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a toyota highlander and a honda pilot

2017 Toyota Highlander vs. 2017 Honda Pilot

Toyota and Honda have been battling it out for decades. Both are great manufactures, and that can make picking between SUVs hard. Should you get the Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot? The two are very similar when it comes to price, fuel economy, and cargo space, but one’s packing a little more under the hood.

Price

The price of a vehicle can be a major determining factor. After all, most people already pay a lot in other bills, and there’s no reason to tack on a huge car payment. Since these are large SUVs, they’ll have a higher price tag than a compact SUV or your average sedan. Thankfully, Honda and Toyota have kept these vehicles at a relatively reasonable price.

The Pilot is technically the cheapest of the two with a starting MSRP of $30,595, but the Highlander is practically the same price, with a starting MSRP of $30,630. A price difference of $45 doesn’t really mean anything when you’re shelling out 30 grand.

Fuel Economy

Just because you’re getting an SUV doesn’t mean that you should have to pay a ridiculous amount to fill up. Toyota puts a high value on getting good fuel economy, so it isn’t surprising that the Highlander has better mileage. It gets an estimated 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

Honda lists the Pilot as having 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. In the end, you may not be able to notice a one or two miles per gallon difference, but it could amount to some savings throughout the years.

Cargo Space

These larger SUVs are ideal for going on camping trips during the weekend or just escaping to the mountains for a bike ride, but you need enough space for all your gear. Again, the two manufacturers are very competitive. The Toyota Highlander measures 14 cubic feet behind the third row, which grows to 83.7 cubic feet when the seats are stowed.

The Honda Pilot does have more room, but it’s minimal at best. Behind the third row, drivers can get 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space. After folding the seats down, drivers can get a maximum of 83.9 cubes. The extra space may be meaningful if you spend a lot of time with the seats up, but the stowed cargo space has a minimal difference.

Powertrain

How powerful is your SUV?  The Toyota Highlander is equipped with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine which gets 185 horsepower and 184 lbs-ft of torque. If drivers need more power, they can upgrade to the 3.5-liter that’s an optional add-on for the LE and standard on more expensive trims.

The standard engine on the Honda Pilot is much stronger. It’s a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower. This explains the difference in fuel economy between the two vehicles. If you’re looking for more under the hood, the Pilot’s probably your better bet.

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Last Updated: April 05, 2017