Toyota Highlander vs Honda Pilot: which one fits you?
The short answer
Pick the Highlander if you want a hybrid option and better fuel economy; otherwise the Pilot is close on the published specs. The Honda Pilot starts lower, at $42,395 against $46,270, before destination. Behind the back seats it's 48.4 cubic feet in the Highlander and 48.5 in the Pilot.
Our read: Pick the Highlander if you want a hybrid option and better fuel economy; otherwise the Pilot is close on the published specs.
| What you get | Toyota Highlander Public record | Honda Pilot Public record |
|---|---|---|
| Price range (MSRP) | $46,270–$55,675 | $42,395–$55,195 |
| Cargo, seats up / down | 48.4 / 84.3 cu ft | 48.5 / 87 cu ft |
| Ground clearance | 8 in | 7.3–8.3 in |
| All-wheel / four-wheel drive | Standard: on-demand all-wheel drive (Mechanical AWD (gas XLE); Dynamic Torque Vectoring AWD (gas XSE/Limited/Platinum); | Optional: on-demand all-wheel drive (2nd-Gen Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD) |
| EPA combined fuel economy | 24–35 mpg | 20–22 mpg |
| What owners report (My MPG) | Too few owner reports yet | Too few owner reports yet |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| NHTSA recalls, 2024–26 models | 7 campaigns | 8 campaigns |
Which one fits more of your stuff
With the back seats up the two are close: 48.4 cubic feet in the Toyota Highlander and 48.5 in the Honda Pilot. Bring a stroller or a suitcase to the test drive; the shape of the opening matters more than a cubic foot or two.
Fold the seats and the Honda Pilot holds 87 cubic feet to the Toyota Highlander's 84.3.
Behind the third row of the Toyota Highlander there are 16 cubic feet, which is the number that matters if every seat is full.
Behind the third row of the Honda Pilot there are 18.6 cubic feet, which is the number that matters if every seat is full.
What the all-wheel drive actually does
The Toyota Highlander comes with on-demand all-wheel drive on every version. Every 2026 Highlander has all-wheel drive, and it sends power to the rear wheels when the front ones need help.
The Honda Pilot comes with on-demand all-wheel drive, which Honda calls 2nd-Gen Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD, as an option. Sport and EX-L are front-wheel drive with AWD optional. TrailSport and higher trims come with AWD that can shift power between the rear wheels for grip.
How each handles rough roads and deep snow
Ground clearance is close: 8 in for the Toyota Highlander and 7.3–8.3 in for the Honda Pilot. Neither has a real advantage on rough roads.
Toyota Highlander: KBB lists 8 in minimum on all trims.
Honda Pilot: 7.3 in on all trims except TrailSport, which has 8.3 in.
Engines, hybrids and what they change
The Toyota Highlander comes with 2.4L turbo 4-cyl, 265 hp, 8-speed automatic; 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid, 243 hp combined. The Honda Pilot comes with 3.5L V6, 285 hp, 10-speed automatic.
Only the Toyota Highlander offers a hybrid. If most of your driving is in town, that's where a hybrid saves the most fuel; on long highway runs the gap with the Honda Pilot narrows.
Fuel: the EPA number and what owners really get
On the EPA's combined rating the Toyota Highlander gets 24–35 mpg and the Honda Pilot gets 20–22 mpg, depending on engine and drivetrain. The higher end of each range is usually the hybrid or front-drive version.
What each one costs before you negotiate
By the window sticker, the Toyota Highlander runs $46,270–$55,675 and the Honda Pilot runs $42,395–$55,195, before the destination charge.
So the Honda Pilot starts $3,875 lower. Compare like for like, though: line up the trims that have the features you want, then ask for the out-the-door price on those.
Reliability: what we can and can't tell you
We couldn't find a free, independent reliability signal for either the Toyota Highlander or the Honda Pilot that we could verify, so we won't guess one: any reliability estimate here would be ours, not a measurement.
Recalls are facts, not scores: NHTSA lists 7 campaigns for the Toyota Highlander and 8 campaigns for the Honda Pilot for the last three model years. Recall repairs are free; check a car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What to know before you test-drive
Toyota Highlander: For 2026, AWD is standard, the LE trim is dropped (XLE is now the base trim), and the 2.4L turbo-4 is the gas engine. A hybrid is available in XLE, Limited and Platinum and tows up to 3,500 lb.
Honda Pilot: This generation was redesigned for 2023, and 2026 is a mid-cycle refresh (new grille, quieter cabin, 12.3-in touchscreen, standard power liftgate) per KBB. No hybrid is offered.
Questions people ask
Is the Highlander or the Pilot bigger inside?
With the back seats up the two are close: 48.4 cubic feet in the Toyota Highlander and 48.5 in the Honda Pilot. Bring a stroller or a suitcase to the test drive; the shape of the opening matters more than a cubic foot or two. Fold the seats and the Honda Pilot holds 87 cubic feet to the Toyota Highlander's 84.3. Behind the third row of the Toyota Highlander there are 16 cubic feet, which is the number that matters if every seat is full. Behind the third row of the Honda Pilot there are 18.6 cubic feet, which is the number that matters if every seat is full.
Does the Highlander or the Pilot have better all-wheel drive?
The Toyota Highlander comes with on-demand all-wheel drive on every version. Every 2026 Highlander has all-wheel drive, and it sends power to the rear wheels when the front ones need help. The Honda Pilot comes with on-demand all-wheel drive, which Honda calls 2nd-Gen Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD, as an option. Sport and EX-L are front-wheel drive with AWD optional. TrailSport and higher trims come with AWD that can shift power between the rear wheels for grip.
Which gets better gas mileage, the Highlander or the Pilot?
On the EPA's combined rating the Toyota Highlander gets 24–35 mpg and the Honda Pilot gets 20–22 mpg, depending on engine and drivetrain. The higher end of each range is usually the hybrid or front-drive version.
How much more is the Highlander than the Pilot?
By the window sticker, the Toyota Highlander runs $46,270–$55,675 and the Honda Pilot runs $42,395–$55,195, before the destination charge. So the Honda Pilot starts $3,875 lower. Compare like for like, though: line up the trims that have the features you want, then ask for the out-the-door price on those.
Sources
- EPA fuel economy ratings and owner-reported MPG (fueleconomy.gov), U.S. Department of Energy / EPA. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- NHTSA recalls database, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Cars.com 2026 Toyota Highlander specs (low: gas XLE AWD); high is Hybrid Platinum AWD from cars.com/research/toyota-highlander_hybrid-2026/specs/. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Cars.com 2026 Honda Pilot specs (Sport 2WD to Black Edition AWD). Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Kelley Blue Book 2026 Toyota Highlander review. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Honda Info Center 2026 Pilot specifications. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Kelley Blue Book 2026 Toyota Highlander specs. Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
- Toyota Pressroom: 2026 Highlander (5,000 lb gas, 3,500 lb hybrid). Checked October 18, 2026. Public record
Labels tell you how much to lean on a figure: Public record comes from a government or manufacturer source, Estimate is worked out and can move, Keel data is aggregated from many listings, and Dealer says is a dealer's own claim.