Head-to-head
2025 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2025 Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander edges it, 95.9 to 91.2, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The Nissan Pathfinder is ahead on price.
A
2025 Nissan Pathfinder
The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pathfinder 2WD, is EPA-rated …
vs
C2025 Toyota Highlander
The 2025 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 5 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid …
More Nissan Pathfinder head-to-heads More Toyota Highlander head-to-heads Every Pathfinder vs Highlander model year
Verdict · default weights
2025 Toyota Highlander
Slight edgeThe Toyota Highlander edges it, 95.9 to 91.2, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The Nissan Pathfinder is ahead on price.
Tech & comfort 2025 Toyota Highlander leads by 22.2
Price 2025 Nissan Pathfinder leads by 7.9
Fuel & range 2025 Toyota Highlander leads by 7.3
| Category · weight | 2025 Nissan Pathfinderoverall 91.2 | 2025 Toyota Highlanderoverall 95.9 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 92.1 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 92.7 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 86.3 | 91.4 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 96.3 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 95.9 | 96 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 77.8 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 91.2 | 95.9 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Nissan Pathfinder: base trim S FWD · Toyota Highlander: base trim LE FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2025 Toyota Highlander wins
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (11 against 58 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (27 points against 21 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It turns out 310 lb-ft of torque against 259.
Where the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder answers
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 77).
- It starts $3,120 lower ($36,400 against $39,520 base MSRP).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 8 seats.
- 28 in of rear legroom.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
54 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $36,400 | $39,520 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 3,498 cc | 2,393 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 3.5L DOHC 24-valve V6 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged DOHC |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | D-4S |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 284 hp | 265 hp |
| Torque | 259 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 20 mpg | 22 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 23 mpg | 25 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 27 mpg | 29 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.334 | 3.329 |
| Transmission speeds | 9 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.1 in | 8 in |
| Overall height | 70.9 in | 68.1 in |
| Overall length | 198 in | 195 in |
| Overall width | 77.9 in | 76 in |
| Wheelbase | 114 in | 112 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 80.5 cu-ft | 84.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 45 cu-ft | 48.4 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 16.6 cu-ft | 16 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 165 cu-ft | 142 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 42.3 in | 41.2 in |
| Second-row headroom | 39.6 in | 39.4 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.8 in | 36.1 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 44.3 in | 42 in |
| Second-row legroom | 35.5 in | 38.7 in |
| Third-row legroom | 28 in | 28 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,325 lbs | 4,155 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,325 lbs | 4,155 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 5,900 lbs | 5,870 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent strut | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar; trailing-wishbone |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link independent | Multi-link with stabilizer bar |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Dual-pinion electric power steering | Electric Power Steering (EPS); power-assisted rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 38.7 ft | 18.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 350 mm | 338 mm |
| Front brake type | Vented Disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 330 mm | 338 mm |
| Rear brake type | Vented Disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | alloy | alloy |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 255/60R18 | P235/65R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 18.5 gal | 17.9 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | NissanConnect Services powered by SiriusXM | Toyota Safety Connect / Drive Connect / Remote Connect / Service Connect / Wi-Fi Connect |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | — | 12 months |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 120 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 60.8 in | 59 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 59.6 in | 58.7 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 58.4 in | 55 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
107 features · differences first, then sharedSafety21 differ · 33 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ — Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) | — | std |
| Intelligent Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt sensors and occupant classification sensors | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ — Lane Tracing Assist (LTA) | — | std |
| Intelligent Driver Alertness | std | — |
| Second row side-impact supplemental air bags | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | — |
| 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger seatbelts | — | std |
| Adjustable front seatbelt shoulder anchors and driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters | — | std |
| Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Backup camera with projected path | — | std |
| Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger seatbelt warning | — | std |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors and tethers on outboard second-row seats and tether anchor on middle of second- and third-row seats | — | std |
| Rear Automatic Braking | std | — |
| Rear Door Alert | std | — |
| Rear passenger seatbelt reminder | — | std |
| Rear sonar system | std | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ — Automatic High Beams (AHB) | — | std |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA) and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) | — | std |
| Traction Control System | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | std |
| Backup camera with projected path / Backup camera with dynamic gridlines | std | std |
| Eight airbags — driver airbag, front passenger airbag, driver knee airbag, seat cushion airbag (passenger), front side airbags, curtain shield airbags | std | std |
| Eight airbags — driver airbag, front passenger airbag, driver knee airbag, seat cushion airbag (passenger), front side airbags, curtain shield airbags | std | std |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ — Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | std |
| Eight airbags — driver airbag, front passenger airbag, driver knee airbag, seat cushion airbag (passenger), front side airbags, curtain shield airbags | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Star Safety System™ — includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology® (SST) | std | std |
| Anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) (individual tires) | std | std |
Infotainment15 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Connect — includes AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot and Integrated Streaming (Apple Music® and Amazon Music) compatibility | — | std |
| Steering wheel Bluetooth® controls | std | — |
| 6-speaker audio system | — | std |
| 8-inch color display with multi-touch display | std | — |
| 8.0-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | — | std |
| 9-speed automatic with manual shift mode paddle shifters | std | — |
| AM/FM, 6 speakers | std | — |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist | — | std |
| NissanConnect® featuring Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ | std | — |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app via your smartwatch | — | std |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance button, enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification and Stolen Vehicle Locator | — | std |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports | — | std |
| SiriusXM® satellite radio with advanced audio features | std | — |
| SiriusXM® Travel Link™ with 3 years of service | std | — |
| Steering wheel Audio Controls | std | — |
Convenience6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Smart Key System on front doors and liftgate with Push Button Start, remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, panic and liftgate functions; and remote illuminated entry | — | std |
| Five USB ports (one USB-A media port and four USB-C charging ports) and two 12V outlets | — | std |
| Height-adjustable power liftgate with jam protection | — | std |
| Power door locks with shift-linked automatic lock/unlock feature | — | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down in all positions and jam protection | — | std |
| Manual opening and closing liftgate | std | — |
Climate0 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Three-zone automatic climate control with air filter, separate second-row control panel, individual temperature settings for driver, front passenger and rear-seat passengers, and second- and third-row vents | std | std |
Seating8 differ · 8 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 3-passenger, 60/40 split bench, flat folding (second row) | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed front- and second-row seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat; 4-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| 6-way manual driver's seat | std | — |
| 6-way manual passenger seat | std | — |
| 8-passenger seating with 60/40 split, sliding and reclining fold-flat second-row bench seats; 60/40 split, fold-flat third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | — | std |
| Cloth seating material | std | — |
| Fabric-trimmed front- and second-row seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat; 4-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| Nissan EZ Flex® Seating System featuring LATCH AND GLIDE® tip-up third-row access technology | std | — |
Interior15 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 14 cup/bottle holders | — | std |
| 7-in. color LCD Multi-Information Display (MID) with odometer, trip/average fuel economy, cruising range, average speed, AWD torque distribution (AWD models only), cruise control guide, audio details, hands-free incoming call notices, telephone information | — | std |
| 7-inch Advanced Drive-Assist® Display | std | — |
| Black interior door handles | — | std |
| Digital clock | — | std |
| Fine Vision electroluminescent meter display | std | — |
| Leather-trimmed shift knob and tilt/telescopic leather-trimmed steering wheel with audio, Multi-Information Display (MID), Bluetooth® hands-free phone, voice command, Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert (LDA), Lane Steering Assist (LSA) and multimedia information controls | — | std |
| Overhead console with conversation mirror, sunglasses storage and map lights | — | std |
| Satin Black interior trim | std | — |
| Silver-painted dashboard trim and painted door trim | — | std |
| Soft-touch in-dash split-level shelf | — | std |
| Soft-touch roll-top center console with removable utility tray | — | std |
| Manual tilt/telescoping steering | std | — |
| Carpeted Floor Mats: Bench Seat (4-pc set) | std | — |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Day/night rearview mirror | std | std |
Exterior18 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 18-in. painted alloy wheels and P235/65R18 tires | — | std |
| 18-inch painted aluminum-alloy wheels | std | — |
| Black-painted front grille with silver-painted surround | — | std |
| Color-keyed heated power outside mirrors | — | std |
| Color-keyed heated power outside mirrors with turn signal and blind spot warning indicators, and manual folding feature | — | std |
| Color-keyed side rocker panels and lower molding | — | std |
| High Solar Energy-Absorbing (HSEA) glass on front side windows | — | std |
| LED fog lights | — | std |
| LED taillights | — | std |
| Outside mirrors with turn signal and blind spot warning indicators | — | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield washer and backup camera washer | — | std |
| Rear lower bumper in material black | — | std |
| Rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop light | — | std |
| Washer-linked variable intermittent windshield wipers and intermittent rear wiper | — | std |
| Windshield wiper de-icer | — | std |
| Auto on/off headlights (ambient light sensitive, linked to front wipers) | std | — |
| Rear liftgate windshield defogger | — | std |
| Front and rear mudguards | std | — |
| LED projector headlights | std | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
| Privacy glass on rear side, quarter and liftgate windows | std | std |
| Spare Tire/Wheel: Temporary | std | std |
Powertrain4 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| All-Wheel Drive (AWD) | std | — |
| 5-position Drive Mode Selector | std | — |
| Electronic shift-by-wire drive selector | std | — |
| Idle stop/start system | std | — |
| Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) | std | std |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 54.1-liter luggage box storage compartment with hinged lid under cargo floor, cargo area light | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPNissan Pathfinder
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 58 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (16), Service Brakes (11), Engine (10)
Top recalls
- high Service Brakes, Hydraulic 25V173000 · 1,430 vehicles
Toyota Highlander
Safety Signal 77 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 4
Owner complaints 11 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Vehicle Speed Control (3), Forward Collision Avoidance (3), Unspecified (2)
Top recalls
- high Seats 26V128000 · 686,588 vehicles
- high Seat Belts 25V872000 · 39 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- moderate Electrical System 25V595000 · 591,377 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Nissan PathfinderS FWD | Toyota HighlanderLE FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $36,400 (base trim) | $39,520 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $36,400 – $50,640 9 trims | $39,520 – $53,675 13 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Pathfinder 2WD | Highlander |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 23 | 25 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,900 | $2,700 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | — | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | — | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Roadside assistance | — | 2 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder or the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander edges it, 95.9 to 91.2, on tech & comfort, fuel & range, safety. The Nissan Pathfinder is ahead on price. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2025 Toyota Highlander scores 95.9 and the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder 91.2. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder or the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder starts lower — $36,400 against $39,520, a gap of $3,120 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder or the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
2025 Nissan Pathfinder: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2025 Toyota Highlander: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2025 Toyota Highlander?
Where the 2025 Toyota Highlander wins: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (11 against 58 filed with NHTSA), lists more comfort and tech equipment (27 points against 21 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and turns out 310 lb-ft of torque against 259. Where the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder answers: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 77) and starts $3,120 lower ($36,400 against $39,520 base MSRP). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars, 8 seats, and 28 in of rear legroom.