Nissan Pathfinder vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 5,115 millimetres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a conservative yet blocky style, reminiscent of the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from black Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It boasted features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and a large centre console, making it a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, tested during a snowstorm, showcased its capability with the Rock Creek trim, equipped with 3-Peak Mud-and-Snow-rated tires and standard all-wheel drive. Redesigned for the 2022 model year, the Pathfinder offered a range of trims from S to Platinum, with the Rock Creek standing out for its adventurous look. It featured a V-Motion grille, stacked LED lighting, and a metal roof rack, emphasizing its off-road potential. Despite its rugged appearance, the Pathfinder was a unibody crossover, lacking additional ground clearance and protective skid plates. Inside, it offered cloth seats on lower trims, with leatherette-and-cloth upholstery in the Rock Creek. The interior was comfortable, with heated front seats and a moonroof available on higher trims. The Pathfinder's EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy access to the third row, even with a car seat in place, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-litre turbo four-cylinder producing 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, while the top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain delivered 362 horsepower and 400 combined net pound-feet of torque. All powertrains came with all-wheel drive in Canada. The Grand Highlander was not a sports car, but the Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The standard gas-engine model, expected to account for 85% of sales, was tested for its road manners, which were slightly less nimble than the smaller Highlander. The brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate, with three drive modes available: Sport, Eco, and Normal.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder featured a single engine option: a naturally aspirated 3.5-litre V6, producing 284 horsepower and 259 pound-feet of torque on most trims, with the Rock Creek trim offering 295 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous CVT, providing smooth shifts. The Pathfinder's towing capacity reached 2,720 kilograms on higher trims, surpassing competitors like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Grand Highlander. The Rock Creek trim's soft suspension was suitable for bumpy roads but resulted in a floaty ride on twisty roads. Fuel economy was moderate, with the Rock Creek averaging 13.6 L/100 km over a 320-kilometre evaluation. The Pathfinder offered seven drive modes, including Snow and Tow, with hill descent control standard across all models.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, with a length of over 5 metres and a wheelbase of 2,950 mm. This translated to a spacious interior, with a total cargo capacity of 2,761 litres, surpassing the Kia Telluride by over 300 litres. With seats in position, it offered 1,640 litres behind the second row and 583 litres with all three rows up. The Grand Highlander provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room, making it comfortable for adults in all rows.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, while smaller on paper, offered ample interior space for real-world needs. During a three-day ski trip with four adults, it accommodated skis, luggage, and groceries comfortably. Cargo space measured 470 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,274 litres with the third row folded, and 2,279 litres with both rows down. The Pathfinder featured a power liftgate on SV and Rock Creek trims, and its EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy access to the third row without removing car seats. The interior was comfortable, with three-zone climate control and supportive seats, although the front passenger seat required an upgrade for 10-way power adjustment.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering a visually stunning interface. An intelligent assistant was available via a connected-services subscription, handling tasks like temperature adjustment and radio changes. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an 11-speaker JBL stereo on higher trims. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were also available.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder's tech was less impressive, with an older interface compared to other Nissans. The software was functional but not fast, with dated graphics. Physical buttons and rotary knobs made it user-friendly, but the screen size was smaller than competitors. A 6-speaker stereo was standard, with a 13-speaker Bose system on the Platinum trim. NissanConnect supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with wireless projection available only on the 9-inch screen for Apple devices. Navigation was standard on higher trims, and a 12.3-inch TFT driver-information display was exclusive to the Platinum trim.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested by NHTSA or IIHS, but it included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This suite featured automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, automatic high beams, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder received a Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. It came with a comprehensive suite of ADAS, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, and ProPilot Assist. Traffic sign recognition was standard on higher trims.