Compare the2024 Toyota SiennaVS 2024 Nissan Pathfinder

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Sienna are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Nissan Pathfinder doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The Sienna has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Both the Sienna and Pathfinder have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Sienna has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Pathfinder’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Sienna and the Pathfinder 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, 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 Toyota Sienna is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	Sienna	Pathfinder
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	175	312
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	200 lbs.	216 lbs.
Neck Compression	42 lbs.	93 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 Toyota Sienna is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

	Sienna	Pathfinder
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	42	84
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	123 lbs.	138 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	52	88
Spine Acceleration	30 G’s	33 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	14 inches
Spine Acceleration	31 G’s	37 G’s

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

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Toyota Sienna is safer than the Pathfinder:

	Sienna	Pathfinder
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Structure	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Neck Tension	201 lbs.	268 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Shoulder Deflection	.55 in	.63 in
Torso Max Deflection	.83 in	.94 in
Pelvis	GOOD	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	736 lbs.	1160 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	18	65
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Max Deflection	.71 in	.75 in
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Sienna is 1.5% to 2.8% less likely to roll over than the Pathfinder.

Warranty

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sienna for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Pathfinder.

There are over 14 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Sienna’s warranty.

Reliability

The battery on the Sienna is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Sienna’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Pathfinder’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Sienna’s reliability 20 points higher than the Pathfinder.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota above average in long-term dependability. With 34 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Nissan is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in overall reliability. Nissan is ranked 17th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Sienna gets better mileage than the Pathfinder:

			MPG
Sienna
	FWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	36 city/36 hwy
	AWD	2.5 4-cyl. Hybrid	35 city/36 hwy
Pathfinder
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	21 city/27 hwy
		Platinum 3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/25 hwy
		3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/23 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the Sienna’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Sienna uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Pathfinder Rock Creek requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Sienna has a standard locking fuel door with a power remote release convenient to the driver. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Pathfinder. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Sienna higher (7 out of 10) than the Nissan Pathfinder (5). This means the Sienna produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Pathfinder every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

The Sienna has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

The Sienna stops shorter than the Pathfinder:

	Sienna	Pathfinder
60 to 0 MPH	125 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sienna’s wheelbase is 6.3 inches longer than on the Pathfinder (120.5 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sienna is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.7 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the Pathfinder.

Chassis

The design of the Toyota Sienna amounts to more than styling. The Sienna offers aerodynamic coefficients of drag from .29 to .31 Cd (depending on bodystyle and options). That is significantly lower than the Pathfinder (.34 to .355) and many sports cars. A more efficient exterior helps keep the interior quieter and helps the Sienna get better fuel mileage.

Passenger Space

The Sienna has 14.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (162.5 vs. 148).

The Sienna has 1.3 inches more front hip room, 1.6 inches more front shoulder room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 4.4 inches more rear legroom, 9.9 inches more rear hip room, 3.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 10.7 inches more third row legroom, 2.1 inches more third row hip room and .1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Pathfinder.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Sienna	Pathfinder
Behind Third Seat	33.5 cubic feet	16.6 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	75.2 cubic feet	45 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	101 cubic feet	80.5 cubic feet

Ergonomics

If the windows are left open on the Sienna the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. (This window function must be activated by your Toyota service department.) The driver of the Pathfinder can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sienna’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Pathfinder’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

The Sienna’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Nissan only offers heated mirrors on the Pathfinder SV/Rock Creek/SL/Platinum.

The Sienna’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Pathfinder offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Economic Advantages

The Sienna will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Sienna will retain 52.72% to 55.04% of its original price after five years, while the Pathfinder only retains 47.85% to 49.39%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Sienna will be $4389 to $4686 less than for the Nissan Pathfinder.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends the Toyota Sienna, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Nissan Pathfinder isn't recommended.