2023 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder carried over its modern design from the 2022 model year, with minimal changes except for the introduction of the Rock Creek trim. Its futuristic headlights and angular C-pillar combined traditional elements with forward-thinking design, ensuring the SUV remained relevant for years. Inside, the Pathfinder's cabin featured clean lines and a sensible layout, making it both visually appealing and practical for everyday use.

The Pathfinder offered a range of trims in Canada, including S, SV, Rock Creek, SL, SL Premium, and Platinum. The base S trim came with standard all-wheel drive, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a host of comfort features like heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Rock Creek trim added rugged elements such as an off-road tuned suspension and all-terrain tires, while the Platinum trim offered luxury features like second-row captain chairs and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a larger and more spacious alternative to the standard Highlander, built on the TNGA-K platform. It shared its underpinnings with other Toyota models like the RAV4 and Camry, but its size set it apart. The Grand Highlander featured a conservative yet rugged design, with a blockier appearance reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Kia Telluride. Its trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights gave it a resemblance to the off-roading 4Runner.

Toyota offered the Grand Highlander in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum. The interior featured black Softex synthetic leather on the XLE trim, with real leather available on higher trims. The spacious cabin provided ample headroom and legroom in all rows, making it comfortable for adults even in the third row. The Grand Highlander excelled as a road-trip vehicle, with high-quality materials and a well-built interior.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque. The Rock Creek trim offered a slight power boost, with 295 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. All models featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive. The Pathfinder's engine provided ample power for city and highway driving, though the unique shifter design was a point of contention for some drivers.

The Pathfinder's drive mode dial offered various settings, including Eco, Sport, Normal, and off-road modes like Sand and Mud/Rut. The Rock Creek trim added an All-Terrain mode and a downhill crawl assist feature. The Pathfinder's towing capacity was 1,587 kilograms, with the Rock Creek and other trims (except the base model) capable of towing up to 2,720 kilograms.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder engine produced 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A 2.5-litre four-cylinder hybrid option provided 245 combined net horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. All models featured all-wheel drive, with the Hybrid Max offering impressive acceleration.

The Grand Highlander's size made it less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart, but its brakes provided solid performance. The 2.4-litre turbocharged engine offered adequate power, while the Hybrid Max delivered a more exhilarating experience. The Grand Highlander featured three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—with additional off-road modes available on gas-only and Hybrid Max models.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder offered up to 2,279 litres of cargo space with the second and third rows folded flat. With the second row in use, it provided 1,274 litres, and with all seats upright, 470 litres of cargo space. While this was average for midsize three-row SUVs, it fell slightly short of rivals like the Toyota Highlander and Kia Telluride. The Pathfinder's first two rows provided ample headroom and legroom, while the third row was suitable for shorter trips.

The Pathfinder featured 12 cupholders and four bottle holders throughout the cabin, along with plenty of storage compartments. The Rock Creek trim's roof racks were practical, capable of holding up to 100 kilograms, though their proximity to the roof made snow removal challenging.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander boasted a larger size than its competitors, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres. With the second-row seats in use, it offered 1,640 litres, and with all three rows up, 583 litres of cargo space. The Grand Highlander's spacious interior provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for adults even in the third row.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, with a larger 9-inch screen available on higher trims. While the system was easy to use, some found the graphics dated. The Pathfinder included four USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Higher trims added features like wireless device charging and additional USB ports.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous Toyota interfaces. The system offered dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 11-speaker JBL stereo on higher trims. A connected-services subscription provided additional features like an intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation.

The 2023 Nissan Pathfinder came equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and blind-spot monitoring. The SV trim added front parking sensors and a 360-degree parking monitor, while the SL trim included traffic-sign recognition. The Pathfinder received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Platinum trim offered additional features like traffic jam assist and a head-up display. As a new model, the Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.