2026 Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander

If you're shopping for a three-row family SUV under $55,000, these two names will come up in every conversation. The 2026 Honda Pilot and 2026 Toyota Highlander are the volume leaders in the segment. Both offer eight seats, comfortable highway manners, and enough cargo room to handle a full family plus gear. The differences are real but subtle, which is exactly why the comparison takes more than a glance.

	Pilot EX-L	Highlander XLE
Base MSRP	~$44,700	~$43,900
Engine	3.5L V6, 285 hp	2.4L Turbo-4, 265 hp
AWD	Standard	Optional (+ class="relative z-10",700)
EPA mpg (AWD)	20 city / 27 hwy	20 city / 26 hwy
Max tow rating	5,000 lb	5,000 lb
Third-row legroom	31.9 in	27.7 in
Max cargo (all seats flat)	109.2 cu ft	84.3 cu ft
Seating capacity	8	8

Engine and powertrain

Honda sticks with a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 in the Pilot. It's smooth, predictable, and punchy enough that you rarely notice the 285 hp spec — you just notice it moves. Toyota switched to a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder for the current Highlander. It makes 265 hp and plenty of low-end torque, but at highway speeds it sounds less refined than the Pilot's V6 when you press hard. Day to day you won't care. On a loaded mountain pass, the Pilot feels more at home.

AWD comes standard on all Pilot trims. Toyota charges class="relative z-10",700 extra on the XLE to add it. That's a meaningful difference if you live somewhere winter is real.

Neither SUV comes in a hybrid in the 2026 model year in this class at the base trims, but Toyota's Highlander Hybrid is available from $50,000 if efficiency is the priority, returning 36 city / 35 hwy. Honda doesn't offer a Pilot Hybrid.

Interior space

This is where the Pilot wins clearly. The third row is actually usable by adults. Thirty-two inches of legroom means teenagers won't complain (much). The Highlander's third row is fine for kids. Adults on any trip longer than 20 minutes will want out.

Cargo behind the third row: Pilot gets 16.5 cu ft, Highlander gets 16.0 cu ft. Close enough to ignore. The gap opens up when you fold seats. The Pilot's flat-folding second row and large opening create 109 cu ft total. The Highlander's seat track geometry leaves dead space and maxes at 84 cu ft. For Costco runs and camping trips, the Pilot hauls more.

Both cabins are logical and well-built. The Pilot's 9-inch touchscreen runs Honda's latest software, which has improved considerably from the infuriating systems of three years ago. Toyota's 12.3-inch screen on the XLE is bright and responsive. Neither will frustrate a normal user.

Reliability and ownership costs

Toyota's long-term reliability reputation is the Highlander's strongest selling point. The Highlander consistently sits at or near the top of owner satisfaction surveys in this segment. The turbo-four engine is newer and has less long-term data than Honda's V6, but early indicators are solid.

The Pilot's V6 is a proven, high-mileage engine. Honda's warranty on the Pilot is 3-year/36,000-mile basic and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain — the same as Toyota's. Maintenance costs are comparable.

One practical difference: the Highlander is slightly more common at independent shops. Parts availability is excellent for both.

Price and value

Comparing like-for-like trim levels, the Highlander XLE undercuts the Pilot EX-L by about $800 before adding AWD. Add the class="relative z-10",700 AWD option to the Highlander and the Pilot is actually cheaper. In states where winter matters, the Pilot's standard AWD gives it a real value edge.

Trim comparison	Pilot	Highlander
Entry (FWD or base AWD)	Sport: ~$38,600 (AWD std)	LE: ~$38,600 (FWD)
Mid (XLE-equivalent)	EX-L: ~$44,700 (AWD)	XLE + AWD: ~$45,600
Top	Trailsport: ~$48,800	Platinum: ~$51,100

The Pilot Trailsport is worth a look if you want the mid-grade content with lifted suspension and all-terrain tires. It gives the Pilot a differentiated option the Highlander doesn't match without stepping up to TRD Off-Road.

Which one to buy

Buy the Pilot if: your third row sees real use, you need the extra cargo volume, you want standard AWD without paying extra, or you like the V6's character.

Buy the Highlander if: you want the Highlander Hybrid's efficiency ($50k, 36 mpg combined), you prefer Toyota's long track record in this exact engine, or your third row is mostly emergency seating.

Both are excellent. The Pilot is the better family hauler. The Highlander Hybrid is the better efficiency play if you're willing to pay up.

Check current deals on both at CARMIND's deals tracker.