With the number of options available in the segment, the mid-size SUV segment is probably the most competitive segment in the North American market.
The sheer number of options in the segment—and good ones at that—make it that much harder for the customer to settle for one. The Honda Pilot and the recently upgraded 2020 Toyota Highlander are two of the go-to crossovers in the segment. So with the recent generation change can the Highlander dent the desirability of the Pilot? We compare the two.
Powertrain
Toyota Highlander: Toyota recently rid the Highlander lineup of the 2.7-liter four-pot. So now, the 3.5-liter V6 is the only pure petrol option available on the SUV. A 2.5-liter engine is also available but that is a part of the hybrid powertrain only. The V6 produces 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque whereas the Highlander Hybrid makes 243 hp of combined power and an undisclosed amount of torque. The V6 comes with an eight-speed gearbox, and the SUV is available in both front- and all-wheel drive flavors. The Hybrid comes with an E-CVT gearbox and the hybrid too is available with both FWD and AWD.
Honda Pilot: The Honda Pilot, like the Highlander, is an SUV that many people swear by. And just like the Highlander, the Pilot is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 too. But this motor makes 280 hp compared to the Highlander’s 295 hp. The torque figure however at 262 lb-ft is almost identical to its chief rival and on most days torque is all that matters. The transmission lineup though can get a tad confusing. The Pilot’s V6 comes with a six-speed automatic as well as a nine-speed, and both transmissions pair with FWD and AWD drivetrains. It all depends on the trim you’re opting for. Trims LX through EX-L are available with the six-speed AT and all three offer AWD as an option. The Touring trim is available with the nine-speed and either drivetrain. Elite and Black Edition, the top two trims, come with nine-speed AT and AWD only.
Bottom Line: Both SUVs have similar powertrains, V6 engines with marginally different outputs. The Toyota does make more power but is also heavier. Both engines are also reliable and almost identical in fuel economy as well. The Honda does offer a nine-speed ‘box compared to the eight-speed in the Toyota but the Toyota offers the same powertrain throughout. So calling one better than the other would be misleading. Unless you want a hybrid, then the Highlander will be your only choice between the two.
Technology and Features
Highlander: Since the Highlander is the newer car of the two you would expect it to be better specced and you’d be right. Toyota offers the Highlander with a number of desirable features, chief among which has to be the (optional) 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It comes with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay and a three-month subscription to Sirius XM, Alexa capability and a full-fledged JBL surround sound system. The Highlander also offers a full leather upholstery with 10-way adjustable, heated and ventilated front seats and heated rear captain chairs. But there is a caveat. The 12.3-inch screen along with the 10-inch HUD is only available on the top-of-the-line Platinum trim. The bucket seats and leather upholstery are available in the Limited trim as well but the heated rear chairs are available in the Platinum trim only.
The lower variants make do with an 8.0-inch touchscreen and fabric seats. However, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are offered as standard across the board as is the three-zone climate control. In terms of safety too, the Highlander comes with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 as standard across the lineup. It features collision mitigation system with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist with steering control and the lot. Blind spot detection with cross-traffic, however, is available LE trim onwards.
Pilot: The Honda Pilot is a very well-equipped SUV as well. It might only have an 8.0-inch touchscreen system but it is available EX trim onwards. It gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard along with SiriusXM, Honda Link and Cabin Remote compatibility. The Satellite linked navigation system is a part of the Elite, Touring and Black Edition trims only. The top three trims also get the 10.2-inch advanced rear entertainment system with BluRay compatibility and built-in streaming apps, something that is not available on the Highlander. Unlike the Highlander however, the climate control system is available from the EX trim onwards.
SEE ALSO: 2019 Honda Pilot Review
The Honda comes with its own set of standard safety features called Honda Sensing. The package is identical to the one on the Highlander, with the blindspot monitoring being available from the second trim onwards while everything else like adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist and collision prevention is standard. The Pilot also offers rear captain chairs on the top three trims with the Elite and the Black Edition equipped with heated/leather captain chairs.
Bottom Line: The Highlander has a distinct advantage over the Pilot as it offers a 12.3-inch infotainment system compared to the Honda’s 8.0-inch system. In addition, the Highlander also offers an 8.0-inch infotainment system as standard along with the 3-zone climate control. However, if keeping the rear bench entertained is one of your primary concerns, rear entertainment screen is only available on the Pilot.
Fuel Economy
Highlander: The Highlander, despite being heavier than the Pilot returns a higher fuel economy. The FWD trims claim mpg figures of 21 in the city, 29 on the highway and an overall efficiency of 24 mpg. The fuel economy on the AWD trims suffers only slightly and stands at 20, 27 and 23 mpg for city, highway and overall respectively. Unsurprisingly, the hybrid version is best, returning 35 mpg in the city, highway and overall.
Pilot: The fuel economy on the Pilot with the six-speed gearbox is on the lower side. FWD versions return 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway, with an overall figure standing at 22 mpg. Swapping over to AWD predictably produces lower figures: it returns 18 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway and 21 mpg overall. The trims with the nine-speed are marginally more fuel efficient. The FWD versions return 20, 27 and 23 mpg respectively for city, highway and overall. AWD powertrains with the nine-speed claims an efficiency figure of 19 and 26 mpg for city and highway and an overall figure of 22 mpg.
Bottom Line: Here the Highlander is the clear winner. Despite being the heavier of the two SUVs, it manages to return better mileage. In addition, the AWD versions are as frugal as the FWD versions of the Pilot. Then there is the clear advantage of the hybrid powertrain that trumps everything in frugality.
Cabin Space
Highlander: The cabin space depends a lot on the exterior dimensions of the car as well. In this case, the Highlander is a couple of inches shorter in length, width and height compared to its competition which leads to a slightly tighter cabin, relatively speaking. All trims without the panoramic moonroof boast of a headroom of 39.6 inches in the first row, 39.4 inches in the second and 36.1 inches in the last row. The panoramic moonroof of the Platinum trim shaves off and inch and two inches from the first and second rows, respectively. Shoulder room is around 59 inches in the first and second rows; the third row is narrower with 55 inches. Despite being shorter, the Highlander does have a longer wheelbase of 112 inches compared to 111 inches on the Honda. This translates to slightly more legroom between the wheels but the third row suffers with just 27.7 inches of legroom due to the shorter length of the vehicle.
Pilot: There is ample space in the Pilot even for the tallest of occupants. With 40.1 inches of headroom without the moonroof and 39.5 inches with it, it just shades the Highlander. Shoulder room at 62 inches in the first two rows is considerably more than the Highlander. The third row is wider also, by over two inches. Due to the slightly shorter wheelbase the legroom at 40.9 inches and 38.4 inches in the first two rows is lower compared to the Highlander, but the Pilot’s longer length shows its advantage in the third row as it offers over four inches of extra legroom compared to its competitor.
SEE ALSO: 2020 Toyota Highlander First Drive Review
Bottom Line: The Highlander might offer lesser headroom compared to the Pilot but it is still ample to seat seven in comfort (2 kinds included). It also features more legroom compared to the Pilot. But if you have kids and find that the third row is in regular use, then the Pilot is the better option here.
Cargo Capacity
Highlander: The Highlander is a big car and its cargo capacity is nothing to scoff at. It offers 16.0 cu ft of cargo capacity behind the third row. Fold the third row and the capacity increases to 48.4 cu ft. With both the rear rows down, you can haul cargo worth 84.3 cu ft.
Pilot: If the Highlander is big, the Pilot is bigger still. Plus, if anyone knows how to utilize cabin space, it’s Honda and its mid-size SUV is no exception. The pilot offers 16.5 cu ft of cargo space behind the third row. Fold it down and the capacity increases to 46.8 cu ft and with both rear rows down it can swallow 83.9 cu ft. worth of cargo. That’s not much you’d think but the Pilot also hides under floor cargo holds that considerably further increase the cargo capacity by as much as 25 cu ft. with the rear rows folded.
Bottom Line: Thanks to its larger size and hidden storage compartments, Honda Pilot is the more cavernous of the two and the ideal choice for a large family.
Pricing
Highlander: The Highlander starts at $35,720 for the base L trim and goes all the way up to $47,970 for the FWD models. AWD costs $1,600 on top of the listed price. The Highlander is available in five trims; the mid-point is the XLE trim which starts from $40,720 and the Limited trim starts at $44,770. The top Platinum trim with all bells and whistles starts at $47,970. This trim is fully specced and there are no extra packages available on the Platinum except for added accessories like floor mats, cargo nets etc. The Highlander hybrid starts at $39,320 and specs out at $49,370. And as with the gasoline versions, AWD is $1,600 extra.
Pilot: Honda offers the Pilot in six different trims namely LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite and Black Edition. The LX starts at $32,770 and the top Black Edition costs $50,840. Trims LX through EX-L come with the 6-speed AT while the top three get the 9-speed AT. In addition, AWD costs $2,000 extra which is a bit of a bummer. Also there is no hybrid on offer. If you must have the Pilot and you can forego the panoramic roof, heated steering and heated second row, the Touring is the best option as it offers similar equipment as the higher models and yet is significantly cheaper. Plus, it is also available in seven- and eight-seater configurations.
Verdict
Both SUVs are evenly matched and almost balance each other out. But the Highlander just pulls ahead thanks to its competitive pricing and the standard equipment on offer. Yes, it is slightly smaller than the Pilot but is still adequate for a family of five with an occasional visitor. If a panoramic moonroof isn’t a necessity, the Highlander Limited is as well equipped as the Pilot’s top trim, 12.3 inch touchscreen included. Plus, it is more frugal and more powerful as well, so it checks all the right boxes and should be the mid-size SUV to go for.
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