2015 head-to-head · Small SUV
2015 Nissan Xterra vs Toyota Highlander
MPG, range and what each one really costs you to fuel, from official EPA ratings and recalculated with your own gas and electricity prices.
The 2015 Toyota Highlander is the cheaper one to run. Driving 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, it costs about $2,114 a year to fuel (22 MPG), versus $2,583 for the 2015 Nissan Xterra (18 MPG). That's roughly $470 a year, or about $2,348 over five years.
Your numbers
Change these to match your driving and local prices. Every figure and chart on this page updates.
Fuel cost over 10 years
- Nissan Xterra
- Toyota Highlander
Side by side
| Nissan Xterra | Toyota Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| $2,583 | Your annual fuel cost | $2,114 |
| 18 MPG | Combined efficiency | 22 MPG |
| 16 MPG | City | 20 MPG |
| 22 MPG | Highway | 25 MPG |
| 489 g/mi | Tailpipe CO₂ (g/mi) | 398 g/mi |
| 4/10 | EPA fuel economy score | 5/10 |
| 4/10 | EPA greenhouse gas score | 5/10 |
| Gas | Powertrain | Gas |
| Regular gasoline | Fuel | Regular gasoline |
| 4.0L 6-cyl | Engine / motor | 2.7L 4-cyl |
| 5-speed automatic | Transmission | 6-speed automatic |
| RWD | Drivetrain | FWD |
✓ marks the better value. EPA scores run 1–10 (10 is best). Volumes come from the EPA interior volume index and aren't published for every body style.
Nissan Xterra vs Toyota Highlander across model years
- Nissan Xterra
- Toyota Highlander
Annual fuel cost of the most efficient configuration of each model year, at your prices. Click a point to open that year.
How they differ
Among 60 2015 small SUVs, the Nissan Xterra ranks 53rd and the Toyota Highlander 36th for lowest fuel cost.
Frequently asked questions
Which is more fuel-efficient, the 2015 Nissan Xterra or the 2015 Toyota Highlander?
Measured by cost to drive, the Toyota Highlander. The Nissan Xterra is rated 18 MPG combined and the Toyota Highlander 22 MPG (EPA, most efficient configuration of each).
How much does it cost to fuel the 2015 Nissan Xterra vs. the Toyota Highlander per year?
At 15,000 miles a year with $3.10/gal regular gas, about $2,583 for the Nissan Xterra and $2,114 for the Toyota Highlander.
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