Nissan Pathfinder vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV maintained a familiar aesthetic, with only slight styling changes that made its front end resemble a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. A thin slot was added behind the Chevy Bowtie logo, and the previous grille insert was integrated into the bumper. The 2027 model continued from where the 2023 version left off, offering only the EUV body style, which straddled the line between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV. The Bolt EV's tall and narrow design prioritized utility and interior space over a sporty stance, with the RS model adding minimal gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair.

Inside, the Bolt underwent a more dramatic makeover while retaining its basic structure. A larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen were introduced, and the push-button gear selector was moved to the steering column, freeing up storage space in the centre console. The cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, reinforcing the Bolt’s budget feel, though elbow touch points had thin padding. The base LT trim featured cloth upholstery, while the RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching. The rear seating area also had an abundance of hard plastics and lacked padding for the door armrests.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder combined smooth and chunky elements, with contours on its front and rear fenders and an upright, truck-like dashboard design. The restyled front bumper featured faux vertical air intakes, and the grille lost its thick chrome outline, replaced by a single thin chrome line intersecting the Nissan badge. At the rear, vertical creases below the outer taillights were removed, and new wheel designs, a Baltic Teal paint colour, and satin-coloured badges were introduced.

Inside, the Pathfinder saw more noticeable changes, with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen replacing a 9-inch unit. The start/stop button was repositioned, and a wider silver strip above the climate controls spelled out "Pathfinder." The steering wheel adopted a polygonal shape, and the centre console armrest no longer featured "Pathfinder" as a black plastic accent. The interior was simple, made with good materials for the price, and offered a modern yet classic feel. The Platinum trim level featured semi-aniline leather with diamond stitching, elevating the Pathfinder closer to Infiniti levels of luxury.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and requiring fewer rare earth minerals. A motor from Chevy's Equinox EV delivered 210 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque to the front wheels, with a 0-100 km/h time in the low seven-second range. Despite this seemingly slow acceleration by EV standards, the Bolt was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs and responded immediately to pedal inputs. One-pedal driving was available, with medium or high levels of brake regeneration. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and road noise was more noticeable due to the absence of an internal combustion engine. The Bolt was agile on curvy roads, thanks to its low centre of gravity from the heavy battery in the floor. On a full charge, it offered up to 422 kilometres of range, with a charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing a recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder retained its naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque, with AWD as standard. The Rock Creek trim offered slightly more power with premium fuel. Both trims could tow up to 2,720 kilograms. The nine-speed automatic transmission resulted in lazy acceleration, and the engine sounded laboured. Fuel economy was estimated at 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres in the city for the Platinum model, with the Rock Creek slightly less efficient. The Rock Creek trim, tested during a media evaluation, was not recommended due to its loud Toyo Open Country A/T III tires, which negatively impacted grip, noise, and fuel economy. The Pathfinder's suspension was soft, allowing more lean and mid-corner wheel motions, detracting from its steering precision. It was best suited for straight-line driving, where its size and soft ride were more advantageous.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants, though taller drivers might have wished for more telescopic extension from the steering wheel. The rear seats were also upright, providing plenty of headroom and adequate thigh support. The Bolt could hold up to 459 litres of cargo behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and there was ample storage for personal items up front, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep centre armrest bin.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder featured "Latch and Glide" second-row seats, making it family-friendly with generous headroom and legroom in the first and second rows. The third row was tight for anyone over five feet tall. The Pathfinder seated eight passengers by default or seven with captain’s chairs in the Platinum trim. The Platinum also included heated outboard rear seats and a 10-way power driver's seat. Cargo space was 470 litres behind the third row, 1,274 litres behind the second row, and 2,279 litres with both rows folded. Both trims had a power liftgate with motion activation, and the Rock Creek featured a thick tubular roof rack.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch centre touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, requiring Bluetooth pairing for personal music libraries. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system could help find charging stations and precondition the battery for optimal charging rates. It also offered vehicle-to-load charging as a backup power source for a home.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though factory navigation was no longer offered. The new system was easier to use and faster to respond. Standard features included SiriusXM satellite radio and NissanConnect remote services. The Pathfinder debuted Qi2, a next-generation wireless device charger, and offered Invisible Hood View and Front Wide View for enhanced visibility. The Platinum trim included a head-up display and a 13-speaker Bose audio system.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt's crash test results were not available at the time of writing, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitors. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free highway driving system was available for an additional cost.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder came with a comprehensive suite of airbags and standard driver aids, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot monitors. The Platinum trim added traffic-sign recognition. The Pathfinder earned five stars from the NHTSA but only four stars in the frontal crash test. The IIHS awarded it a "Good" rating in the side impact and small overlap front tests.