Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander
Looking at the Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander, you have two SUVs ready for the road ahead. Here at Tim's Truck Capital, we have plenty of SUV inventory to select from, including models like the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, both of which are popular for their design, performance, safety, and technology. In this post, we will break down everything that sets the two vehicles apart and what makes them similar, helping you to conclude which is best for your everyday lifestyle. Read more about the Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander below!
The Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander: At a Glance
Both the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander fall into the three-row SUV category, offering plenty of room for people in the front, middle, and rear rows. However, size-wise, the Pilot is slightly bigger than the Highlander, offering more cargo volume and space for passengers, which is noteworthy. The Pilot and Highlander pricing is close, with both models starting around $40,000 brand-new.
The Toyota Highlander is more fuel efficient when compared to the Honda Pilot and scores better in reliability, so in that respect, it wins "overall."
Interior
Looking inside the Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander, these SUVs share a modern aesthetic, especially in newer-generation releases. As we shared above, the Pilot beats the Highlander in overall cargo and passenger space, although it won't be by much.
For example, the Pilot boasts 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.5 cubic feet behind the second row, and 87 cubic feet with all rear seats folded down. Inside the Highlander, you get 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row, and 84.3 cubic feet with all rear seats folded down.
The passenger volume inside the Highlander will be 141.8 cubic feet, while the Pilot boasts up to 158.4 cubic feet in its Sport and EX-L trims.
- Honda Pilot seating: Up to 8 people (7 with second-row Captain's chairs)
- Toyota Highlander seating: Up to 8 people (7 with second-row Captain's chairs)
Exterior and Design
The outside design and sizing of the Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander are pretty similar at a quick look, even though the Pilot does trump the Highlander in overall measurements. In their design, the Pilot and Highlander focus on a bold grille design, rounded side profiles, LED exterior front and rear lighting, and distinct tires and wheels.
The Pilot is noticeably bigger than the Highlander, with its measurements totaling:
- Wheelbase: 113.8 inches
- Length: 199.9 inches
- Width: 78.5 inches
- Height (Sport, Touring, Elite, Black Edition / EX-L / TrailSport): 71.0 inches / 70.9 inches / 72.0 inches)
Now, for the Toyota Highlander, your exterior measurements are as follows:
- Wheelbase: 112.2 inches
- Length: 194.9 inches
- Width: 76 inches
- Height: 68.1 inches
- Which is bigger: the Honda Pilot
Engine and Performance
Getting into the engine and performance details of a Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander, these SUVs have seen their fair share of changes in modern times. For instance, the newest-gen Honda Pilot uses a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, making 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It will come standard with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
For your Toyota Highlander, this SUV offers a 2.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder engine with 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This model will come standard with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Front-wheel-drive is standard for most Pilots and Highlanders, with all-wheel-drive being available in higher trims.
Fuel Economy and MPG
For your fuel economy and MPG ratings between a Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander, the Highlander outshines Honda overall. As we said, the Highlander is smaller than the Pilot, weighing less and eating less mileage on the road. However, exact ratings will be as follows in newer releases (2020- present):
Toyota Highlander
- City: 22 MPG
- Highway: 29 MPG
- Combined: 25 MPG
Note: In the Highlander Hybrid, you see fuel figures of 35 city/35 highway/35 combined, making that an even more impressive option.
Honda Pilot
- City: 19 MPG
- Highway: 27 MPG
- Combined: 22 MPG
The Honda Pilot's MPG ratings decrease with AWD, as we would expect, so if you want the best possible fuel economy, you want to select an FWD option.
Safety Features
Looking at the safety specs for the Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander, both options prove worthy of putting your trust in. In newer releases, Toyota and Honda have rolled out comprehensive safety suites to keep all three rows of passengers as safe as possible. The Honda Pilot has earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick award for its crashworthiness, while the Highlander earns the same title from IIHS. That puts them on even playing fields for awards and scoring, with each brand having its own unique set of driver-assistance features that are standard and optional.
Honda Pilot safety:
- Honda Sensing Suite
- Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
- Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
- Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
- Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
- Blind Spot Information System (BSI)
- Rear Cross-Traffic Alert
- Traffic Sign Recognition (TSR)
- Automatic High Beams
- Multi-Angle Rearview Camera
Toyota Highlander safety:
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.5
- Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection
- Lane Tracking Assist
- Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist
- Dynamic Radar Cruise Control
- Road Sign Assist
- Automatic High Beams
Infotainment and Connectivity
The infotainment and connectivity of the Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander are also exciting, with either vehicle offering quite a bit for you across all three rows. With the Pilot from Honda, you get a 7.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system standard, with an optional 9.0-inch screen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto in all non-Sport trims. Elite and Black Edition models also have a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster standard.
For your Highlander, the infotainment is decent, with this SUV seeing a standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 7.0-inch digital display in the gauge cluster (with a larger, all-digital 12.3-inch display in Limited and Platinum models), and a wireless smartphone charging pad for easy on-road charging.
Overall, the Highlander is better in infotainment capability.
Get the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander at Tim's Truck Capital
With this comparison between the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander complete, it's time to swing by Tim's Truck Capital to check out our pre-owned SUV inventory. We have plenty to choose from and cannot wait to find you a car that fits your lifestyle. Let's connect today!
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