2026 Nissan Pathfinder vs 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two trim levels, the 1958 and the Cruiser. The 1958 trim, named after the year the model first appeared in North America, featured a retro design with round headlights and basic equipment, offering a nostalgic nod to its origins. It was priced at $73,270, including destination charges, and came in three paint colours. The Cruiser trim, priced at $82,030, presented a more modern and upscale appearance, with additional colour options and a more refined interior. It also included essential off-roading hardware and software, making it a preferred choice for those seeking a blend of luxury and capability. The Cruiser trim could be further enhanced with a Premium Package, which added leather upholstery and advanced technology features.

The Land Cruiser's design emphasized functionality, with a traditional two-box SUV shape that maximized off-road clearances and interior space. The interior was utilitarian yet comfortable, especially in the Cruiser trim, which featured dual 12.3-inch digital screens and Java-coloured leather for a touch of sophistication. The vehicle's high seating position provided excellent visibility, and the optional roof rack increased its utility. Despite its utilitarian nature, the Land Cruiser's interior was more refined than the 1958 trim, offering a sense of value for its price. The steering wheel controls were intuitive, enhancing the driving experience compared to other vehicles in its class.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder combined smooth and chunky design elements, with restyled front and rear fenders and a truck-like dashboard. The front bumper featured faux vertical air intakes, adding depth to the lower fascia, while the grille had a thin chrome line intersecting the Nissan badge. The rear design was simplified, with vertical creases removed below the taillights. New wheel designs, a Baltic Teal paint colour, and satin-coloured badges were among the exterior updates. Inside, the Pathfinder received significant changes, including a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, a redesigned steering wheel, and a wider silver strip above the climate controls. The interior was simple yet modern, with good materials for the price, and the Platinum trim offered semi-aniline leather with diamond stitching for added luxury.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with an electric motor and an eight-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a full-time four-wheel-drive system and electronic locking differentials. The Land Cruiser could tow up to 2,720 kilograms and featured standard off-roading aids like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The Cruiser trim added Multi-Terrain Select modes, a Multi-Terrain Monitor, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect. Despite its official fuel economy rating of 10.1 L/100 km, real-world testing showed a less efficient 15.0 L/100 km. The Land Cruiser excelled in urban and off-road environments, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder retained its naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque, or 295 hp and 270 lb-ft in the Rock Creek trim with premium fuel. Both trims offered a towing capacity of 2,720 kilograms and came with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Pathfinder's acceleration was leisurely, and its performance was comparable to other V6-powered competitors. Without turbocharging or hybrid options, the Pathfinder's power and efficiency lagged behind some rivals. Fuel economy for the Platinum model was estimated at 11.8 L/100 km city, 9.6 highway, and 10.8 combined, while the Rock Creek was slightly less efficient. The Rock Creek trim's off-road capabilities were limited, and its all-terrain tires negatively impacted grip, noise, and fuel economy. The Pathfinder's suspension was soft, allowing more body lean, but it provided a comfortable ride on straight roads.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's interior offered a mix of comfort and practicality. Upgrading from the 1958 trim to the Cruiser trim replaced cloth upholstery with SofTex artificial leather, and the front seats gained ventilation. The Premium Package added real leather and a power sunroof. While the front seats were comfortable, the second-row seats lacked thigh support and had an uncomfortable backrest angle. The Land Cruiser's rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the centre console's cool box reduced storage space. The cargo area provided 1,062 litres of space, expanding to 2,324 litres with the rear seats folded, though the high load floor required effort to load heavy items.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder featured "Latch and Glide" second-row seats, making it family-friendly by allowing easy access to the third row with an installed car seat. The Pathfinder offered generous headroom and legroom in the first and second rows, while the third row was tight for taller passengers. It could seat eight by default or seven with captain's chairs in the Platinum trim. The interior included standard features like a 10-way power driver's seat, 12 cupholders, three-zone climate control, and five USB-C ports. Cargo space measured 470 litres behind the third row, 1,274 litres behind the second row, and 2,279 litres with all seats folded. Both trims had a power liftgate and a roof rack with a 100-kilogram capacity.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser's Cruiser trim upgraded the digital driver display and infotainment system to dual 12.3-inch screens. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music. Four connected service plans were available, with Drive Connect offering cloud-based navigation and a digital assistant. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL sound system, a wireless smartphone charger, a head-up display, a digital rearview mirror, and digital key technology.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though factory navigation was no longer offered. The new system was user-friendly and responsive. Standard features included SiriusXM and NissanConnect remote services. The Pathfinder introduced Qi2 wireless charging, which used a magnet to secure the phone and aid cooling. The Platinum trim offered a head-up display and a 13-speaker Bose audio system, while other models had a basic six-speaker system. The Invisible Hood View and Front Wide View cameras enhanced visibility.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection. It also featured lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centring assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centring assist provided semi-autonomous highway driving. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Proactive Driving Assist. The Premium Package added front cross-traffic alert, lane-change assist, and Traffic Jam Assist. The Land Cruiser received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side-impact testing but a three-star rollover resistance rating.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder included standard airbags, second-row side-impact airbags, curtain airbags for all rows, and front knee airbags. Driver aids included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, lane-departure warning, and active assists for lane keeping and blind spot systems. Traffic-sign recognition was available on the Platinum trim. The ProPilot Assist highway driving aid was standard, though it lacked hands-free capability. The Pathfinder earned a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with a four-star frontal crash test rating. The IIHS awarded it a "Good" rating in side impact and small overlap front tests.