The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Pathfinder doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Pathfinder doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn't react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Pathfinder doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

The Toyota Highlander has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Pathfinder doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Highlander Limited's optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Pathfinder doesn't offer a lane departure warning system.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Safety Connect™, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to help track down your vehicle if it's stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Pathfinder doesn't offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you're involved in an accident and you're incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Highlander and the Pathfinder have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Nissan Pathfinder:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2016, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Pathfinder is not even a standard “Top Pick” for 2016.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Nissan doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the Pathfinder.

There are over 11 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Nissan dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Highlander's warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Highlander's reliability will be 171% better than the Pathfinder.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 20th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Nissan vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Nissan is ranked 12th.

The Highlander's optional 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 10 more horsepower (270 vs. 260) and 8 lbs.-ft. more torque (248 vs. 240) than the Pathfinder's 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Highlander V6 is faster than the Nissan Pathfinder:

For better stopping power the Highlander's brake rotors are larger than those on the Pathfinder:

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Pathfinder:

For better traction, the Highlander has larger tires than the Pathfinder (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

The Highlander's standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pathfinder S/SV/SL's standard 65 series tires.

The Highlander's front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Pathfinder's (54.6% to 45.4%). This gives the Highlander more stable handling and braking.

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .81 G's, while the Pathfinder Platinum 4x4 pulls only .75 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Pathfinder Platinum 4x4 (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G's vs. 29.2 seconds @ .53 average G's).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a 1.5 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pathfinder (8 vs. 6.5 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Highlander is 6.1 inches shorter than the Pathfinder, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Pathfinder can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 1.9 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more rear headroom, 1 inch more rear hip room and 3.6 inches more third row hip room than the Pathfinder.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the Pathfinder.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Pathfinder's rear cargo window doesn't open.

The Highlander's standard front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Pathfinder's standard power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully. Only its driver's window opens automatically. The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches. With the Pathfinder SV/SL/Platinum's power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Pathfinder's headlights, which were rated “Good.”

The Highlander has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The automatic headlight on/off feature is not available on the Pathfinder S.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Highlander Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Pathfinder doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

The Highlander's standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Heated mirrors cost extra on the Pathfinder and aren't offered on the Pathfinder S.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Highlander Limited offers an optional Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Pathfinder doesn't offer an adaptive cruise control.

Standard Entune App Suite for the Highlander XLE/Limited/Platinum allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including reading text messages aloud, playing internet radio stations, tagging songs to buy them later, finding fuel prices at nearby service stations, searching the internet and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Pathfinder doesn't offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Highlander, connecting the driver and passenger's cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle's stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Nissan doesn't offer wireless connectivity on the Pathfinder S.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $390 to $2370 less than the Pathfinder over a five-year period.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the Highlander will retain 58.27% to 61.09% of its original price after five years, while the Pathfinder only retains 45.28% to 49.01%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $6286 to $7663 less than for the Nissan Pathfinder.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its August 2014 issue and they ranked the Toyota Highlander XLE AWD higher than the Nissan Pathfinder SL 4x4.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander second among midsize SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner's expectations. The Pathfinder isn't in the top three in its category.