Compare the2022 Nissan PathfinderVS 2021 Toyota Sienna

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 Sienna 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 Sienna doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Pathfinder and the Sienna have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, 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.

The Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 39 more horsepower (284 vs. 245) than the Sienna’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Car and Driver the Nissan Pathfinder is faster than the Toyota Sienna:

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

The Pathfinder stops shorter than the Sienna:

For better traction, the Pathfinder has larger tires than the Sienna (255/60R18 vs. 235/50R20).

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 Sienna LE/XLE’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Pathfinder has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Sienna LE/XLE.

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 Sienna doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better maneuverability, the Pathfinder’s turning circle is .3 feet tighter than the Sienna’s (38 feet vs. 38.3 feet). The Pathfinder’s turning circle is 1.2 feet tighter than the Sienna XSE/Limited/Platinum’s (38 feet vs. 39.2 feet).

The Nissan Pathfinder may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 100 to 300 pounds less than the Toyota Sienna.

The Pathfinder is 6 inches shorter than the Sienna, making the Pathfinder easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces. The Pathfinder is 6.4 inches shorter than the Sienna XSE.

The Pathfinder has 4.2 inches more front headroom, 4 inches more front legroom, .3 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more third row headroom than the Sienna.

The Sienna’s spare tire is stored in the cargo area, where it diminishes the useable cargo capacity and interferes with loading and unloading. The Pathfinder’s spare is out of the way underneath.

The Pathfinder’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Sienna’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Sienna is only 3500 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 Sienna doesn’t offer a remote starting system.