan Pathfinder has undergone a total redesign, and among the many changes is a little boost in ground clearance height—going from a 7-inch ground clearance to 7.1 inches for all trim levels. Trim levels for the 2022 Nissan Pathfinder include: 
Upgraded trim levels will come with snazzier features like a hands-free power tailgate, panoramic sunroof, and a 13 speaker sound system—but the ground clearance will not change. 

Nissan Pathfinder ground clearance over the years

The Pathfinder has been around since 1985 and naturally has had several facelifts since then. Let’s take a look at how the ground clearance of the Nissan Pathfinder—now in its fifth generation—has changed over the years: 
  • 1st generation (1985-1995): 8.3 inches
  • 2nd generation (1996-2004): 8.3 inches
  • 3rd generation (2005-2012): 8.6-9.2 inches
  • 4th generation (2013-2020): 6.5-7 inches
  • 5th generation (2022-present): 7.1 inches 
Based on the data, the Nissan Pathfinder’s evolutionary identity has teetered from a tough off-roading machine to a comfortable family ride—which means you have some options when choosing a model year that best suits your lifestyle.  
MORE: The 10 best SUVs for towing

What is ground clearance—and why does it matter?

Wondering why anyone would be focused on the ground clearance of an SUV? Ground clearance at its simplest is the measurement between the lowest part of your vehicle’s chassis and the ground. In more certain terms, ground clearance can be a deciding factor in whether you’ll be able to take your SUV off-roading, or how it handles driving in the snow
The higher the ground clearance, the easier your SUV will navigate over rocks and boulders in an off-road setting. Typically, a vehicle that’s meant to be taken off-road will have a ground clearance of at least 8.5 inches. Anything lower than that and you could risk getting bottomed out in the forest or scraping your vehicle’s undercarriage on a ragged road. 
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Is the Nissan Pathfinder a good off-road vehicle?

Yes and no. When we’re talking about the Nissan Pathfinder’s off-roading capabilities it simply comes down to what model year is in question. As we mentioned, certain Pathfinder generations were built for an off-road adventure—particularly the third generation which has the highest ground clearance of all.  
If you’re driving a newer model year, your Pathfinder will definitely come up a little short in the off-roading game. That being said, the 7.1 inch lift gives the Pathfinder great leverage when it comes to driving through snowy or icy roads. Plus it has a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds for the higher trim levels—which is enough to haul a small camper if you’re headed into the great outdoors.

Guard against accidents with the best Nissan Pathfinder insurance

When you're in the market for a new SUV, you’ll want to consider the ground clearance and other specs, but perhaps the most important feature of your new vehicle is a great
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