Compare the2024 Nissan PathfinderVS 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics

Safety

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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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Pathfinder 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

Both the Pathfinder and the Highlander Hybrid have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Nissan Pathfinder is safer than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	Pathfinder	Highlander Hybrid
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	150	292
Neck Injury Risk	31%	38.2%
Neck Compression	53 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	156/136 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	312	328
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	236/309 lbs.	545/323 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Nissan Pathfinder is safer than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	Pathfinder	Highlander Hybrid
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	244 lbs.	300 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	88	114
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	37 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	234	366
Spine Acceleration	37 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	466 lbs.	664 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 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 above average in initial quality. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated below average.

Engine

The Pathfinder’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 41 more horsepower (284 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Pathfinder Rock Creek’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 52 more horsepower (295 vs. 243) than the Highlander Hybrid’s 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid.

As tested in Motor Trend the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine) is faster than the Toyota Highlander Hybrid:

	Pathfinder	Highlander Hybrid
Zero to 60 MPH	7.1 sec	8.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.5 sec	16.3 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92.3 MPH	85.6 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

Both the Pathfinder and Highlander Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. The Pathfinder has a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

The Pathfinder has 1.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander Hybrid (18.5 vs. 17.1 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Pathfinder has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Pathfinder	Highlander Hybrid
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	13.3 inches

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Pathfinder has larger tires than the Highlander Hybrid (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 Hybrid LE/XLE/Bronze’s standard 65 series tires. The Pathfinder’s optional tires have a lower 50 series profile than the Highlander Hybrid 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

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 Hybrid 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 Hybrid (114.2 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pathfinder is 1.5 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Highlander Hybrid.

Passenger Space

The Pathfinder has 6.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander Hybrid (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, 1.1 inches more third row hip room and 3.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the Highlander Hybrid.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Pathfinder	Highlander Hybrid
Behind Third Seat	16.6 cubic feet	16 cubic feet

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 Hybrid doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Highlander Hybrid is limited to 3500 pounds. The Pathfinder offers up to a 6000 lbs. towing capacity.

Ergonomics

The Pathfinder Platinum’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel and 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 Hybrid doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Pathfinder’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Highlander Hybrid’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.