Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander
Side-by-side score breakdown across reliability, safety, value, performance, and technology.
What the Numbers Mean for You
- Up-front cost: the Toyota Highlander starts about $525 lower ($38,985 vs $39,510).
- Fuel: at 15,000 miles/year, the Toyota Highlander saves roughly $95/year ($2,188 vs $2,283) — about $475 over five years.
- Recalls: 2024 Pilot: 6 NHTSA campaigns · 2024 Highlander: 7. Fewer for the Honda Pilot — recall repairs are free, but they cost you time.
- Biggest gap — performance: the Honda Pilot leads by 0.5 points (7.4 vs 6.9). In practice that means a noticeably more capable and engaging drive.
Quick verdict: planning to keep it 8+ years? Lean Toyota Highlander (reliability edge). Care most about the drive itself? The Honda Pilot is the more rewarding pick.
Fuel estimates assume 15,000 miles/year at $3.50/gal. Recall counts from NHTSA at page build time. Scores are Carivo's editorial assessment informed by NHTSA, EPA, and manufacturer data — how we score →
