2025 Toyota Highlander vs. 2025 Honda Pilot: An In-Depth Comparison

If you’re looking for a midsize SUV, the 2025 Toyota Highlander and 2025 Honda Pilot probably made your shortlist. These family favorites pack comfort, capability, and tech features that put them at the top of their class. Let’s look at all the most important Toyota Highlander vs. Honda Pilot specs. We’ll break down pricing, reliability, performance, interior space, and safety to help you figure out which SUV fits your family’s lifestyle better.

Pricing and Trims

The 2025 Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot are about the same price across their ranges, with a slight advantage to the Highlander. You definitely get more choices with the Highlander, and the Highlander’s hybrid trims are a huge plus. Here are the trims and starting prices for the Highlander:

• LE: $39,820
• XLE: $42,970
• XSE: $46,640
• Limited: $47,075
• Platinum: $52,225
• Hybrid XLE: $46,320
• Hybrid XLE Nightshade: $47,320
• Hybrid Limited: $50,775
• Hybrid Limited 25th Edition: $52,980
• Hybrid Platinum: $53,975

And here are the Pilot’s trims and prices:

• Sport: $40,200
• EX-L: $43,500
• TrailSport: $49,400
• Touring: $47,500
• Elite: $53,080
• Black Edition: $54,580

If you’d like to get the most out of your purchase, consider applying for financing ahead of time. We can also offer you a great price on your current vehicle, and you can use its value for your new purchase. You can use our trade-in value tool to get an idea of how much your current ride is worth.

Which Is More Reliable: Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander?

Both SUVs nail reliability ratings — good news for anyone planning to keep their vehicle for years. J.D. Power gives the Highlander an 81 out of 100 reliability score, and the Pilot is right behind at 80. These scores mean that they should serve you well without major problems.

Toyota and Honda match each other in terms of warranty protection. You’ll get a three-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty and five-year or 60,000-mile powertrain coverage with either SUV. The Highlander’s warranty advantage is that you’ll get complimentary maintenance for two years or 25,000 miles compared to the Pilot’s one year or 12,000 miles.

Performance and Powertrain Options

Honda and Toyota took different approaches with their engines, and you’ll feel it behind the wheel. The Pilot packs a 3.5-liter V-6 pumping out 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Paired with a 10-speed automatic, this setup hustles from 0 to 60 in under 7.2 seconds — pretty zippy for hauling the kids to soccer practice.

Gas-powered Highlanders have a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that generates 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. You might get less horsepower, but that extra torque adds to the acceleration. The Highlander matches the Pilot with a 0-to-60-mph time of 7.2 seconds. If you choose a hybrid model, you’ll get 243 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. Both powertrains get an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Fuel Efficiency and Environmental Impact

Toyota scores a clear win in the gas mileage game, especially if you consider the hybrid Highlander. The standard front-wheel drive Highlander gets 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. Add all-wheel drive and you’ll achieve 21 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. The Highlander hybrids deliver jaw-dropping efficiency: 35 mpg city and 35 mpg highway. Either way, you’ll pass more gas stations than your Pilot-driving neighbors.

Honda’s Pilot isn’t terrible at the pump, just not as frugal. With front-wheel drive, expect 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on highways. If you choose all-wheel drive, highway efficiency drops slightly to 25 mpg while city stays at 19 mpg.

Cargo Space

The Highlander has 16 cubic feet of cargo space behind row three, 48.4 cubic feet behind row two, and 84.3 cubic feet maximum. However, Honda takes the cargo crown with its slightly larger size. The Pilot has 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row. Fold that third row, and the Pilot’s space jumps to 48.5 cubic feet. With both rear rows down, you’ll have 87 cubic feet at your disposal. Either way, you’ll have plenty of space for road trips and grocery runs, no matter which you choose.

Interior Comforts and Technology

Both SUVs offer comfy digs for passengers with standard eight-seat layouts or optional seven-seat layouts in certain trims. Toyota pulls ahead in the tech race with bigger screens and better standard connectivity. Every Highlander rocks an eight-inch touch screen from the jump, and it’s upgradable to a massive 12.3-inch screen in higher trims. Honda starts smaller with a seven-inch display, although you can bump up to nine inches if you spend more.

The Highlander also pampers you with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all models — no cables needed. Honda makes you plug in on the base model, with wireless connectivity only on pricier versions. Toyota keeps the digital goodies coming with a standard seven-inch LCD gauge cluster, and you can also choose the available 12.3-inch digital gauge display.

Safety and Driver-Assist Technology

Family SUVs need top-notch safety, and neither manufacturer skimps here. Toyota loads every Highlander with Safety Sense 2.5+. This bundle includes adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, auto high beams, and road sign detection. This tech cocktail keeps you safer in all kinds of driving situations.

Honda’s safety game is equally strong, earning the same Top Safety Pick award as the Highlander from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Both SUVs nail crash protection tests and offer similar active safety gear.

Choosing Between the Highlander and Pilot

The 2025 Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot are both great choices if your family wants reliability, comfort, and modern features in a midsize SUV. The Highlander shines with better fuel economy, especially with the hybrid options, and more advanced standard tech inside. The Pilot might win you over if you need the extra cargo space and don’t mind upgrading for the latest tech.

Test-Drive the Toyota Highlander at Keith Pierson Toyota Today

Now that we’ve compared the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, you might consider choosing the Highlander. If so, check out the 2025 Toyota Highlander up close at Keith Pierson Toyota in Jacksonville, Florida. You can take one for a spin and chat with our friendly team about which configuration works best for your needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or get in touch with a member of our team.

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