Comparison: Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander

SUVs have long been America's favorite type of vehicle, as they offer lots of room, great outward visibility, and come with many advanced technologies. That said, two vehicles in particular come to mind when it comes to innovation and safety: the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander.

Since both vehicles have been subjected to years of refinement, and each has class-leading capabilities, the Pilot and Highlander often go head-to-head with customers looking for their next all-around family vehicle.

So let's take an in-depth exploration of just how the 2023 Honda Pilot and 2023 Toyota Highlander stack up.

       

2023 Honda Pilot Comparison Highlights

The all-new 2023 Pilot is the largest and most powerful SUV Honda has ever produced, and it's also the most off-road capable. With the Pilot, you'll find a value-packed combination of class-leading performance and efficiency, as well as technology and space designed to suit today's discerning passengers.

This fourth-generation Pilot will be offered in five trims for the 2023 model year: Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite. At the top of the spectrum is the Elite, Pilot's most luxurious trim, which features high-end materials and upscale details. For the first time ever, the Pilot TrailSport also delivers specially-engineered off-road features, including increased ground clearance, off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, steel skid plates, and enhanced all-wheel drive capabilities.

The Pilot comes standard with front-wheel drive. But the latest generation of Honda's award-winning i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system is available, and provides extra confidence by offering both increased torque and intelligent torque vectoring. The 2023 Pilot also features an all-new DOHC 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. of torque. For those keeping score, this is the most powerful V6 engine Honda has ever released in the United States.

But it's not just about power, as the Pilot's supporting systems have also been upgraded and expanded. Notably, there's a re-tuned 10-speed automatic transmission, new Trail and Tow modes, up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, and the Pilot's first-ever hill descent control.

To match this improved performance, Honda's designers went for a rugged styling language for the Pilot's exterior, which features an aggressive grille, longer hood, and flared fenders. The chassis itself is also new, and is the stiffest structure to ever serve as a platform for Pilot. Built with extreme off-road capabilities in mind, it offers a longer wheelbase and wider tracks, delivering benefits like better ride quality, improved agility, and a more refined experience overall.

On the inside, Pilot's all-new and modern passenger area is roomier than ever. It takes full advantage of the larger wheelbase, and features versatile elements like a stowaway second row, which help it deliver the most cargo space in the model's history. Every passenger will also benefit from the updated infotainment system, which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. On the Pilot Elite, the driver is treated to an all-new configurable 10.2-inch digital instrument display, along with a color head-up display.

And as always, the 2023 Pilot comes standard with class-leading safety features, courtesy of the improved Honda Sensing suite. This collection of driver-assistive technologies has been fortified with a new Wide-View Camera, Radar, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, and next-generation airbags.