Nissan Pathfinder vs Toyota Land Cruiser

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was available in two trim levels, with the base model named the 1958, a nod to the year it first hit the US market. This version had a retro aesthetic, featuring round headlights, cloth seats, and basic equipment, available in three paint colors. Priced at $58,195, it offered a nostalgic appeal but lacked the modern amenities found in the more expensive Land Cruiser trim, which cost $62,965. The latter boasted a contemporary design, a wider color palette, and a more luxurious interior with larger screens and advanced off-roading capabilities. The Premium Package added leather upholstery, a Heritage Blue and Grayscape paint job, 20-inch wheels, and a roof rack, bringing the total cost to $71,004. Despite its utilitarian interior, the Land Cruiser provided a technologically advanced experience with dual 12.3-inch screens and intuitive steering-wheel controls.

The Land Cruiser's design emphasized off-road functionality, with a traditional two-box SUV shape that maximized clearances and visibility. Its dark gray cladding underscored its rugged utility, while the optional roof rack enhanced its cargo-carrying capabilities. Inside, the Java-colored leather added a touch of elegance, and the dual digital screens contributed to a high-tech feel. The vehicle's steering-wheel controls were notably more intuitive than those in the Lexus RX, making it user-friendly. Overall, the Land Cruiser combined classic SUV design with modern technology, offering a blend of practicality and sophistication.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder featured a mix of smooth and chunky design elements, with restyled front and rear fenders and a truck-like dashboard. The front bumper had faux vertical air intakes, and the grille sported a thin chrome line intersecting the Nissan badge. The rear design was simplified, and new wheel designs, a Baltic Teal paint color, and satin-colored badges were introduced. Inside, the Pathfinder received a significant update with a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, relocated buttons, and a redesigned steering wheel. The interior was simple yet modern, with semi-aniline leather on the Platinum trim adding a touch of luxury.

The Pathfinder's interior changes were more pronounced, with a wider touchscreen and relocated controls for improved usability. The steering wheel's new polygonal shape was a departure from the previous design, and the center console armrest lost its "Pathfinder" accent. Despite these changes, the interior remained user-friendly, with good materials and a balance of modern and classic elements. The Platinum trim's semi-aniline leather and diamond stitching elevated the Pathfinder's luxury quotient, bringing it closer to Infiniti levels of refinement.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with Toyota’s i-Force Max hybrid system, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission and an electric motor. This setup delivered 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque, with a full-time 4WD system and electronic locking differentials. It had a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds and featured standard off-roading aids like Downhill Assist Control and Crawl Control. The Land Cruiser trim added Multi-Terrain Select modes, a Multi-Terrain Monitor, and a front stabilizer bar disconnect. Despite an EPA rating of 23 mpg combined, real-world testing yielded only 15.7 mpg. The Land Cruiser excelled as a daily driver and off-road adventurer, though it struggled on twisty roads due to its suspension tuning.

The Land Cruiser offered a commanding driving position with excellent visibility, making it easy to maneuver both on and off the road. Its suspension absorbed rough terrain and city streets with ease, providing a comfortable ride. Off-road, features like the front stabilizer bar disconnect and Crawl Control enhanced its capability. However, its handling was less impressive on curvy roads, with noticeable body lean and nose dive during hard braking. The electric assist motor and turbocharged torque contributed to a powerful and responsive feel, but acceleration was modest. Overall, the Land Cruiser was best suited for slow and steady driving, excelling in urban and off-road environments.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder retained its naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter 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. It featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and offered FWD as standard, with AWD optional on most trims. The Pathfinder could tow up to 6,000 pounds with AWD. Despite its power figures, the Pathfinder's acceleration was sluggish, and it sounded labored, similar to competitors like the Honda Pilot and Kia Telluride. Without turbocharging or hybrid options, its power and efficiency lagged behind rivals like the Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer.

The Pathfinder's fuel economy was estimated at 21 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined for most trims, with the Rock Creek achieving slightly lower figures. During testing, the Rock Creek's off-road tires proved noisy and detrimental to grip and fuel economy. The Pathfinder's suspension was soft, allowing for more body lean and mid-corner motions than competitors. It excelled in straight-line driving, where its size and soft ride were advantageous. However, its steering lacked the precision found in smaller Nissan models, highlighting the need for improved ride and handling balance in future iterations.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser offered an upgrade from cloth upholstery to SofTex artificial leather in the Land Cruiser trim, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. 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 running boards were helpful for roof access but could hinder entry and exit for taller passengers. The rear window design was less practical than the 4Runner's, and the center console's cool box reduced storage space. The Land Cruiser provided 46.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats and 82.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, though the high load floor required effort to load heavy items.

The Land Cruiser's interior was utilitarian yet technologically advanced, with dual 12.3-inch screens and intuitive controls. The Java-colored leather added a touch of elegance, while the optional roof rack enhanced cargo-carrying capabilities. Despite its high price, the Land Cruiser offered a blend of practicality and sophistication, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a capable off-road vehicle with modern amenities.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder featured "Latch and Glide" second-row seats, allowing them to fold and slide forward with an installed car seat, making it family-friendly. It offered generous headroom and legroom in the first and second rows, while the third row was tight for taller passengers. The Pathfinder could seat eight or seven passengers, with captain's chairs available on upper trims. The Platinum trim offered a power-adjustable front passenger seat, while the base S had 10 cupholders, and other trims had 12. USB-C ports and a 120-volt AC power outlet were available, along with three-zone climate control.

The Pathfinder provided 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 45 cubic feet behind the second row, and 80.5 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded. A roof rack and power liftgate were standard on most trims, with the Platinum offering motion activation and position memory. The Rock Creek's roof rack supported up to 220 pounds. Visibility was good, and the analog controls made daily operation easy. Overall, the Pathfinder offered a practical and family-friendly interior with ample space and convenience features.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 7-inch digital driver display and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the base model, upgraded to dual 12.3-inch displays in the Land Cruiser trim. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Five connected service plans were available, including Service Connect, Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Wi-Fi Connect, and Drive Connect. 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 Land Cruiser's infotainment system was user-friendly, with a cloud-based navigation system and a conversational digital assistant. Voice recognition was accurate, and the JBL sound system provided decent audio quality. The Premium Package enhanced the vehicle's technological offerings, making it a well-equipped choice for tech-savvy buyers.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder came with Nissan's latest infotainment software on a 12.3-inch touchscreen, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Factory navigation was no longer available, but the system was easier to use and faster than before. SiriusXM satellite radio and NissanConnect remote services with in-car 5G Wi-Fi were standard. Upper trims introduced Qi2 wireless device chargers, Invisible Hood View, and Front Wide View. The SL trim gained a digital instrument panel, while the Platinum offered a head-up display and a 13-speaker Bose audio system.

The Pathfinder's infotainment system was intuitive and responsive, with clear displays and useful vehicle information. The Qi2 charger provided efficient wireless charging, and the camera views enhanced visibility. The Bose audio system delivered superior sound quality, making the Pathfinder a technologically advanced option for buyers seeking modern features.

The 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) designed to prevent accidents. It featured forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian, cyclist, and motorcyclist detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist offered semi-autonomous highway driving. Additional safety features included a road sign reader, automatic high-beam headlights, and Predictive 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 Land Cruiser's safety features were comprehensive, though some systems required manual intervention in challenging conditions. The front cross-traffic alert system proved valuable in daily driving, and the vehicle's crash-test ratings were respectable, though not exceptional.

The 2026 Nissan Pathfinder came with a full complement of airbags, including second-row side-impact airbags, curtain airbags for all three rows, and front knee airbags. The Platinum trim added a front-center side airbag. Standard driver aids included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, and junction assist. Active assists for lane-keeping and blind-spot systems were standard on SV and above trims. Traffic sign recognition and ProPilot Assist were available on higher trims. The Pathfinder earned five stars from the NHTSA, with four stars in the frontal crash test, and received "Good" ratings in IIHS side impact and small overlap front tests.

The Pathfinder's safety features were extensive, with additional airbags and driver aids enhancing protection. Its crash-test ratings were strong, making it a safe choice for families.