Toyota Highlander vs Honda Pilot

Midsize SUVs are the most popular vehicles in the automotive world, and they slot neatly between compact and full-size SUVs. These cars tend to meet everyone’s needs — they provide interior comfort and excellent safety features. You can also expect plenty of space for your cargo. The Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander are excellent choices for a midsize SUV. Like almost every crossover SUV, they have three rows of seats. If you’re having difficulty choosing between the Pilot and Highlander, our Performance Toyota  comparison below is there to help you sort out the tiniest details.

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What’s New for 2022?

The Toyota Highlander comes in a range of trim levels: the Bronze edition, L, LE, XSE, XLE, Hybrid XLE, Hybrid XLE Bronze, Limited, Hybrid Limited Platinum, Hybrid Platinum, and Hybrid LE. If you’re shopping for 2022, Toyota Highlanders offers a standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and an optional all-wheel drive (AWD) that varies depending on the Highlander model. The LE and L trim levels offer passenger seating for eight, while the Limited and XLE trim levels seat seven when opting for a second-row captain’s chair or eight if you add a bench seat. All other levels seat seven.

Honda replaced the Pilot’s familiar EX and LX trim levels with a base sport model in 2022. Other trim levels are Elite, Touring, Black Edition, TrailSport, Special Edition, and EX-L. All Honda Pilot trims feature a V-6 engine. All-wheel drive comes standard in the Elite, Black Edition, and the Pilot TrailSport trims, and all lower trims offer eight-passenger seating. The Touring trim is available with seven or eight seats, depending on whether you choose the second-row captain’s chair or a bench seat. The Black Edition and Elite trims have standard captain’s chairs.

Starting MSRP and Pricing

The Toyota Highlander has starting MSRP of $25,205 for the base L FWD model. The LE model starts at $37,405, the XLE at $ 40,405, and the XSE trim at $42,000. The luxurious trims cost a little more, with the Limited trim starting at $44,360 and the Platinum model starting at $47,560. The starting price of the Highlander is relatively high for a midsize, three-row SUV but is justified by its strong offering of standard features.

The MSRP for the front-drive Honda Pilot Sports is $37,580. EX-L starts at $39,810, SE begins at $40,410, and the TrailSport trim starts at $44,310.

Engine and Performance

The Highlander features a standard 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine with 265 horsepower and eight-speed auto transmission. It also comes as either FWD or AWD. The Hybrid version comes with a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine and two electric motors combined with 242 horsepower. This trim comes with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) and a choice between AWD and FWD. Handling is stable, and the ride is suitable for shuttling the family around.

The Pilot comes with a V-6 engine with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The upper trims come with 20-inch tires that enhance the vehicle’s appearance. The car rides relatively smoothly when loaded with passengers and cargo, and its light steering makes for easy maneuvering at parking speeds.

Fuel Economy and MPG

Toyota Highlander’s new turbocharged engine has a rating of 24 mpg combined, while the hybrid trims have a higher rating than the gas-fueled trims. The FWD variants have EPA ratings of 36 mpg and 35 mpg in the city and on the highway, respectively.

The Honda Pilot has a high fuel economy rate for such a large vehicle. According to EPA, the FWD trim achieves 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The rating for the AWD drops to 19 mpg and 26 mpg in the city and on the highway, respectively;.

Highlander vs Pilot Towing Capacity

Most Pilots offer a 7.3-inch ground clearance, but if you regularly drive on dirt or muddy roads, the TrailSport model is worth considering, as it offers 7.9 inches of ground clearance. An adequately equipped AWD Pilot offers a 5,000-pound tow rating versus only 3,500 pounds on FWD models.

All highlanders have a double AWD system. The entry-level system is improvised with hill-decent control and terrain modes. The upgraded AWD system on higher models includes torque vectoring technology to help increase grip. The Highlanders have a general ground clearance of 8 inches, and regardless of the drive configuration, a well-equipped highlander V6 highlander has a 5,000-pound tow rating.

Technology and Infotainment

Every model of Honda Pilot comes with an 8.0-inch screen size with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration. Honda has set a factory navigation system that starts at the TrailSport trim level. The Elite, Touring, and Black Edition feature a rear entertainment system that supports a Blu-ray player and a 10.2-inch display. Wireless charging pads for smartphones are also available on all models.

An 8.0-inch screen infotainment system is standard on most 2022 Toyota Highlanders, including Apple CarPlay and Android integration. A 12.0-inch touchscreen is standard on the Highlander Limited but optional on the Platinum model. The models have five USB ports, and you enjoy a wireless charging pad on the XLE trim and up. The Highlander Platinum features a head-up display system that boosts entertainment.

Safety and Driver Assistance

If you’re shopping for a 2022 Honda Pilot model, you’ll find a Honda Sensing package of advanced driving assistance. The sensing package consists of:

• A forward collision warning (FCW) system.
• Automatic emergency braking (AEB).
• Lane departure warning (LDW).
• Adaptive cruise control (ACC) with stop-and-go capabilities.
• Lane-keeping assistance (LKA).

Honda Pilot provides level two driving assistance with lane centering and ACC enabled. However, it’s worth noting that Honda Pilot uses older technology than competing SUVs, so its advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS) is not as refined or practical in operation.

2022 Toyota Highlanders have a TSS 2.5+ ADAS with FCW and AEB. This system is more advanced than what you’ll find in the Honda Pilot. Intersection turn assistance in all Highlanders helps prevent unwise left turns into oncoming cyclists, vehicles, and pedestrians. The Highlanders also have an LDW system that helps with tricky maneuvers, traffic sign recognition, ACC, and LKA.

The Toyota Highlander features impressive safety tech, a super-efficient hybrid option, and a nice interior, while the Honda Pilot has more interior space and a rugged TrailSport model. The right SUV for you depends on your intended use for the vehicle and budget.

At Performance Toyota, we offer some of the best deals on new SUVs. Visit our showroom for a test drive or contact us for any inquiries and information about our offerings.