Compared: 2024 Toyota Highlander vs. 2024 Nissan Pathfinder
These two midsize crossovers come with plenty of family-friendly features.
Toyota | Nissan
QuickTakes:
The 2024 Toyota Highlander and 2024 Nissan Pathfinder are prominent contenders in the three-row crossover SUV category. Both offer value and space, making them an excellent choice for families. Let's see how these two kid-haulers compare.
Toyota
The Pathfinder Is More Affordable and Better Equipped Than the Highlander
The gas-only 2024 Toyota Highlander has five trim levels (LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum). Pricing starts at $41,000 for a base front-wheel-drive (FWD) LE model. A mid-tier XLE with standard heated seats and a sunroof starts at $44,000, while a top-of-the-line Platinum (think leather and a JBL audio system, among other niceties) begins at $51,000. All-wheel drive (AWD) is optional across the board and adds $1,600 to $1,950, depending on the trim.
The Highlander is available as a hybrid, generally running $1,700 more than an equivalent non-hybrid.
Nissan
The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder has five trims: S, SV, Rock Creek, SL, and Platinum. The base FWD S starts at about $37,000, while stepping up to the SV with its heated seats, adaptive cruise control, and other driver-assistance tech nudges the price to $40,000.
The Rock Creek, starting at a little over $45,000, has some rugged styling features and standard AWD. On all other trims, AWD is a $1,900 option. A top-spec Pathfinder Platinum with leather seats — that are cooled and heated up front — rings in at $50,000. The Pathfinder isn't available as a hybrid.
Note that Toyota sells a longer, more spacious version of its Highlander called the Grand Highlander, but at $45,000 to start, it's not a direct competitor with the much cheaper Pathfinder.
Toyota
The Pathfinder Offers Strong Value but the Highlander Has More Rear-Seat Room
Despite being about 3 inches shorter than the Pathfinder, and even though both vehicles have 28 inches of third-row legroom, the Highlander has more legroom for second-row passengers, with 38.7 inches to the Pathfinder's 35.5 inches.
It also has more cargo room than the Pathfinder when you fold the third row, offering 48.4 cubic-feet to the Pathfinder's 45. With the third row in place, the Pathfinder has slightly more cargo volume, with 16.6 cu-ft, compared with the Highlander's 16 cu-ft.
The Highlander and Pathfinder take a different approach to their specialty trim levels. The Highlander's XSE trim emphasizes sportiness, with a unique front bumper and 20-inch wheels. The Pathfinder Rock Creek highlights dirt-road capability and has standard AWD, a re-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, special wheels, and more.
Nissan
Nissan's ProPilot Assist with Navi-link system can pilot the vehicle down the highway over short distances with minimal driver intervention, and it adjusts speed and braking based on the road ahead with help from the built-in navigation system. While the Highlander offers a comprehensive suite of active safety features, it's not designed to, for example, slow down for a curve on your route like the Nissan's system.
The Highlander's optional infotainment screen measures 12.3 inches, while the Pathfinder's is 9.0 inches. Audiophiles can upgrade to a 13-speaker Bose audio system in the Pathfinder or an 11-speaker JBL setup in the Highlander. Both models can be had with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
The Highlander has 14 cupholders, while the Pathfinder has 10 or 12. The Pathfinder has a removable storage bin between its second-row seats when optioned with captain's chairs.
The Pathfinder has the edge in towing, with up to 6,000 pounds of towing capacity, while the Highlander tops out with 5,000.
Toyota
Highlander Offers Better Fuel Economy All Around
The 2024 Highlander non-hybrid models use a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine making 265 horsepower. Highlander models with FWD return as much as 22/29/25 mpg in city/highway/combined driving, while AWD models see up to 21/28/24 mpg.
Highlander Hybrid models use a 243-hp 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric drive motors. The 2023 Highlander Hybrid returns 36/35/36 mpg with FWD, while AWD LE, LE Nightshade, XLE, and XLE Nightshade Hybrid models see 35/35/35 mpg. AWD Limited and Platinum trims see 35/34/35 mpg.
Nissan
The 2024 Nissan Pathfinder has a 284-hp 3.5-liter V6. Fuel economy comes in at 20/27/23 mpg for FWD models and 21/27/23 mpg for most AWD models. AWD Platinum models see 20/25/22 mpg, while the dirt-road-ready Rock Creek trim returns 20/23/21 mpg.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
