2015 Lexus RC-F vs. 2015 Nissan Pathfinder: The Mismatch Comparo

I have a theory. People today think that the moment a wee baby is born they must sell whatever car they drive and buy a giant three-row family hauler. In the same breath, automotive enthusiasts scoff at these bulbous beasts and label them the death of humanity with the handling of an overfed farm animal.

I think they’re both wrong.

As an especially fertile human myself, I enlisted the help of my four children to answer the questions: Could a two-door sports coupe really be as suitable a family car as one with three rows? And will my wife divorce me for suggesting it? Then, with my passion for racing cars at the forefront of my mind, could a modern three-row SUV handle with enough precision and poise to eradicate the enthusiasts’ belief that family vehicles are the antichrist?

In essence, the comparison test was this: 2015 Lexus RC-F vs. 2015 Nissan Pathfinder. The RC-F would serve as the 467-horsepower two kid family hauler whereas the Pathfinder would act as the driver’s car.

Silly, I know. But the basis of this test is sound (probably): People with kids get too hung up on buying an elephant on wheels, where in reality they can retain the fun of driving aboard a fast coupe with a cavernous trunk and plenty of space for two kids with small legs; for most families, it’s all you really need. At the same time, adaptive suspension will keep the ride comfortable when traveling long distances, and mom and dad will be as happy as they were on their first date all those years ago.

However. If your spouse refuses to concur with my scientific findings, suspension technology has advanced to the point where large SUVs no longer flop about like pushing over the Michelin Man. There’s a level of stiffness and composure you now feel, without sacrificing ride quality—something that has eluded us until recent years.

In some cases, adaptive suspension is also applied, this time to help the portly SUV’s cornering dynamics. Look at the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S or Range Rover Sport SVR, for example; they lap the Nurburgring faster than many two-seater sports cars. And while the Pathfinder remains a far cry from that level of performance, the point is, these machines we once associated with wallowy buckets of hell are now often quite enjoyable to drive. If you choose wisely, you don’t have to give up on life as an automotive enthusiast, hang your head in shame, resort to being a recluse and move to Indiana.

Of course, if you’re like me and have four kids, you already live in Indiana. And while a two-door coupe like the Lexus won’t suffice as a first car for my clan (certainly a second, though), I’m comforted to know that the imperative three-rower no longer handles like a marshmallow strapped to a set of all-seasons.

Check out the video above to see how my idiotic comparison test played out.