2025 Nissan Pathfinder vs. 2026 Toyota Highlander: A Three-Row Showdown
Two of the biggest names in the three-row SUV game keep showing up on Newnan shopping lists: the 2025 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2026 Toyota Highlander. Both are well-built, both are loaded with safety tech, and both can haul a family across Georgia without breaking a sweat. So how do they really stack up when you put them side by side? Here is the breakdown, category by category, and where the Pathfinder earns its spot in the driveway.
Power and performance
The biggest difference between these two SUVs lives under the hood. The 2025 Pathfinder runs a 3.5-liter DOHC V6 making 284 horsepower, paired with a 9-speed automatic. The 2026 Highlander goes the small-displacement, big-boost route with a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder rated at 265 horsepower and an 8-speed.
That is a 19-horsepower advantage for the Pathfinder, and you feel it on highway merges and when the cabin is full. The 9-speed also gives the Pathfinder more gears to find the sweet spot than the Highlander's 8-speed, especially on hilly stretches around Fairburn and Carrollton. The V6 delivers its power smoothly and predictably, where the Highlander's turbo can feel a beat less linear off the line.
Interior and comfort
Both SUVs seat up to eight with bench seating, or seven if you choose the second-row captain's chairs. Standard amenities are similar across the board: dual-zone climate, rear climate controls, audio controls on the steering wheel, proximity keyless entry, and remote keyless entry.
Move up the trim ladder and both offer heated and ventilated front and rear seats. The Pathfinder edges ahead slightly on cargo room with 16.6 cubic feet behind the third row versus the Highlander's 16.0, which adds up over a year of grocery runs and weekend trips. Both cabins are quiet, but the Pathfinder's reclining and folding 60/40 second and third rows give you a touch more flexibility when the family load keeps changing.
Fuel economy and daily driving
The MPG numbers are close. The Pathfinder posts 20 city and 27 highway, while the Highlander squeezes out 21 city and 28 highway. That is a single MPG either direction, which works out to maybe a tank's worth of extra range over a few thousand miles.
What the Pathfinder loses by a hair on the EPA sticker, it gives back in feel. The V6 and 9-speed combination keeps the cabin quieter at cruise on I-85, and the throttle response off the line beats waiting for the Highlander's turbo to spool. For Sharpsburg and Tyrone drivers spending real time on Georgia highways, the Pathfinder is the one that feels effortless.
Technology and safety
Both SUVs check the standard safety boxes: automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, backup cameras, brake assist, and stability and traction control. Where the Pathfinder pulls ahead is what comes on top of that baseline.
The Pathfinder adds speed-adaptive steering, rear parking sensors, and lane-keeping assist warning as standard kit, none of which are matched on the Highlander. It also offers more airbags overall, including rear side airbags that the Highlander leaves off the list. If you are spending money on a family vehicle, those extras add up to real peace of mind.
Price and value
This is where the Pathfinder really makes its case. It starts at $36,400, while the Highlander rings in at $45,270. That is roughly $8,870 between them at base, a significant chunk of money.
Even comparing similarly equipped trims, the Pathfinder undercuts the Highlander by around $4,000. You can think of that gap as a longer warranty, a nicer trim level, a stack of accessories, or just money that stays in your pocket. Either way, the Pathfinder gives you more horsepower, more standard safety features, and more cargo space, all at a notably lower price. That is the definition of value in the three-row segment.
The verdict
The 2026 Highlander is a fine vehicle. Toyota has earned its reputation. But put it next to the 2025 Pathfinder and the numbers tell a clear story: Nissan brings more horsepower, a smarter 9-speed transmission, more standard safety equipment, slightly more cargo space, and a base price almost $9,000 lower.
For families across Newnan, Fairburn, Sharpsburg, Carrollton, and Tyrone, the Pathfinder is the three-row SUV that does more for less. It is not a close call on the spec sheet, and it gets less close once you take one for a test drive.
Test drive a 2025 Pathfinder at ALM Nissan Newnan
The best way to see the difference is to feel it. Visit ALM Nissan Newnan, climb into a 2025 Pathfinder, and we will walk you through every trim, every feature, and every reason this is the better buy. Our team serves drivers across Newnan, Fairburn, Sharpsburg, Carrollton, and Tyrone. Schedule a test drive online or just stop by, and we will help you compare the Pathfinder against whatever else is on your short list.