Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander: A Comprehensive Breakdown

Published December 7, 2021
in Model Info

Pathfinder by EurovisionNim — CC-BY-SA-4.0

The Nissan Pathfinder and the Toyota Highlander are two types of SUVs that are out to dominate the market. It’s safe to say that each has its distinct fanbase. If you’re considering which one is best for you, there’s a lot to take in at once. With the Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander debate, which should you choose?

We’re here to make your choice an easy one! The Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander decision doesn’t have to be a difficult one. We’ll go over the things that make them similar, along with the items that set them apart. Soon, you can decide which of these SUVs will work best for where you are in your life.

What Makes Them Similar?

Many factors make the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Highlander similar, even though they aren’t the same car.

According to patriotnissan.com, some of the similarities that are critical to understand when considering the Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander include:

Pricing: Although there’s a $2000 difference between the vehicles, it’s not so much that it will make a drastic difference when you buy.
Performance: Both vehicles have a solid performance, so you’ll know you’re getting a great drive no matter which one you drive.
Seating: Both cars can seat about eight people inside, great for those with families or friends.

You’ll find all of these in both the Nissan Pathfinder and the Toyota Highlander, with some slight variations in each model.

We’ve gone over the things that make these vehicles similar, but now we need to talk about what sets them apart. These will make the largest impact on your decision. There’s a lot that the Nissan Pathfinder has that the Toyota Highlander doesn’t, and vice versa.

NOT JUST FOR CAR SHOPPING

The CoPilot app isn’t just for buying a car - our new CoPilot for Owning tool will help you keep track of recalls and gives you advice on which scheduled maintenance tasks are most important.

What Sets Them Apart?

When considering the Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander, it’s just as critical to note what makes each car stand apart as it is to consider what makes them similar. The differences are where you’ll make the final decision on your car, as you may prefer some features over other features that are offered.

According to carsdirect.com, some of the things that set these two cars apart from each other include:

Towage: How much a car can tow makes a large difference. When considering these cars, the Highlander can tow almost 2000 more pounds than the Pathfinder.
Infotainment: Infotainment is the entertainment, such as music, and directions, such as maps, a car has built into the system. The Pathfinder comes out on top here.
Safety features: Safety features matter to a lot of people. The Highlander, overall, has much better features than the Pathfinder does.

You can use these to consider which of these vehicles will work best for you in your life circumstances.

Each vehicle has differences, and these differences strengthen each model. If safety features matter most to you, look for the Highlander as your vehicle. If you want solid infotainment, the Pathfinder is your car.

When considering the Nissan Pathfinder vs. Toyota Highlander, the things that set each vehicle apart are vital to consider. Now that we’ve gone over both the good and the bad, you can make the best possible choice for your life.

THE BEST CARS FOR SNOW

Winter driving impacts young and experienced drivers alike. We’ve compiled a list of the best cars for snow, so you can get from Point A to Point B as safely as possible.

Which Car is the Winner?

When we look at all of these traits, it can be tricky to determine a winner. Which car comes out on top when looking at all the features offered?

There are a lot of ways you can look at these vehicles, so it can be tricky to determine which one is the best overall. However, in our opinion, the Nissan Pathfinder comes out on top when we compare these two vehicles.

The Nissan Pathfinder is the winner because:

It’s cheaper: The Pathfinder isn’t much cheaper, but it will save you about $2000 in the investment. For some, this money could be huge.
It has more cargo room: With the seats folded up, the Pathfinder has more room for cargo than the Highlander does.
It has a bigger engine: The Pathfinder has a much larger engine than the Toyota Highlander does.

The Toyota Highlander is a close second place, so don’t feel like it’s not worth your money if you’re leaning towards that vehicle.

The Nissan Pathfinder is better, but what does that mean? Which car is best for your particular place in life? We’ll guide you towards the best vehicle next.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU REPLACE YOUR BRAKES?

Unless you’re a mechanic or super-dedicated car enthusiast, you might not know much about the brakes on your car. How long do they typically last? How often should you replace your brakes? We’ve got answers

Which Car is Right For You?

We’ve talked about which car is the winner - but which vehicle is right for you? Not everybody has the same life, so although one vehicle may come out on top, it may not be the right choice for you. The Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Highlander each have different benefits for a large variety of lifestyles.

Here are some of the people that each vehicle may benefit the most:

Toyota Highlander: This vehicle is best for those who value safety and towage. It’s better for families.
Nissan Pathfinder: The Nissan Pathfinder is excellent if you want to commute in style and carry more stuff inside. It’s ideal for commuters and errand runners.

You’ll love each of these cars if you fall under one of these categories.

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to determine which will work best for you. There’s a lot to consider when determining which vehicle will work best for your life.

Conclusion

Both the Nissan Pathfinder and the Toyota Highlander are excellent options if you are looking for a vehicle. They’re quality SUVs and can be purchased for an affordable price. Both have solid power. The Pathfinder has more cargo room and a powerful engine, but the Highlander is safer and can tow more.

Whichever vehicle you choose, you can feel safe knowing that both of these vehicles are dependable options. If you have a family, the Highlander may be a better choice. If you commute to work, the Pathfinder might be an excellent choice for your life. With the information you now have, you can make the best choice for your life.

Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You

The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to make you a personalized list of the best car listings in your area.

Only looking for newer models? CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage — CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars.

The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.