2023 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander: Examining the Differences

• Mid-size SUVs are in all places, however when you’re making an attempt to resolve between the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander, we have rounded up a couple of key ways in which they’re completely different.
• The Highlander will get much better gasoline financial system when you spring for the hybrid choice, which is not accessible on the Pilot.
• There are various similarities, although. Each SUVs can tow as much as 5000 kilos, provide all-wheel drive, and begin at nearly the identical worth: $37,645 for the Pilot, $37,955 for the Highlander.

2023 Highlander Pushed

2023 Pilot Pushed

There’s loads of competitors within the three-row family-SUV market. Two of the preferred, the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander, won’t provide the acute off-roading capabilities that the competitors has, however they’re succesful machines that fortunately do the repetitive job of shifting children and households from place to position.

Exterior

Toyota and Honda discovered a couple of sparks of design inspiration within the well-trodden mid-size SUV section. The Highlander and Pilot share a cookie-cutter SUV form, however every has distinct notes. The Pilot is an all-new era this yr, and Honda’s designers added a thick, body-colored C-pillar as a part of the Pilot’s new, extra trucklike look. The present-generation Highlander was launched in 2020, and the 2023 model appears just like final yr’s mannequin with its engaging entrance finish.

Inside

The Highlander will get improved supplies all through the cabin this yr, together with SofTex and leather-based. On the upper trim ranges, Toyota has launched a brand new 12.3-inch infotainment show (an 8.0-inch display screen is customary on decrease fashions) and a brand new 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. Different accessible options embrace an 11-speaker JBL audio system.

The Pilot’s all-new inside options intelligent seat tips, together with a middle part between the elective second-row captain’s chairs that may fold into the flooring. A 12-speaker Bose stereo system and a panoramic moonroof can be found. Infotainment on the Pilot comes with a 7.0-inch touchscreen on the 2 lowest trim ranges and 9.0 inches on the EX-L and up.

Each SUVs can seat both seven or eight folks. There are 16 cubic ft of house behind the third row within the Highlander and as much as 22.4 within the Pilot.

Powertrain

Every of those fashions characteristic upgraded customary powertrains for 2023. As an alternative of the V-6 present in final yr’s mannequin, the brand new Highlander will get a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 265 horsepower and 309 pound-feet of torque with an eight-speed transmission. Mixed gasoline financial system is 24 mpg. The 2023 Pilot, then again, retains the three.5-liter V-6 from the earlier yr, nevertheless it has been tweaked to provide 285 horsepower, 5 greater than final yr, whereas nonetheless providing 262 pound-feet of torque. The Pilot has a brand new 10-speed computerized transmission, another gear than final yr, and presents 22 mpg mixed.

The Pilot presents extra off-roading functionality with the TrailSport trim, however each SUVs can tow as much as 5000 kilos and will be ordered with both front- or all-wheel drive. The Highlander has a hybrid powertrain choice that the Pilot lacks, giving the Toyota a lot better gasoline financial system, as much as 36 mpg mixed.

Value

The practically similar beginning costs ought to make it clear how intently these two fashions compete. The 2023 Honda Pilot begins at $37,645, whereas the 2023 Toyota Highlander begins at $37,955. As quickly as you begin including hybrid powertrains or all-wheel drive, the numbers rise, however these SUVs a minimum of begin on practically equal footing.