Written byAs two of the best near-luxury three-row SUVs, the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Grand Highlander compete in several crucial areas. Both SUVs are equipped for families, adventurers, and daily commuters with a blend of performance and spacious interiors, leading-edge infotainment systems, and world-class safety. However, choosing what to buy can be tricky with all these similarities!
The Honda Pilot is known for its durability, toughness, and multi-function. It checks all the boxes with a V6, plenty of cargo space, and off-road-ready trims like the TrailSport for weekend excursions. Conversely, the Toyota Grand Highlander is more diverse with its powertrain options, including a fuel-sipping Hybrid Max model that provides impressive horsepower and torque without sacrificing MPG.
Both SUVs feature a high-quality cabin with excellent materials, simple infotainment systems, and plenty of space in the third row. The Grand Highlander has a bigger touchscreen and optional JBL premium audio system, while the Pilot has more cargo area and intuitive Honda Sensing safety aids.
So which of these SUVs suits your lifestyle more? Despite this, if you’re holding out for the one that best works for you—be it miles per gallon, cabin tech, or terrain handling—this in-depth shot at the Honda Pilot vs Toyota Grand Highlander comparison should help you land on a winner. So, let us look closer at their specs/features and see which one is the better value.
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Engine & Performance
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot borrows a familiar unit with a 3.5L V6 engine with approximately 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Like the Accord, the XSE is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth shifts and plenty of power for daily driving or road trips. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, but all-wheel drive (AWD) is available for extra traction. As a compromise for its V6 potency, it also improves its EPA estimate to 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.
Toyota Grand Highlander
In contrast, the Grand Highlander has two different powertrains. The 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder makes 265 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, just shy of the Pilot in hp but ahead of it in torque. If power and efficiency are a priority, the Hybrid Max combines the turbo engine with an electric motor to produce a whopping 362 hp and 400 lb-ft of torque. It is mated to an 8-speed automatic in the gas version and an eCVT in the hybrid. Available in FWD or AWD configurations, the fuel economy is good, at least for the gas model (21/28 mpg), and very good for the hybrid, which comes in at 36/32 mpg.
Winner: Toyota Grand Highlander
However, the Grand Highlander Hybrid Max takes the high road for fuel economy and torque. If you like your V6 to stay in its lane, the Honda Pilot is still a good choice.
Interior & Comfort
Whether for the family or the long haul, the Honda Pilot and Toyota Grand Highlander deliver strong offerings in interior space, tech, and plenty of upscale features. However, they appeal to slightly different priorities—cargo room versus tech-luxury.
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot offers an expansive and functional cabin with room for up to eight passengers. Family-friendly with a maximum cargo capacity of 111.8 cubic feet, this is the better option for anyone who often needs to cart luggage, gear, or groceries. The cabin emphasizes comfort, including tri-zone climate control, allowing each passenger to keep their preferred temperature. A 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system assists the car-mounted gadget with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and is covered as customary. Furthermore, the car is backed by leather seats and a panoramic sunroof for a touch of plushness, making it feel more upscale.
Toyota Grand Highlander
The Toyota Grand Highlander, meanwhile, also seats up to eight passengers but has a slightly lower max cargo volume at 97.5 cubic feet. But that is where it shines, finding the premium technology and luxury touches within. A more extensive 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system offers an even more expansive view, improving navigation and media controls. It also includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, just like the Pilot, but is even more comfy with front heated and ventilated seats. Audiophiles will appreciate the JBL premium audio system, which is an ideal companion for those long drives.
Winner: Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot is for you if you want greater cargo capacity and a more family-friendly design. But if you prefer a more premium environment, advanced tech, luxury features, and high-level audio, the Toyota Grand Highlander offers a more upscale experience. Either way, both SUVs offer an attractive cabin, which comes down to spacious practicality or high-tech comfort.
Technology & Infotainment
Both the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Grand Highlander boast modern technology and infotainment features, but they have some key differences.
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot offers a 9-inch touchscreen featuring a responsive interface for media, navigation, and vehicle controls. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support further enhance the smartphone interface. The sound is pleasing from the 7-speaker audio system (though a Bose performance audio upgrade is a smart way to add some nice stereo depth if you’re an audiophile). Also available is a Wi-Fi hotspot, keeping people on the run connected in the Pilot.
Toyota Grand Highlander
On the other hand, the Toyota Grand Highlander has an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen for a more engaging and user-friendly experience. Like the Pilot, it also offers wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, continuing the trend of smartphone integration with ease of use. This indicates that the Grand Highlander packs a JBL 11-speaker premium sound system, elevating the auditory experience. In addition, Toyota offers a standard Wi-Fi hotspot, keeping you connected when you need it most.
Winner: Toyota Grand Highlander
Toyota Grand Highlander wins here, which boasts the bigger 12.3-inch touchscreen and better JBL 11-speaker sound system. Official infographics show traditional tech available. The Honda Pilot may have competent enough infotainment, but the Grand Highlander has a leg-up on luxurious, immersive tech features, Safety & Driver Assistance Features.
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Honda Pilot (Honda Sensing Suite)
With the Honda Sensing Suite, the Honda Pilot features a collection of safety features designed to help keep the driver and passengers safe, as well as some additional convenience features. Notable features include:
- Collision Mitigation Braking System: Designed to automatically brake if a collision is unavoidable to help avoid or lessen the collision’s severity.
- Road Departure Mitigation: If the vehicle drifts from its lane without signaling, the system is designed to measure the likelihood of a road departure, alert the driver, and provide appropriate steering assistance.
- Adaptive Cruise Control: This feature automatically adjusts the Pilot’s speed to maintain a safe following distance in light and moderate traffic.
- Lane Keeping Assist: Gently steers the Pilot to help keep it centered in a detected lane.
Toyota Grand Highlander (Toyota Safety Sense 3.0)
Standard on the Toyota Grand Highlander is an advanced suite of driver assistance technologies known as Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which is designed to enhance safety with integrated features. Key features include:
- Pre-Collision System: This identifies potential vehicle-to-vehicle or vehicle-to-pedestrian collisions and can automatically apply the brakes if a crash is unavoidable.
- Lane Departure Alert: An alarm sounds when a vehicle crosses over lane lines unintentionally, and steering assistance can help guide the car back.
- Adaptive Cruise Control: Similar to the Pilot, the Grand Highlander also offers adaptive cruise control, which automatically adjusts speed about surrounding traffic to maintain a proper distance behind the vehicle ahead.
- Road Sign Assist: This feature identifies traffic signs and displays them in the instrument cluster to inform drivers about key road conditions.
Winner: Toyota Grand Highlander
Honda Pilot vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Safety features. On the other hand, Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 includes even more sophisticated and innovative assistance by leveraging artificial intelligence, such as the Pre-Collision System with pedestrian detection and Road Sign Assist, to make it even more relevant for you while driving. Toyota’s system is just a touch more advanced, providing a little more functionality, so we gave it the nod in this category for the extra tech you get out of it.
Pricing & Trim Options
Price and trim-level availability drive the decision between Honda Pilot and Toyota Grand Highlander to appeal to different budgets and tastes; both SUVs come in various trims. The Honda Pilot prioritizes decent base content with a relatively low entry price, while the Toyota Grand Highlander goes more upscale, especially with the available hybrid powertrain. Now, we will review trim levels and pricing for both models to see which one might be right for you.
Honda Pilot
- LX : $39,000
- Sport : $42,000
- EX-L : $45,000
- TrailSport : $50,000
- Elite : $54,000
Otherwise, the Honda Pilot hit a sweet spot across its trims with a solid mix of features that’ll work for various needs and budgets. Base LX models start at around $39,000 and come with the Honda Sensing suite of safety tech and a spacious interior. More typical of modern vehicles, the Sport trim adds a larger infotainment screen and upgraded audio.
The next step up is the EX-L at around $45,000, adding a bit of luxury with leather trim, power-adjustable passenger seat, and more advanced driver assistance features. Off-Road-Oriented, the approximately $50,000 TrailSport features off-road hardware with an upgraded suspension and a more rugged appearance, ideal for outdoor adventuring. At the top is the Elite trim, priced at nearly $54,000, which adds goodies like ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, and more advanced tech, including a 10-speaker sound system.
Toyota Grand Highlander
- XLE: $44,000
- Limited.: $49,000
- Platinum: $55,000
- Hybrid Max Platinum: Approximately $59,000
Toyota’s Grand Highlander starting price is a bit more premium, with the XLE trim starting at about $44,000. It offers a base level of equipment that includes a sizable touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and a suite of safety tech. A step up to the Limited trim for around $49,000 brings leather, a massive 12.3-inch digital display, a 360-degree camera setup, and additional luxury bits.
At just over $55,000, the next level up is the Platinum, with more premium features such as a premium audio system and advanced driver-assist technologies. The top-of-the-line Hybrid Max Platinum, approximately $59,000, features a hybrid powertrain that enhances performance and efficiency, making it an excellent fit for buyers who prioritize eco-friendliness.
Winner: Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot supports more affordable trims that still offer a healthy dose of features. At the same time, the Toyota Grand Highlander wins the day in more expensive selections—especially in the hybrid-powered Hybrid Max Platinum trim.
Conclusion: Which SUV Should You
Honda Pilot vs Toyota Grand Highlander Which one should you buy? The Honda Pilot is a good SUV, too, especially if you need more cargo space and a V6 engine. It’s big, it’s strong, it’s comfortable, and it’s ideal for families or anyone who requires more than average storage. Also, the Honda Pilot is an excellent price-to-value ratio choice if you want a dependable, budget-friendly SUV.
However, if those things sound exciting, the Toyota Grand Highlander must be on your shortlist for technology, hybrid, and luxury. Thanks to its classy tech features and luxurious interior, the Grand Highlander serves up a premium experience. It also adds a hybrid variant, making it more environmentally friendly with improved gasoline mileage and reduced emissions.
If you’ve got your eye on the Honda Pilot but need to stick to a budget, the Pilot is the more intelligent choice as it offers more bang for your buck. However, for anyone who is a technology buff or has mileage goals, the Toyota Grand Highlander is a great alternative. They both have their strengths, so the right one for you will come down to which one you prefer regarding space, tech, and performance.
