Compare the2022 Nissan PathfinderVS 2021 Toyota Highlander

The Nissan Pathfinder has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Highlander doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Pathfinder Platinum has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Highlander doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

The Pathfinder has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them and moves the vehicle back into its lane. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Pathfinder has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum has a cross-path warning system.

Both the Pathfinder and the Highlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, lane departure warning systems and around view monitors.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Nissan vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Nissan 13th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is ranked 19th, below the industry average.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Nissan Pathfinder, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Highlander.

For better stopping power the Pathfinder’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Highlander:

For better traction, the Pathfinder has larger tires than the Highlander (255/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

The Pathfinder’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander L/LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires. The Pathfinder’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

The Pathfinder has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Highlander doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Pathfinder has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pathfinder’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Highlander (114.2 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Pathfinder is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Highlander.

The Pathfinder has 6.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander (148 vs. 141.3).

The Pathfinder has 1.1 inches more front headroom, 2.3 inches more front legroom, 1.1 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, .9 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.7 inches more third row headroom, .3 inches more third row legroom, 1.1 inches more third row hip room and 3.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Highlander.

The Pathfinder’s cargo area provides more volume than the Highlander.

The Pathfinder’s cargo area is larger than the Highlander’s in almost every dimension:

The Pathfinder has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Highlander doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Highlander is limited to 5000 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

The Pathfinder SV/SL/Platinum has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The Highlander doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

The Pathfinder Platinum’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.