Head-to-head
2026 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
The Honda Pilot edges it, 91 to 85.4, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo.
A
2026 Honda Pilot
The 2026 Honda Pilot is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pilot FWD, is EPA-rated at 22 mpg c…
vs
C2026 Toyota Grand Highlander
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 7 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Grand Highla…
More Honda Pilot head-to-heads More Toyota Grand Highlander head-to-heads Every Pilot vs Grand Highlander model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Honda Pilot
Slight edgeThe Honda Pilot edges it, 91 to 85.4, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo.
Tech & comfort 2026 Honda Pilot leads by 60.8
Fuel & range 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander leads by 39.2
Safety 2026 Honda Pilot leads by 14.7
| Category · weight | 2026 Toyota Grand Highlanderoverall 85.4 | 2026 Honda Pilotoverall 91 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 98.3 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 60.8 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 82.3 | 97 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 90.8 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 95 | 96.1 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 39.2 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 85.4 | 91 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Toyota Grand Highlander: base trim LE FWD · Honda Pilot: base trim Sport FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Honda Pilot wins
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (51 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (29 against 49 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 23.
Where the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander answers
- It costs $1,200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,850 against $3,050).
- It is rated 36 combined against 22 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
- 8 seats.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
52 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $41,660 | $42,395 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | 2,393 cc | 3,471 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Turbo | V6 |
| Fuel injection system | D-4S | Fuel Injection |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 16-Valve | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 265 hp | 285 hp |
| Torque | 310 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 21 mpg | 19 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 24 mpg | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 28 mpg | 27 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.329 | 4.167 |
| Transmission speeds | 8 | 10 |
| Transmission type | Direct Shift 8AT | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8 in | 7.3 in |
| Overall height | 70.1 in | 71 in |
| Overall length | 201 in | 200 in |
| Overall width | 78.3 in | 78.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 116 in | 114 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 97.5 cu-ft | 87 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 57.9 cu-ft | 48.5 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 20.6 cu-ft | 18.6 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 153 cu-ft | 158 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 41.5 in | 40.5 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.2 in | 40.2 in |
| Third-row headroom | 37.2 in | 39.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41.7 in | 41 in |
| Second-row legroom | 39.5 in | 40.8 in |
| Third-row legroom | 33.5 in | 32.5 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,290 lbs | 4,336 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,290 lbs | 4,336 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | 6,040 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent MacPherson strut suspension with stabilizer bar | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-link suspension with stabilizer bar | Multi-Link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power Steering (EPS); electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion | Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 19 ft | 37.8 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 340 mm | 351 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | epb | Electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | 339 mm | 330 mm |
| Rear brake type | ventilated disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 20 in |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | forged alloy |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | — | 255/50 R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.8 gal | 18.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | — | HondaLink |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 60.2 in | 61.9 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 58.8 in | 61.7 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 57.5 in | 59.5 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
160 features · differences first, then sharedSafety28 differ · 44 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) —Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) | std | — |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | — | std |
| Advanced Front Airbags | — | std |
| Driver Attention Monitor | — | std |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) includes lower anchors and tethers on outboard second-row seats and tether anchor on third-row seats | std | — |
| 3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions | — | std |
| 3-point seatbelts for all seating positions; driver's-side Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) and Automatic/Emergency Locking Retractor (ALR/ELR) on all passenger seatbelts | std | — |
| Adjustable front seatbelt shoulder anchors and driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters | std | — |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Child-Proof Rear Door Locks | — | std |
| Child-protector rear door locks and power window lockout control | std | — |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) | — | std |
| Driver and front passenger seatbelt warning | std | — |
| Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake | — | std |
| Front & Mid Row Outer 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System | — | std |
| Hill Descent Control | — | std |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row All, 3rd-Row Passenger-Side), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All, 3rd-Row All) | — | std |
| Post-Collision Braking System | — | std |
| Rear Seat Reminder | — | std |
| Rear-passenger seatbelt reminder | std | — |
| Rearview Camera Washer | — | std |
| Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) | — | std |
| Seat Belt Reminder for all Seating Positions | — | std |
| Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | — | std |
| Traffic Jam Assist | — | std |
| Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow | std | std |
| Cross Traffic Monitor | std | std |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | std | std |
| Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | std | std |
| SmartVent® Front Side Airbags | std | std |
| Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | std |
| Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) | std | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlights | std | std |
| Blind Spot Information System (BSI) | std | std |
| Front Knee Airbags | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | std |
| Direct Ignition System with Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Tire Fill Assist and Location and Pressure Indicators | std | std |
Infotainment20 differ · 20 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi® Hotspot Capability | — | std |
| Seven USB-C ports (one media port and six charging ports) and two 12V outlets | std | — |
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | — | std |
| 10.2-Inch Digital Instrument Cluster | — | std |
| 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | std | — |
| 12.3-Inch Color Touchscreen | — | std |
| 245-Watt Audio System with 9 Speakers, including Subwoofer | — | std |
| 3.0-Amp USB Type-C Charging Port - 2nd Row (2 Ports) | — | std |
| 3.0-Amp USB Type-C Charging Port - Front Console (1 Port) | — | std |
| 3.0-Amp USB Type-C Smartphone / Audio Interface - Front Console (1 Port) | — | std |
| 6-speaker audio system | std | — |
| CabinTalk® In-Car PA System | — | std |
| Google built-in (includes 3-Years Unlimited Data Plan for In-Vehicle Apps) | — | std |
| HD Radio™ | — | std |
| HondaLink® | — | std |
| HondaLink® Subscription Services | — | std |
| Radio Data System (RDS) | — | std |
| Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC) | — | std |
| Wireless Android Auto™ Compatibility | — | std |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | — | std |
Convenience10 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Key Fob Activated Remote Engine Start | — | std |
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front) | — | std |
| Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| Height-adjustable power liftgate with jam protection | std | — |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | — | std |
| Power Door and Tailgate Locks | — | std |
| Power door locks with shift-linked automatic lock/unlock feature | std | — |
| Power Lift Tailgate | — | std |
| Programmable Remote Entry | — | std |
| Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock® (Front Door and Tailgate) | — | std |
| Push Button Start | std | std |
| Power Windows with Auto-Up / Down All 4 Windows | std | std |
Climate1 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-Seat Heater Ducts | — | std |
| Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control System with Humidity Control, Air Filtration | std | std |
Seating13 differ · 13 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric-trimmed front- second- and third-row seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support; 4-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| Heated Front Seats | — | std |
| Fabric-trimmed front- second- and third-row seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support; 4-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| 40 / 20 / 40 Split, Flat-Folding 2nd-Row Seats | — | std |
| 60/40 Split, Flat-Folding 3rd-Row Bench Seat | — | std |
| 8-passenger seating with 60/40 split, sliding and reclining fold-down second-row bench seats; 60/40 split, fold-down third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | std | — |
| Adjustable Seat-Belt Anchors (Front Row) | — | std |
| Driver's Seat with 10-Way Power Adjustment, including 2-Way Power Lumbar Support | — | std |
| Fabric-trimmed front- second- and third-row seats; 8-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support; 4-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat | std | — |
| Front Passenger's Seat with 4-Way Power Adjustment | — | std |
| Head Restraints at all Seating Positions | — | std |
| On-Demand In-Trunk Seat Storage | — | std |
| One-Touch Flat-Folding 2nd-Row Seats | — | std |
Interior21 differ · 21 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 13 cup and bottle holders | std | — |
| Beverage Holders (Front Row-4 / 2nd-Row-6 / 3rd-Row-4) | — | std |
| Cargo Area Light (LED) | — | std |
| Combination meter with analog gauges and 7-in. color Multi-Information Display (MID) with fuel economy, Driver Assist, vehicle/trip information, and warning messages | std | — |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Seatback Pockets | — | std |
| Floor Mats | — | std |
| Garment Hooks (2nd row, 2 total) | — | std |
| Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls | — | std |
| Interior Ambient LED Lighting | — | std |
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | — | std |
| Lockable Glove Compartment | — | std |
| Multi-Functional Center Console Storage | — | std |
| Silver-painted dashboard trim and matte gray metallic door trim | std | — |
| Sliding Sunvisors | — | std |
| Soft-touch roll-top center console with removable utility tray | std | — |
| Sunglasses Holder | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column | — | std |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Manual Anti-Glare Rearview Mirror | std | — |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | std | — |
| Overhead console with sunglasses storage and maplights | std | — |
Exterior30 differ · 32 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| LED headlights | std | — |
| 18-in. 5-spoke silver wheels | std | — |
| Acoustic Laminate Front Side Glass | std | — |
| Active Shutter Grille | — | std |
| Black front lower bumper | std | — |
| Black rear lower bumper | std | — |
| Black-painted front grille | std | — |
| Color-keyed outside door handles | std | — |
| Compact Spare Tire | — | std |
| Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature | std | — |
| Dual Gloss Black Exhaust Finishers | — | std |
| Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna | — | std |
| Gloss Black Roof Rails | — | std |
| Heated Power Side Mirrors with Integrated LED Turn Signal and Reverese Gear Tilt-Down | std | — |
| Intermittent Rear Window Wiper/Washer | — | std |
| LED Brake and Taillights | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED Fog Lights | — | std |
| LED Headlights with Auto-On / Off | — | std |
| LED taillights | std | — |
| Power Side Mirrors | — | std |
| Push-to-Release Fuel Filler Door | — | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield washer and backup camera washer | std | — |
| Rear Privacy Glass | — | std |
| Rear spoiler with LED center high-mount stop light | std | — |
| Security System | — | std |
| Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers | — | std |
| Windshield wiper de-icer | std | — |
| Privacy glass on rear side, quarter and liftgate windows | std | — |
| Spare Tire/Wheel Temporary | std | — |
| Acoustic Laminate Windshield | std | std |
| Rear-Window Defroster with Timer | std | std |
Powertrain9 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd-Gen Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VTM 4 ™) AWD System | — | opt |
| Integrated Drive Modes | — | std |
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | — | std |
| Active Control Engine Mount System (ACM) | — | std |
| Active Noise Cancellation™ (ANC) | — | std |
| Eco Assist™ System | — | std |
| Idle-Stop | — | std |
| Integrated Drive Modes | — | std |
| Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) | — | std |
| Front-Wheel Drive | std | std |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS) | — | std |
| MacPherson Strut Front Suspension | — | std |
| Multi-Link Rear Suspension | — | std |
| Unit-Body Construction | — | std |
Cargo2 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cargo Area Bag Hooks | — | std |
| Cargo Area Tie-Down Anchors (4 Total) | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPToyota Grand Highlander
Safety Signal 79 C
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 4
Owner complaints 49 · 2 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Unspecified (15), Structure (10), Engine (8)
Top recalls
- high Steering 26V598000 · 617 vehicles
- high Power Train 26V437000 · 5,408 vehicles
- moderate Back Over Prevention 25V744000 · 1,024,407 vehicles
- minor Equipment 26V179000 · 8,230 vehicles
Honda Pilot
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 29 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Steering (15), Unspecified (7), Seat Belts (5)
Top recalls
- high Suspension 26V424000 · 3,933 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Toyota Grand HighlanderLE FWD | Honda PilotSport FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $41,660 (base trim) | $42,395 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $41,660 – $59,575 14 trims | $42,395 – $55,195 8 trims |
| Powertrains | HEV, GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Grand Highlander Hybrid | Pilot FWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 36 | 22 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $1,850 | $3,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 2 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2026 Honda Pilot?
The Honda Pilot edges it, 91 to 85.4, on tech & comfort, safety, performance. The Toyota Grand Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and space & cargo. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Honda Pilot scores 91 and the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander 85.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2026 Honda Pilot?
The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander starts lower — $41,660 against $42,395, a gap of $735 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander or the 2026 Honda Pilot?
2026 Toyota Grand Highlander: 5 NHTSA stars, grade C, 4 recalls. 2026 Honda Pilot: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander and the 2026 Honda Pilot?
Where the 2026 Honda Pilot wins: it lists more comfort and tech equipment (51 points against 20 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), has drawn fewer owner complaints (29 against 49 filed with NHTSA), and lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 23. Where the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander answers: it costs $1,200 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,850 against $3,050) and is rated 36 combined against 22 (EPA mpg or MPGe). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars and 8 seats.