2021 Honda Pilot vs. 2021 Toyota Highlander Comparison

There’s nothing remarkable about the Pilot’s looks; the exterior lacks creativity and the cabin trades function for a staid design. Though the Pilot’s was squared off when it was redesigned for the 2019 model year (a change meant to invoke capability and align with consumers’ demand for more rugged SUVs), its exterior is still too soft and round to emit anything other than minivan vibes.

It’d be easy to fall into the “almost-a-minivan” trap with a vehicle like the Highlander, but its 2020 redesign made it a little more butch looking, but also more bulbous. 2021’s sporty-looking XSE trim is a good addition. The interior is busy but handsome and features a mix of high-end materials and decent plastics.

The Honda’s battle-tested 3.5-liter V6 provides adequate power and decent acceleration, which is helped by the smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission that’s now standard across the lineup. The overall ride quality is comfortable but larger 20-inch wheels on higher trim can make it a little harsh.

The Highlander is available with either a 3.5-liter V6 or a hybrid powertrain with 2.5-liter four-cylinder and an electric motor. Both are buttery smooth and the V6 provides effortless power. The Hybrid isn’t quite as robust. Built to be a family hauler, but the Highlander is not a particularly engaging drive with either engine.

It’s hard to find fault with the Pilot’s interior space and accommodations, especially when judging it in the context of hauling kids and gear. Even with second-row captain’s chairs installed, there’s plenty of room and comfortable accommodations for nearly everyone. Only the third row misses out on greatness, as it’s sometimes hard to access the seats and its position makes it an awkward fit for anyone larger than a child. Cargo space behind that compact third row also is a bust, offering only 16.5 cubic-feet compared with most rivals that measure close to 20 cubic-feet.

The Highlander’s cabin has a lot going on visually, particularly in its center stack, with an oddly-shaped housing and plenty of buttons, but it’s a nice place to spend time. The front seats are wide and well-padded, while the second-row’s bench or captain’s chairs offer great head and leg room for both adults and children in car seats.

The Pilot returns 20 mpg in city driving, 27 mpg on the highway and 23 mpg combined when configured with FWD. These figures are competitive with its class. When equipped with AWD, the score drops by 1 in each category. The only thing it’s missing is a hybrid variant that can match the Toyota Highlander’s hybrid, which can achieve up to 36 mpg combined.

With front-wheel drive and the V6 powertrain, the base-model Highlander L is rated at 21 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway and 24 combined, a hair above average for the class. Other V6 configurations, including AWD models, lose about 1 to 2 mpgs. The Hybrid fares much better, delivering 36 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 35 mpg combined with all-wheel drive.

Despite missing out on a Top Safety Pick award, the Pilot still has plenty of commendable safety gear. Standard across the lineup is the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance safety tech, which includes lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring is standard on all but the base LX.

Toyota upgraded the safety system on the Highlander lineup to its TSS 2.5+ suite of advanced drivers-assistance safety tech for 2021, which includes a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection and new enhanced intersection support as well as emergency steering assist. It also has road sign assistance, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance and automatic high beams. The inclusion of tech helped the Highlander earn a Top Safety Pick + designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.