Toyota and Honda have been battling it out for decades. Both are great manufacturers, and that can make picking between SUVs hard. Should you get the Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot? The two are very similar when it comes to price, fuel economy, and cargo space, but one’s packing a little more under the hood.
Price
The price of a vehicle can be a major determining factor. After all, most people already pay a lot in other bills, and there’s no reason to tack on a huge car payment. Since these are large SUVs, they’ll have a higher price tag than a compact SUV or your average sedan. Thankfully, Honda and Toyota have kept these vehicles at a relatively reasonable price.
The Highlander is technically the most expensive of the two, with a starting MSRP of $39,270, but the Pilot is only marginally lower, with a starting MSRP of $37,090. A price difference of $2,200 doesn’t really mean anything when you’re shelling out 35 grand at least.
Fuel Economy
Just because you’re getting an SUV doesn’t mean that you should have to pay a ridiculous amount to fill it up. Toyota puts a high value on having a good fuel economy, so it isn’t surprising that the Highlander has generally better mileage. It gets an estimated 22 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
Honda lists the Pilot as having 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. In the end, you may not be able to notice a one or two miles per gallon difference, but it could amount to some savings throughout the years.
Cargo Space
These larger SUVs are ideal for going on camping trips during the weekend or just escaping to the mountains for a bike ride, but you need enough space for all your gear. Again, the two manufacturers are very competitive. The Toyota Highlander measures 16 cubic feet behind the third row, which grows to 84.3 cubic feet when the seats are stowed.
The Honda Pilot does have more room, but it’s minimal at best. Behind the third row, drivers can get 18.5 cubic feet of cargo space. After folding the seats down, drivers can get a maximum of 109.2 cubes. The extra space may be meaningful if you spend a lot of time with the seats up, but the stowed cargo space has a minimal difference.
Powertrain
How powerful is your SUV? The Honda Pilot is equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine which gets 285 horsepower and 262 lbs-ft of torque. The standard engine on the Toyota Highlander is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. If you’re looking for more power under the hood, the Pilot may be your best bet, but the Highlander will save you on fuel. It’s a trade-off.
