2025 Honda Pilot Vs. 2024 Toyota Highlander: Features & Specs
The battle between a Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander SUV is really a clash of two titans. These popular models both seat up to eight people – with seven-seat configurations available – and make an effort to surround their occupants in comfort. However, there are notable differences between the two, starting with size. The Honda Pilot is a bigger SUV and, therefore, able to offer its passengers more room to relax than the shorter and slimmer Toyota Highlander. The following chart, compiled by the team at Muller Honda Highland Park, compares the specs of the latest models more directly.
| 2025 Honda Pilot EX-L | 2024 Toyota Highlander XLE | |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Engine | 3.5L V-6 | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo |
| Horsepower | 285 | 265 |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| Drivetrain | FWD or AWD | FWD or AWD |
| Cargo Capacity (Behind 3rd Row) | 22.4 cu ft | 16 cu ft |
| Max Towing Capacity | 5,000 lbs1 | 5,000 lbs2 |
| # of Passengers | 8 | 8 |
| Length | 199.9 in | 194.9 in |
| Width | 78.5 in | 76 in |
| Height | 70.9 in | 68.1 in |
| Max Passenger Volume | 158.4 cu ft | 141.8 cu ft |
Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander Specs
As you can see above, the Honda Pilot sweeps most of these categories or earns a tie in the case of Honda Pilot towing capacity. Let's look even more closely at how these numbers will impact you and your family. For example, having greater passenger volume sounds nice, but it's how this extra space is distributed that truly matters. Only kids can comfortably sit in the third row of the Toyota Highlander, since it only offers 28 inches of legroom. That's much smaller than the average plane seat. The Honda Pilot offers 4.5 inches more to make teenagers and adults feel more welcome.
Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander size differences also play a large part in their available cargo capacity. The Honda model can fit more bags or groceries inside than the Toyota SUV can when all the seats are in use. However, both SUVs allow you to fold the second and third rows down if you have something bigger to transport. In this regard, the Honda Pilot vaults over the competition. It can store a maximum of 113.7 cubic feet of gear in its TrailSport trim. As for the Toyota Highlander, it can hold just over 84 cubic feet.
Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander MPG is close, but being a larger and more powerful vehicle often comes at the cost of some fuel efficiency. The entry-level Honda Pilot with FWD makes an EPA-estimated 22 MPG (Combined)3 compared to the introductory Toyota Highlander, which delivers an EPA-estimated 25 MPG (Combined).4
Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander Trims
The Honda Pilot has six trims that you can explore at Muller Honda Highland Park:
- Sport
- EX-L
- TrailSport
- Touring
- Elite
- Black Edition
Meanwhile, there are five gas-only Toyota Highlander trim levels to choose from:
- LE
- XLE
- XSE
- Limited
- Platinum
The Honda Pilot seeks to not only help you tackle life's everyday challenges but also to explore life's adventurous opportunities. Its TrailSport trim features Normal, ECON, Snow, Tow, Sport, and Trail & Sand driving modes, an 8.3-inch ground clearance, an Integrated Class III Trailer Hitch, TrailWatch, and a heated wiper zone to make it easier for you to handle different elements and terrain. The Toyota Highlander is capable of "soft roading" but lacks a little of the TrailSport model's free spirit and rugged capability. Our team would be happy to discuss more aspects of Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander performance when you stop by.
Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander Interior
What makes for an enticing cabin? Plush upholstery? A great sound system? The 2025 Honda Pilot has it all. It boasts standard heated front seats, a seven-speaker audio system, and a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat. The front passenger seat has four-way power adjustment capabilities.
The Toyota Highlander, by contrast, does not have standard heated front seats and comes with a six-speaker sound system, an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and a manually adjustable front passenger seat. While personal tastes can vary when it comes to cabin amenities, we tend to favor the Honda SUV in this particular Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander matchup.
That being said, tri-zone climate control in both vehicles helps different passengers create different zones of temperature so that everyone in the car is more comfortable, and having 14 cup holders in each SUV is helpful for road trips.
Some available features for the new Honda Pilot SUV that you might appreciate as a parent include Wi-Fi hotspot capability to keep your kids entertained and a Conversation Mirror, which allows those in the front to more easily see those in the back. CabinTalk is the in-car PA system that makes communication with your kids easier. While 2024 versions of both the Honda and Toyota models were named IIHS Top Safety Pick award winners,5,6 the Honda Pilot was given extra recognition for the ease of use of its LATCH system, which is helpful for those still raising smaller children.
Of course, both vehicles offer more as you go up the trim levels. Wireless smartphone charging is available in both SUVs, starting at the second trim level. Either one can come with leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and a one-touch power moonroof. The Toyota Highlander SUV's available Head-Up Display is a bit larger than the one offered in the Honda Pilot. However, the available sound system in the Honda SUV has more speakers than the comparable audio system in the Toyota Highlander.
See the 2025 Honda Pilot at Muller Honda Highland Park
If you think that you've gathered enough information to know who wins the Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander competition for your family, we invite you to visit Muller Honda Highland Park. We'd love to arrange a Honda test drive for you so that you can get a feel for its standard leather-wrapped steering wheel and Honda Sensing driver-assistance features in person.
Alternatively, if you still have questions about what separates these family-friendly, three-row models from one another, we'd be happy to answer your questions or dive into another Honda SUV comparison. We know that purchasing a vehicle is a significant investment, so we want to give you all of the details that you need to drive out of here with a smile on your face, looking forward to all the journeys ahead.
FAQ About 2025 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander
Which is quieter: the Toyota Highlander or Honda Pilot?
The Honda Pilot is generally quieter than the Toyota Highlander. The 2025 model comes standard with Active Noise Cancellation, and you can also get available acoustic laminate glass for the windshield and front doors. The 2024 Toyota model only has noise-reducing front-side windows in two trims. Conversely, the Honda model offers an available 12-speaker sound system, while the Toyota Highlander offers an available 11-speaker one.
Is a Honda Pilot bigger than a Toyota Highlander?
Yes. The Honda Pilot is bigger than the Toyota Highlander. The 2025 Honda SUV is nearly 200 inches long and 71 inches tall. The current 2024 Toyota Highlander is a smaller midsize SUV that's nearly 195 inches long and just over 68 inches tall. You will likely appreciate the Honda model's extra size the most when looking at its third-row legroom and cargo room.
Which has more cargo space: the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander?
The 2025 Honda Pilot has more cargo space than the 2024 Toyota Highlander. It has 18.6-22.4 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.5-60.1 behind the second, and 86.5-113.7 behind the first. The Toyota Highlander has 16 cubic feet, 48.4 cubic feet, and 84.3 cubic feet available, respectively. They have an equal towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.1,2
| New Honda Pilot | Used Honda Pilot | Honda Pilot Towing |
| Honda Pilot Lease Deals | Honda Pilot vs. Honda Passport |
1Towing requires accessory towing equipment. Please see your Honda dealer for details.
2Before towing, confirm your vehicle and trailer are compatible, hooked up and loaded properly and that you have any necessary additional equipment. Do not exceed any Weight Ratings and follow all instructions in your Owner's Manual. The maximum you can tow depends on base curb weight plus the total weight of any cargo, occupants, and added vehicle equipment. "Added vehicle equipment" includes additional standard/optional equipment and accessories added by the manufacturer, dealers, and/or vehicle owners. The only way to be certain of your vehicle's exact curb weight is to weigh your vehicle without passengers or cargo. [Calculated with the new SAE J2807 method.] Installation of a tow hitch receiver or other accessories located near the rear bumper or side-door kick sensors may require disabling or removing the kick sensor, and the sensor operation setting in your vehicle should be turned off. See Owner's Manual for limitations.
3Based on 2024 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on driving conditions, how you drive and maintain your vehicle, and other factors.
4Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle's condition and how/where you drive. See fueleconomy.gov.
5Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this award, visit https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/honda/pilot-4-door-suv/2024.
6Reference to this third-party claim is solely for informational purposes and not to be relied upon. For details regarding this award, visit https://www.iihs.org/ratings/vehicle/toyota/highlander-4-door-suv/2024.