2011 Land Rover Defender vs. 2012 Nissan Pathfinder
To start off, 2012 Nissan Pathfinder is newer by 1 year(s). Which means there will be less support and parts availability for 2011 Land Rover Defender. In addition, the cost of maintenance, including insurance, on 2011 Land Rover Defender would be higher. At 5,600 cc (8 cylinders), 2012 Nissan Pathfinder is equipped with a bigger engine. In terms of performance, 2012 Nissan Pathfinder (310 HP @ 5200 RPM) has 190 more horse power than 2011 Land Rover Defender. (120 HP @ 3500 RPM) In normal driving conditions, 2012 Nissan Pathfinder should accelerate faster than 2011 Land Rover Defender. With that said, vehicle weight also plays an important factor in acceleration. 2011 Land Rover Defender weights approximately 425 kg more than 2012 Nissan Pathfinder.
Both vehicles are four wheel drive (4WD) - it offers better handling, traction, and control in all driving conditions compared with front wheel drive or rear wheel drive vehicles. With that said, do keep in mind that many other factors such as speed and the wear on your tires can also have significant impact on traction and control. Let's talk about torque, 2012 Nissan Pathfinder (525 Nm @ 3400 RPM) has 165 more torque (in Nm) than 2011 Land Rover Defender. (360 Nm @ 2000 RPM). This means 2012 Nissan Pathfinder will have an easier job in driving up hills or pulling heavy equipment than 2011 Land Rover Defender. 2012 Nissan Pathfinder has automatic transmission and 2011 Land Rover Defender has manual transmission. 2011 Land Rover Defender will offer better control over acceleration and deceleration in addition to better fuel efficiency overall. 2012 Nissan Pathfinder will be easier to drive especially in heavy traffic.
Compare all specifications:
| 2011 Land Rover Defender | 2012 Nissan Pathfinder | |
| Make | Land Rover | Nissan |
| Model | Defender | Pathfinder |
| Year Released | 2011 | 2012 |
| Body Type | SUV | SUV |
| Engine Position | Front | Front |
| Engine Size | 2402 cc | 5600 cc |
| Engine Cylinders | 4 cylinders | 8 cylinders |
| Engine Type | in-line | V |
| Valves per Cylinder | 4 valves | 4 valves |
| Horse Power | 120 HP | 310 HP |
| Engine RPM | 3500 RPM | 5200 RPM |
| Torque | 360 Nm | 525 Nm |
| Torque RPM | 2000 RPM | 3400 RPM |
| Fuel Type | Diesel | Gasoline |
| Drive Type | 4WD | 4WD |
| Transmission Type | Manual | 5-speed shiftable automatic |
| Number of Seats | 7 seats | 5 seats |
| Number of Doors | 5 doors | 5 doors |
| Vehicle Weight | 2708 kg | 2283 kg |
| Vehicle Length | 4650 mm | 4884 mm |
| Vehicle Width | 2030 mm | 1849 mm |
| Vehicle Height | 2030 mm | 1847 mm |
| Wheelbase Size | 2800 mm | 2850 mm |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 75 L | 80 L |
