2026 Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander

If you're shopping a three-row family SUV under $55,000, these two names come up in every conversation I have. The 2026 Honda Pilot and 2026 Toyota Highlander are the volume leaders — both seat eight, both cruise comfortably, both haul a full family plus gear. The differences are real but subtle, which is exactly why this 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 stop noticing the 285-hp number and just notice it moves. Toyota switched the Highlander to a turbo 2.4-liter four — 265 hp and plenty of low-end torque, but it sounds less refined than the Pilot's V6 when you really lean on it. Day to day you won't care; on a loaded mountain pass, the Pilot feels more at home, and I'd take it there.

AWD is standard on every Pilot. Toyota charges class="relative z-10",700 for it on the XLE — a meaningful difference if winter is real where you live.

Neither offers a hybrid at the base trims in this class for 2026, but Toyota's Highlander Hybrid is available from $50,000 if efficiency is the priority (36 city / 35 hwy). Honda has no Pilot Hybrid.

Interior space

This is where the Pilot wins clearly, and it's the reason I steer big families toward it. Its third row is genuinely usable by adults — 32 inches of legroom means teenagers won't complain (much). The Highlander's third row is fine for kids; adults on any trip over 20 minutes will want out.

Behind the third row it's close — Pilot 16.5 cu ft, Highlander 16.0 — but the gap blows open when you fold seats. The Pilot's flat-folding second row and big opening yield 109 cu ft; the Highlander's seat geometry leaves dead space and maxes at 84. For Costco runs and camping, the Pilot just hauls more.

Both cabins are logical and well-built. The Pilot's 9-inch screen runs Honda's much-improved software, and the Highlander XLE's 12.3-inch screen is bright and responsive. Neither will frustrate a normal person.

Reliability and ownership costs

Toyota's long-term reliability reputation is the Highlander's strongest card — it sits at or near the top of owner-satisfaction surveys in this class. The turbo-four is newer with less long-term data than Honda's V6, but early signs are solid.

The Pilot's V6 is a proven high-mileage engine, and Honda's warranty matches Toyota's (3/36 basic, 5/60 powertrain). Maintenance costs are comparable. One practical edge: the Highlander is a touch more common at independent shops, though parts for both are everywhere.

Price and value

Like-for-like, the Highlander XLE undercuts the Pilot EX-L by about $800 — until you add the class="relative z-10",700 AWD, at which point the Pilot is actually cheaper. In snow country, the Pilot's standard AWD is a genuine 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 mid-grade content with a lifted suspension and all-terrain tires — a differentiated option the Highlander can't match without stepping up to a 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 track record with this exact engine, or your third row is mostly emergency seating.

Both are excellent. The Pilot is the better family hauler and my default here; the Highlander Hybrid is the better efficiency play if you'll pay up for it. For the bigger Toyota in this fight, see my Grand Highlander vs Pilot comparison.