Compare the2024 Toyota Grand HighlanderVS 2024 Nissan Pathfinder

The Grand Highlander 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 Grand Highlander and Pathfinder have Rear Cross Traffic Alert, but the Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum has Parking Support Brake (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 Grand Highlander and the Pathfinder 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.

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 Grand Highlander is safer than the Pathfinder:

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Grand Highlander 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 15 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Grand Highlander’s warranty.

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.

The Grand Highlander has more powerful engines than the Pathfinder:

As tested in Motor Trend the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Nissan Pathfinder (base engine):

On the EPA test cycle the Grand Highlander gets better mileage than the Pathfinder:

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

The Grand Highlander 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.

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

The Grand Highlander offers an available 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.

The Grand Highlander stops shorter than the Pathfinder:

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Grand Highlander’s wheelbase is 1.9 inches longer than on the Pathfinder (116.1 inches vs. 114.2 inches).

The Grand Highlander’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52% to 48%) than the Pathfinder’s (55% to 45%). This gives the Grand Highlander more stable handling and braking.

The Grand Highlander Platinum AWD handles at .80 G’s, while the Pathfinder Platinum pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Grand Highlander Limited AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Pathfinder Platinum (27.4 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Grand Highlander’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the Pathfinder’s (38.1 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Grand Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pathfinder (8 vs. 7.1 inches), allowing the Grand Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Grand Highlander’s minimum ground clearance is .3 inch higher than on the Pathfinder Rock Creek (8 vs. 7.7 inches).

The Grand Highlander has 5.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Pathfinder (153.3 vs. 148).

The Grand Highlander has .6 inches more rear headroom, 4 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room and 5.5 inches more third row legroom than the Pathfinder.

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

The Grand Highlander’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pathfinder’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

If the windows are left open on the Grand Highlander 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.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Grand Highlander Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Grand Highlander’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 Grand Highlander Limited/Platinum has standard front air conditioned seats and the Grand Highlander Platinum also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Pathfinder doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Toyota Grand Highlander has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Pathfinder SL/Platinum offers wireless charging.