The Japanese SUV That Offers Better Value For Money Than A Toyota Land Cruiser

SUVs continue to be the most popular vehicle type and great offerings in that segment are more plentiful than ever before. When it comes to reliable Japanese SUV models, Toyota and Honda are considered the old guard for longevity. Although Toyota had some issues with its new V-6 engine, those were taken care of and the brand's reputation for reliability is still pretty good. Honda has been consistent in this department too, but one other Japanese SUV proves that you can get the same and more, for a lot less. 

I recently had a very thorough look at the Nissan Pathfinder, which is currently one of the most underrated Japanese SUVs you can get. Despite Nissan being in a tought spot and not having as great of a reputation for reliability as Toyota and Honda, here's why the Nissan Pathfinder provides a much better value for money than Toyota and Honda's offerings in the segment. 

A proven powertrain that packs surprising amount of performance 

Toyota made a bold move to make the Land Cruiser a hybrid and while the engine seems to be holding up better than Toyota's V35A engine, some customers frown upon the lack of a V-6. That's where the Nissan Pathfinder comes in. The Japanese SUV comes with only one engine option – a VQ35 DDTT. The normally-aspirated, 3.5-liter V-6 is a well-known and proven platform that now features direct fuel injection (hence the “DD” designation at the end of the engine code).

The Nissan Pathfinder's V-6 mill produces 284 horsepower at 6,400 RPM and 259 pound-feet at 4,800 RPM. Another upgrade from the previous model is that Nissan dropped the dreadded Jatco CVT in favor of a nine-speed automatic. Although the V-6 Pathfinder lacks the low-end torque of Toyota's hybrid powertrain, performance tests reveal that the Pathfinder can sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds, which is much better than the Land Cruiser J250's 8.0-second achievement.  

The Nissan Pathfinder is a great off-roader, but best on the road

While you can still go off the beaten path in the Nissan Pathfinder, its unibody construction suggests this SUV is meant to be used primarily on the road. This is where Toyota Land Cruiser's body-on-frame chassis makes it a better off-road vehicle.

Of course, this comes at the cost of on-road handling, which is where the Pathfinder does a slightly better job than the retro-styled Toyota SUV. The J250 Land Cruiser also has better ground clearance – up to 8.7 inches versus the Nissan Pathfinder's 7.1 inches. You would think the J250 Land Cruiser has better greater towing capacity than the Pathfinder, but actually, they are both tied at 6,000 pounds.   

More practical interior and better quality 

Yes, I said it. The Nissan Pathfinder has a better interior than the Toyota Land Cruiser. I am specifically talking about the material quality. Toyota's interior is meant to be more utilitarian and rugged than luxurious while the Pathfinder's cabin features a lot more soft-touch materials.  

The infotainment department is one place where the Toyota one-ups the Nissan. The Pathfinder comes with a 9.0-inch touchscreen. You get satelite navigation and wireless Apple CarPlay as standard. Android Auto is also standard, but it is not wireless. The Land Crusier J250 comes, standard, with an 8.0-inch touchscreen, but a 12.3-inch is optional. Navigation, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto are standard in the J250 Land Cruiser. 

Practicality is great on both SUVs, but only the Nissan offers third-row seating. With the third-row up, you are still getting 7.23 cubic feet of luggage space. Without third-row seating, the Nissan Pathfinder offers up to19.6 cubic feet, but if you fold the second-row, yo uget up to 80.52 cubic feet of cargo space. 

The Toyota Land Crusier J250 offers 37.5 cubic feet with the second-row seats up, which is best in class. If you want third-row seating in your J250, you have to go to the Lexus GX550 since the Land Crusier doesn't offer that in any trim. 

The main reason to buy a Nissan Pathfinder 

I recently spoke about Nissan and Infiniti models that should be your go-to options for 2025, and the Pathfinder is among them. The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder has a starting MSRP of $38,460, but Nissan currently has a lot of inventory. If you are willing to settle for a 2024 model year, yo ucan find great deals on this Japanese SUV for around $28,000.  

To put things in perspective, the 2025 Toyota Land Cruiser starts at $57,600, although there is a good reason why Toyota dealerships are selling certain J250 Land Crusiers for under MSRP. That said, Toyota models typically hold their value extremely well—something the Pathfinder is already showing to be incapable of. But does it really matter? 

Perhaps you already own one of these Japanese SUVs? Let us know if you would pick the Nissan Pathfinder over the Toyota Land Cruiser, by sharing your thoughts in the comment section below. 

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image source: 2025 Nissan Pathfinder