Head-to-head
2026 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Toyota Highlander
Too close to call: Honda Pilot 90.3 vs Toyota Highlander 88.4 with these weights. The Toyota Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and safety. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.9 and it flips.
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
A2026 Toyota Highlander
The 2026 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid …
More Honda Pilot head-to-heads More Toyota Highlander head-to-heads Every Pilot vs Highlander model year
Verdict · default weights
2026 Honda Pilot
Toss-upToo close to call: Honda Pilot 90.3 vs Toyota Highlander 88.4 with these weights. The Toyota Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and safety. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.9 and it flips.
Tech & comfort 2026 Honda Pilot leads by 41.2
Fuel & range 2026 Toyota Highlander leads by 37.5
Price 2026 Honda Pilot leads by 7
| Category · weight | 2026 Honda Pilotoverall 90.3 | 2026 Toyota Highlanderoverall 88.4 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | 100 | 93 | |||||||||||||||
Base MSRP of the trim (or the model's lowest trim). Lower is better. | |||||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 62.5 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 86.2 | 91.6 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 94 | |||||||||||||||
Seats, cargo volume behind the 1st and 2nd rows, rear legroom. | |||||||||||||||||
| Performancew 2 | 96.1 | 94.5 | |||||||||||||||
Horsepower, torque and horsepower per ton. | |||||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 58.8 | |||||||||||||||
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 | 90.3 | 88.4 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 6 of 7 categories compared
Honda Pilot: base trim Sport FWD · Toyota Highlander: base trim XLE AWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.9 and the answer flips.
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 37 standard driver-assist features against 12.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (51 points against 30 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It starts $3,175 lower ($42,395 against $45,570 base MSRP).
Where the 2026 Toyota Highlander answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 29 filed with NHTSA).
- It costs $1,150 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,900 against $3,050).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
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
54 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | $42,395 | $45,570 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | naturally aspirated | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 6 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | 3,471 cc | 2,393 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | V6 | 2.4-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged DOHC |
| Fuel injection system | Fuel Injection | D-4S |
| Valve configuration | DOHC 24-Valve | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 285 hp | 265 hp |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | 19 mpg | 21 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | 22 mpg | 24 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | 27 mpg | 28 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 4.167 | 3.329 |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 7.3 in | 8 in |
| Overall height | 71 in | 68.1 in |
| Overall length | 200 in | 195 in |
| Overall width | 78.5 in | 76 in |
| Wheelbase | 114 in | 112 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 87 cu-ft | 84.3 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 48.5 cu-ft | 48.4 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 18.6 cu-ft | 16 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | 158 cu-ft | 142 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | 7 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.5 in | 41.2 in |
| Second-row headroom | 40.2 in | 39.4 in |
| Third-row headroom | 39.3 in | 36.1 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 41 in | 42 in |
| Second-row legroom | 40.8 in | 38.7 in |
| Third-row legroom | 32.5 in | 28 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 4,336 lbs | 4,376 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 4,336 lbs | 4,376 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 5,970 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | MacPherson Strut | Independent MacPherson strut with stabilizer bar; trailing-wishbone |
| Rear suspension type | Multi-Link | Multi-link with stabilizer bar |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion | Electric Power Steering (EPS); power-assisted rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 37.8 ft | 18.7 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | 351 mm | 338 mm |
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Electronic | epb |
| Rear brake diameter | 330 mm | 338 mm |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 20 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | forged alloy | alloy |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | 255/50 R20 | P235/65R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 18.5 gal | 17.9 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | HondaLink | Toyota Connected Services |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | — | 12 months |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | — | 60 months |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 61.9 in | 59 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | 61.7 in | 58.7 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | 59.5 in | 55 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
164 features · differences first, then sharedSafety33 differ · 41 listed
| Feature | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow | std | — |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | std | — |
| Advanced Front Airbags | std | — |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | std | — |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | std | — |
| Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | std | — |
| SmartVent® Front Side Airbags | std | — |
| Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| Downhill Assist Control (DAC) | — | std |
| Driver Attention Monitor | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control (TSC) | — | std |
| 3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions | std | — |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | std | — |
| Auto High-Beam Headlights | std | — |
| Backup camera with projected path | — | std |
| Brake Assist | std | — |
| Child-Proof Rear Door Locks | std | — |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) | std | — |
| Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) | std | — |
| Electronic Parking Brake | std | — |
| Front & Mid Row Outer 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System | std | — |
| Front Knee Airbags | 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 | — |
| 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 | — |
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ — Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection (PCS w/PD), Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist (LDA w/SA), Automatic High Beams (AHB), Lane Tracing Assist (LTA), Road Sign Assist (RSA) and Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control (DRCC) | — | std |
| Traffic Jam Assist | std | — |
| Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) | std | — |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | std |
| Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) | std | std |
| Blind Spot Monitor (BSM) with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCTA) | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist Control (HAC) | std | std |
| Star Safety System™ — includes Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Traction Control (TRAC), Anti-lock Brake System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Smart Stop Technology® (SST) | std | std |
| Traction Control (TRAC) | std | std |
| Anti-theft system with alarm and engine immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitor System (TPMS) (individual tires) | std | std |
Infotainment28 differ · 29 listed
| Feature | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Assistance Button (SOS) | — | std |
| Stolen Vehicle Locator | — | std |
| Remote Connect — remotely interact with your vehicle through the Toyota app via your smartwatch | — | std |
| Safety Connect® — includes Emergency Assistance button, enhanced Roadside Assistance, Automatic Collision Notification and Stolen Vehicle Locator | — | 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 with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, USB media port, four USB charge ports, hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | — | opt |
| 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 |
| 8.0-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility, SiriusXM® with 3-month trial subscription | — | std |
| CabinTalk® In-Car PA System | std | — |
| Drive Connect — includes Cloud Navigation with Google Points of Interest (POI) data, Intelligent Assistant with Hey, Toyota, and Destination Assist | — | std |
| Five USB ports (one USB-A media port and four USB-C charging ports) and two 12V outlets | — | std |
| Google built-in (includes 3-Years Unlimited Data Plan for In-Vehicle Apps) | std | — |
| HD Radio™ | std | — |
| HondaLink® | std | — |
| HondaLink® Subscription Services | std | — |
| Over-the-Air (OTA) updates | — | std |
| Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging with charge indicator light | — | std |
| Radio Data System (RDS) | std | — |
| Service Connect — receive personalized maintenance updates and vehicle health reports | — | std |
| Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC) | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto™ Compatibility | std | — |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | std | — |
| Wi-Fi Connect — includes AT&T Wi-Fi hotspot and Integrated Streaming (Apple Music® and Amazon Music) compatibility | std | std |
Convenience10 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Height-adjustable hands-free power liftgate with jam protection | — | std |
| Key Fob Activated Remote Engine Start | std | — |
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front) | std | — |
| Capless Fuel Filler | std | — |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | std | — |
| Power Door and Tailgate Locks | std | — |
| Power Lift Tailgate | std | — |
| Programmable Remote Entry | std | — |
| Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock® (Front Door and Tailgate) | std | — |
| Two 12V outlets | — | std |
| Smart Key System on front doors and liftgate with Push Button Start, remote keyless entry system with lock, unlock, panic and liftgate functions; and remote illuminated entry | std | std |
| Power windows with auto up/down in all positions and jam protection | std | std |
Climate1 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-Seat Heater Ducts | std | — |
| Three-zone automatic climate control with air filter, separate second-row control panel, individual temperature settings for driver, front passenger and rear-seat passengers, and second- and third-row vents | std | std |
Seating14 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support | — | std |
| 40 / 20 / 40 Split, Flat-Folding 2nd-Row Seats | std | — |
| 60/40 Split, Flat-Folding 3rd-Row Bench Seat | std | — |
| 7-passenger seating with second-row fold-down captain's chairs and fold-down inboard armrests, adjustable headrests and two cup holders mounted on the floor; and 60/40 split, fold-flat third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | — | std |
| 8-passenger seating with 60/40 split, sliding and reclining fold-flat second-row bench seats; 60/40 split, fold-flat third-row seats with sliding headrests and recline function | — | opt |
| 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| Adjustable Seat-Belt Anchors (Front Row) | std | — |
| Driver's Seat with 10-Way Power Adjustment, including 2-Way Power Lumbar Support | 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 | — |
| SofTex®-trimmed front- and second-row seats; heated front seats; 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat including power lumbar support; 8-way power-adjustable front passenger seat | — | std |
| Heated front seats | std | std |
Interior19 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® universal garage door opener | — | std |
| 7-in. color LCD Multi-Information Display (MID) with odometer, trip/average fuel economy, cruising range, average speed, AWD torque distribution (AWD models only), cruise control guide, audio details, hands-free incoming call notices, telephone information | — | std |
| Beverage Holders (Front Row-4 / 2nd-Row-6 / 3rd-Row-4) | std | — |
| Cargo Area Light (LED) | 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-trimmed shift knob and heated tilt/telescopic leather-trimmed steering wheel | std | — |
| Lockable Glove Compartment | std | — |
| Multi-Functional Center Console Storage | std | — |
| Second-row sunshades | — | std |
| Silver-painted dashboard trim and painted door trim | — | std |
| Sliding Sunvisors | std | — |
| Sunglasses Holder | std | — |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column | std | — |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
| Dual sun visors with sliding function and illuminated vanity mirrors | — | std |
Exterior27 differ · 30 listed
| Feature | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| Power tilt/slide moonroof with sunshade and one-touch open/close | — | std |
| LED projector headlights | — | std |
| Acoustic Laminate Windshield | std | — |
| Active Shutter Grille | std | — |
| Compact Spare Tire | std | — |
| Dual Gloss Black Exhaust Finishers | std | — |
| Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna | std | — |
| Gloss Black Roof Rails | std | — |
| Heated power outside mirrors | — | std |
| High Solar Energy-Absorbing (HSEA) glass on front side windows | — | std |
| Intermittent Rear Window Wiper/Washer | std | — |
| LED Brake and Taillights | std | — |
| LED Headlights with Auto-On / Off | std | — |
| LED taillights | — | std |
| Outside mirrors with turn signal indicators | — | 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 | — |
| Silver-painted roof rails | — | std |
| Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers | std | — |
| Windshield wiper de-icer | — | std |
| Privacy glass on rear side, quarter and liftgate windows | — | std |
| Front and rear mudguards | — | std |
| Temporary spare tire/wheel | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | std | std |
| LED fog lights | std | std |
| Rear liftgate windshield defogger | std | std |
Powertrain10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| All-Wheel Drive | opt | std |
| Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD with Driveline Disconnect; Multi-Terrain Select (MTS) with dial | std | — |
| Front-Wheel Drive | 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 | — |
| Drive Mode Select — Eco, Normal, Sport modes | std | — |
| Eco Assist™ System | std | — |
| Idle-Stop | std | — |
| Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) | std | — |
Chassis4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD |
|---|---|---|
| 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, NCAPHonda 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
Toyota Highlander
Safety Signal 100 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 0
Owner complaints 4 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Back Over Prevention (1), Visibility/Wiper (1), Power Train (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Honda PilotSport FWD | Toyota HighlanderXLE AWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $42,395 (base trim) | $45,570 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | $42,395 – $55,195 8 trims | $45,570 – $54,975 7 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Pilot FWD | Highlander Hybrid AWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 22 | 35 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,050 | $1,900 |
| 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 Honda Pilot or the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
Too close to call: Honda Pilot 90.3 vs Toyota Highlander 88.4 with these weights. The Toyota Highlander is ahead on fuel & range and safety. Raise the fuel & range weight from 3 to 3.9 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Honda Pilot scores 90.3 and the 2026 Toyota Highlander 88.4. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which is cheaper, the 2026 Honda Pilot or the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
The 2026 Honda Pilot starts lower — $42,395 against $45,570, a gap of $3,175 at the trims compared here. Both are manufacturer MSRPs before destination, options and dealer charges.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Honda Pilot or the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
2026 Honda Pilot: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Toyota Highlander: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. 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 Honda Pilot and the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
Where the 2026 Honda Pilot wins: it lists 37 standard driver-assist features against 12, lists more comfort and tech equipment (51 points against 30 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and starts $3,175 lower ($42,395 against $45,570 base MSRP). Where the 2026 Toyota Highlander answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (4 against 29 filed with NHTSA) and costs $1,150 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($1,900 against $3,050). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.