2016 Nissan Pathfinder MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2016 Nissan Pathfinder is rated 21 to 23 mpg combined across 3 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · CVT.

EPA fuel economy

2016 Nissan Pathfinder · 3 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

23MPG combined

20 city 27 highway

$2,800 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score5/10

3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · CVT

Best version costs $2,500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 27, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,800 to $3,100 a year.

Every 2016 Pathfinder version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · CVT Best EPA listing: Pathfinder 2WD	23 mpg	20 / 27	$2,800
3.5L 6-cyl · 4WD · CVT EPA listing: Pathfinder 4WD	22 mpg	19 / 26	$2,950
3.5L 6-cyl · 4WD · CVT · Platinum EPA listing: Pathfinder 4WD Platinum	21 mpg	19 / 26	$3,100

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
3.5L 6-cyl · FWD · CVT	$2,817	$235	$14,087
3.5L 6-cyl · 4WD · CVT	$2,945	$245	$14,727
3.5L 6-cyl · 4WD · CVT · Platinum	$3,086	$257	$15,429

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Nissan Pathfinder MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 23 mpg (2016 to 2020, 2022 to 2026).

2016: gas 23 mpg

Show as a table

Nissan Pathfinder best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version
2016	23
2017	23
2018	23
2019	23
2020	23
2022	23
2023	23
2024	23
2025	23
2026	23

How the 2016 Pathfinder compares

2016 midsize SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2016 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Lexus RX Best: hybrid	30 mpg	23 mpg	$2,650
Toyota Highlander Best: hybrid	28 mpg	22 mpg	$2,300
Jeep Grand Cherokee Best: diesel	25 mpg	21 mpg	$3,100
Kia Sorento Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,700
Ford Edge Best: gas	24 mpg	24 mpg	$2,700
Honda Pilot Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Hyundai Santa Fe Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Nissan Pathfinder This page Best: gas	23 mpg	23 mpg	$2,800
Ford Explorer Best: gas	22 mpg	22 mpg	$2,950
Dodge Durango Best: gas	21 mpg	21 mpg	$3,100
Chevrolet Traverse Best: gas	18 mpg	18 mpg	$3,600

2016 Pathfinder recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 2 safety recalls and 107 owner complaints for the 2016 Pathfinder.What they cover, and crash test ratings

Questions

Does 4WD lower the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, 4WD lowers the combined rating by 1 mpg: the 3.5L 6-cyl gets 23 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 22 with 4WD.

Does the 2016 Nissan Pathfinder need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2016 Nissan Pathfinder version on regular gasoline.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 27, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 26, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.