The Toyota's suspension and sound deadening muted the impacts faster and better than hollow-sounding hits we heard in the Honda.
In corners, the Pilot rolls a bit more. It doesn't necessarily affect stability but gives you pause when rounding an entrance ramp. The Highlander also outgripped the Pilot, giving a slightly larger measure of security for evasive maneuvers.
The Toyota also enjoyed an advantage in braking tests, where it stopped from 70 mph in feet to the Pilot's We also preferred the Highlander's firmer brake pedal. The Pilot also suffered from moderate fade during our six successive stops from 70 mph. Considering how similar the Pilot and the Highlander are, it's not a surprise that the EPA fuel-economy estimates for the all-wheel-drive Highlander and Pilot are very close. The Toyota is rated at 20 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined.
The Honda gives up 1 mpg in all three categories. However, we were impressed with how much Honda has improved the Pilot's automatic stop-start feature, which can now unobtrusively and quickly restart the engine. In our steady mph highway test, the Pilot returned 25 mpg to the Highlander's 28 mpg. Perhaps it's familiarity, but the Pilot's interior strikes us as functional rather than exciting. As in the best Hondas, there's plenty of passenger space and no shortage of interior cubby storage. Its front seats are comfortable for all body sizes, and the driver enjoys a commanding view of the road ahead.
Honda's infotainment system includes an 8. We appreciate the physical volume knob and large onscreen icons, but changing the radio station and navigating menus is harder than it should be.
Our Black Edition also boasts features that make parenting easier, including a rear-seat entertainment system and an intercom called CabinTalk that lets front-seat passengers talk to or reprimand the back two rows. Getting into the third row is easy because the second-row captain's chairs move well out of the way. Once you're in the third row, there's more room than in the Highlander. In our suitcase test, the Pilot held just as many roller-bag carry-ons as the Toyota behind its third row four , and it held eight more with all the rear seats folded 38 total.
The Highlander's interior looks and feels considerably richer than its Honda rival. Our Platinum model had the handsome Harvest Beige leather upholstery and one of the best examples of fake-wood trim that we've seen. Below it is a set of HVAC controls and heated seat controls as well as a built-in shelf that's perfect for storing small items. The center-console bin offers additional storage, but its small opening and wireless charging pad impose size restrictions.
Where the difference becomes even more pronounced is in the handling. The Pilot has a softer and more comfort-oriented tune to it with some give and a bit of roll, which is what a lot of drivers expect from a vehicle of this size. This would line up competitively against the Highlander Platinum from the aforementioned past comparison test.
Put this suspension configuration in a Highlander Hybrid, and the result would be very close in price to the Pilot Black Edition while offering far better handling and fuel efficiency.
If done right, it could be the best Highlander in the lineup. Despite its overall increases in dimensions from the previous generation, the Highlander still gets blown out of the water by the Pilot on interior space. Managing Editor Jonathan Yarkony said his hands-on tests demonstrate that the Pilot is clearly the more practical choice.
Neither third row has especially comfortable seats or amenities such as USB ports. Your mileage may vary. The interior is a lower grade of materials, and it has a couple of fails like the fake stitching and the rubbery-leather armrests. The centre console in the Pilot is a fair bit larger than that of the Highlander as well, enough so to make a difference in whether you can stow a small handbag out of sight.
However, the screen in the Pilot is on the smaller side, and all functions are digital apart from the volume knob although this puts the tuning selector right next to the driver, which is an upside. The newer system in the Highlander is a notable improvement over previous Toyota systems in its usability, but its wide layout means that some of the functions on the far side of the screen are harder to reach for short-limbed drivers.
Several sought-after safety systems are not only included on both vehicles but are standard equipment across the board on each: forward collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams are all included.
Blind-spot information with rear cross-traffic alert is also equipped on both, though this is not standard from the base grade on the Pilot. Adaptive cruise control is also standard on both, though Yarkony noted some differences in their operation.
But when we look at the bigger picture and factor in drive experience, interior quality, and value for money, we quickly find ourselves in agreement that the Toyota Highlander XSE is our winner. Sign up to receive Driving. A welcome email is on its way. The Highlander and the Pilot are once again standouts in this category.
Both midsize SUVs sport three rows of seating that can easily accommodate seven or eight passengers altogether. Honda has always been known for comfortable seating and spacious cargo, and the Pilot is no exception to this trend. Cloth seats are standard, while higher trim levels allow you to upgrade to leather, heated, and ventilated seats. For cargo, the Honda Pilot has Toyota matches Honda beat-for-beat with seating but falls slightly behind in cargo space.
You'll get 16 cubic feet with the third row up, However, the Toyota Highlander more than makes up for this discrepancy with its tech features. The base level of the Highlander comes equipped with an 8-inch information display, with the option to upgrade to a It also has a wifi hotspot.
On the flip side, the Honda Pilot has some fantastic tech options, but not all of them are available in the standard trim.
That's is a consistent pattern with Honda cars, so you can expect to see it repeated in earlier models and different models like you do with this rundown of the Honda Accord versus the Toyota Camry.
The same goes for minivan models such as the Honda Odyssey versus the Toyota Sienna. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available as optional upgrades, too. Lastly, let's dive into safety and handling, one of the most important aspects to consider with any new vehicle.
That's especially true if you have so many passengers that you require a three-row SUV. Standard safety features that helped it win this stellar rap include automatic high beams, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and forward-collision warning. This isn't the first year that the Pilot won multiple awards, either.
The Toyota Highlander meets the Honda Pilot pound-for-pound in this category. Standard features include automatic emergency braking, rearview cameras, and forward-collision warnings.
Among earlier models with these same features are the model and the model. The Honda Pilot is agile and responsive and can get up to speed quickly. The Highlander's AWD capabilities make it well-suited for backcountry camping. Its strong suspension means that it easily handles uneven roads.
Their prices are similar, too, so how do you tell which one is best? Are you the type of person to do some heavy-duty camping?
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