At a Glance: Pathfinder vs. Highlander

Research has brought you to the 2023 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2023 Toyota Highlander—but which model tops your list? At Montgomeryville Nissan, we can guide Montgomeryville, Lansdale, and Doylestown, PA, shoppers toward their top choices. In this comparison, you’ll see how the Nissan outshines the Toyota.

See the Difference for Yourself

INTERIOR

When you drive a large-and-in-charge SUV, you and your passengers may have certain expectations. While both the 2023 Pathfinder and the Highlander accommodate up to eight passengers, one model is better at making sure everyone on board has adequate room to be comfortable.

Step Inside the Cabin

Let’s step inside the cabin, shall we? While seating is similar with available heated seats in the first two rows, other features differ—like the memory settings in both cars. The Pathfinder provides two memory settings for the driver’s seat, ideal for you and the other driver in the family. The Highlander only offers one.

In the Nissan, more passenger volume means more space to stretch out. You’ll have 148.5 cubic feet, while the Toyota offers 141.8 cubic feet.

Interior Dimensions by Row

Now, let’s see what’s offered as far as the individual dimensions go:

Dimensions (first/third row)

Nissan Pathfinder

Toyota Highlander

Headroom

42.3/37.8 inches

41.2/36.1 inches

Hip Room

58.3/46.7 inches

57.2/45.6 inches

Legroom

44.3/28 inches

42/28 inches

Shoulder Room

(all 3 rows)

60.8/59.6/58.4 inches

59/58.7/55 inches

So, the Nissan is more amply spaced overall where you need it as compared to the Toyota.

TECHNOLOGY

Whether you have the whole crew in tow or are flying solo, you’ll want to have the necessary tech on board to remain informed, connected, and engaged. The Pathfinder and the Highlander come well-equipped to make any drive, whether a family road trip or a quick jaunt to the grocery store, more enjoyable.

Tech Similarities

These SUVs offer several similarities in the technology department. For example, you can upgrade either cabin with an available Head-Up Display or a wireless charger.

Both cars offer Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration to accommodate your phone and even offer an available wireless version to keep the dashboard tidy.

The Pathfinder dashboard glows with the anticipation of your next ride. Behind the wheel, an available upgraded 12.3-inch widescreen digital cluster details your car’s operations. The Highlander also offers an optional 12.3-inch Multi-Information Display on its highest trims.

Upgraded Experience

For similarly sized vehicles, the sound of your car stereo is more spread out in the Nissan. The available Bose® Premium Audio system comes with 13 speakers, while the Toyota’s upgraded JBL® audio system only offers 11.

Do you want to enable your entire crew to use their electronic devices on board? The available Wi-Fi Hotspot hooks up seven devices as opposed to the 5-device capability with Toyota Wi-Fi Connect.

PERFORMANCE

Of course, regardless of how much space and amenities your vehicle equips, you’ll want to be assured that it has enough power to reliably take you wherever you want to go. When you slip behind the wheel, you trust that what lies under the hood has enough get-up-and-go to do exactly that.

Find Your Performance

These two SUVs diverge when it comes to their powertrains. The Highlander relies on a 2.4L 4-cylinder engine that puts out 265 horsepower. Meanwhile, the Pathfinder equips a 3.5L V6 engine that generates 284 horsepower.

They also part ways when it comes to versatility in managing the road. The Pathfinder provides:

  • 9-speed automatic transmission
  • Drive and Terrain Mode switch with 5 modes
  • Available 4x4 system with 7 diverse modes

With the Highlander, its 8-speed automatic transmission determines your drives. Its Drive Mode Select system also falls short with just four modes. If you choose all-wheel drive, its Multi-Terrain Select system also has far fewer modes than the Pathfinder, so you won’t be able to customize your drive to as many types of conditions.

Towing Capacity

To optimize versatility and to make every trip memorable, select the SUV that provides the towing capacity needed to haul whatever you want to take along.

The Nissan Pathfinder tows a maximum of 6,000 pounds when properly equipped, while the Toyota tows up to 5,000 pounds. That extra 1,000 pounds could mean the difference between enjoying your preferred recreational toy and leaving it at home.

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