The third-row seating in a Nissan Pathfinder is cramped compared to its competitors, but it still has redeeming safety features for a sizable young family.

Written by Pat Roache

Reviewed by Jessica Barrett

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

Table of Contents

What is the Nissan Pathfinder’s 3rd row like?
How to find affordable car insurance for your Nissan

The third row in the Nissan Pathfinder only offers 28 inches of legroom—a measurement that unfortunately doesn’t measure up to the competition. However, decent fuel economy, generous cubby storage, and a full suite of safety features make this a viable SUV for a large, young family.

Finding an everyday car for a family with more than five people can be a real drag. While a minivan could get the job done, many families are turning towards three-row SUVs, but just because a car has a third row of seats doesn’t mean that it’ll meet your family’s needs.

Keep reading for a full breakdown of the Nissan Pathfinder’s third row. We’ll cover measurement specs, comparisons across the segment, and other vehicle features to help you determine if this is the right three-row SUV for you.

MORE:

How to lower your Nissan Pathfinder car insurance costs

What is the Nissan Pathfinder’s 3rd row like?

The Nissan Pathfinder seats up to eight passengers across three rows of seating. With limited legroom, the third row is only suitable for children and smaller individuals, making this SUV a viable option for younger families with a lot of kids.

Third-row seating and second-row bench seating are standard on all four of the Pathfinder’s trims. The second-row bench seating can be swapped out for captain’s chairs—for a maximum of seven passengers—as part of the Premium Package upgrade on the

and

trims, or as a free preference on the top-tier

Platinum

trim.

Make safe driving pay

Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.

Start earning now

Space and comfort

Comfort is the name of the game when it comes to assessing third-row seating. You’ll want to make sure that the back row has enough space to accommodate its regular passengers for extended periods of time.

Seat materials and cushioning can be incredibly subjective, but legroom, headroom, and passenger volume measurements are not. Check out these measurements for each row of the Nissan Pathfinder:

Third row: 28 inches of legroom, 37.8 inches of headroom

Second row: 35.5 inches of legroom, 39.6 inches of headroom

First row: 44.3 inches of legroom, 42.3 inches of headroom

Total passenger volume: 148 cubic feet

It’s easy to see from these measurements that the Pathfinder’s third row is relatively compact, especially compared to its second row with 25% more legroom. This may not matter much if you only plan on seating kids back there, but it won’t fare well for adults, especially on long rides.

Direct competitors like the

Kia Telluride

and

Ford Explorer

provide more head and legroom at a comparable price. Compare passenger volume measurements for the Pathfinder’s competitors using the table below.

Model	Starting price	Third-row legroom	Third-row headroom	Total passenger volume
Nissan Pathfinder	$35,935	28 inches	37.8 inches	141.3 cubic feet
Kia Telluride	$34,685	31.4 inches	38.1 inches	157.1 cubic feet
Hyundai Palisade	$34,895	31.4 inches	37.8 inches	155.3 cubic feet
Chevrolet Traverse	$34,895	33.48 inches	38.21 inches	157.3 cubic feet
Volkswagen Atlas	$35,530	33.7 inches	38.3 inches	154 cubic feet
Ford Explorer	$35,240	32.2 inches	38.9 inches	152.7 cubic feet
Toyota Highlander	$37,070	27.7 inches	36.1 inches	141.3 cubic feet
Honda Pilot	$39,375	31.9 inches	38.9 inches	151.7 cubic feet
Jeep Grand Cherokee L	$43,520	30.3 inches	37.3 inches	151.9 cubic feet

Are you overpaying for your car insurance?

Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.

Compare Rates Now

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees

4.717k Ratings

5M+Drivers Joined

7M+Cars Garaged

MORE: Nissan Pathfinder S towing capacity

Is the Nissan Pathfinder good for big families and long trips?

The third row is suitable for large families with small children, but it may not be able to accommodate long trips with large cargo.

The Pathfinder’s relatively small third-row measurements aren’t ideal for anyone for more than a few hours—not to mention that the Pathfinder only has 16.6 cubic feet of cargo storage behind the third row. If long trips are not your concern, however, then you may like the following features for your family’s driving experience

Top-rated safety features: The 2022 Pathfinder received the IIHS’s top safety rating of “Good” and comes standard with a full suite of

NHTSA

preferred safety features including forward-collision warnings, lane departure warnings, crash imminent braking, and dynamic brake support.

Available AWD with improved fuel economy: Optional AWD carries a slightly improved EPA-rating 21 mpg city/27 mpg highway/23 mpg combined, and track tests have seen this SUV surpass these numbers.

Passenger area cubby storage: While back cargo space is limited, the Pathfinder is fitted with plenty of extra cubby space throughout the vehicle to stow snacks, tablets, and any other long-trip necessities.

MORE:

Car loan for Nissan 2022

How to find affordable car insurance for your Nissan

Comfortability, accommodations, and safety aren’t the only factors that you need to consider when it comes to your perfect family vehicle. Whether you stick with the Nissan Pathfinder or opt for a competitor with a bit more space in the back, you’ll need to find a suitable

car insurance

policy that covers your bases without breaking the bank.

Jerry

can help!

Don’t let shopping for car insurance be more complicated than it needs to be. With

licensed broker

and car insurance super app Jerry, it just takes 45 seconds and some basic information to start browsing the best deals in no time.

Jerry gathers all of the hard information for you to instantly generate competitive customized quotes from 55+ of the nation’s top providers. You just pick the one that’s right for you and your family’s budget and Jerry takes care of the rest. We’ll even double-check your ultra-low rates when it comes time to renew so you’re always getting the best deal.

Try Jerry today to see how the average user saves over $800 a year on car insurance!

“
Jerry
is an awesome tool to find rates personalized to your specific needs! I’m literally still sitting at the dealership and already finalized my new insurance so I can drive my new car off the lot.” —Charity R.

RECOMMENDED