Midsize SUVs with three rows of seating are now the go-to choice for families with four or more children. Customers who purchase in this class may anticipate plenty of room for passengers and cargo, a wide range of convenience amenities, and (for the most part) simple car-seat installation.
Two of the most popular options for a crossover SUV with a third row are the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. The 2022 Honda Pilot and 2022 Toyota Highlander are comparable in size and interior space, other from that. Both come with a typical V6 engine. Toyota also has a hybrid Highlander available for those looking for improved gas mileage.
This 2022 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander comparison will aid in your decision-making if you’re torn between the two vehicles.
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Highlander versus Honda Pilot: which is superior?
A 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque is standard on every 2022 Honda Pilot. Three-row midsize SUVs frequently have six-cylinder engines, but this one distinguishes out for its lively performance. The V6 from Honda is paired with a 9-speed automated transmission.
Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4), the available AWD technology for the 2022 Pilot, is capable of torque vectoring and offers various terrain settings. In order to maintain traction, it is possible to direct up to 70% of the engine’s torque to a single rear tire.
7.3 inches of ground clearance are typical for Pilots. Because it has 7.9 inches of clearance, the Honda Pilot TrailSport is a good option if you frequently travel on dirt roads. AWD Pilots have a 5,000-pound towing capacity as opposed to front-drive models’ 3,500-pound limit when properly equipped.
The FWD 2022 Honda Pilot receives a combined city and highway fuel economy rating of 23 mpg from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Pilots with all-wheel drive get 22 mpg on the highway. Due to its higher suspension, the Pilot TrailSport achieves a combined fuel economy rating of 21 mpg.
In a similar vein, the Toyota Highlander’s base engine is a 3.5-liter V6. With an 8-speed automatic transmission, this engine produces 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Although there is occasionally a delay during transmission upshifts, the engine delivers power smoothly.
On the V6 Highlanders, Toyota provides two AWD systems. The entry-level system offers hill-descent control and terrain modes. Torque-vectoring technology is added to the improved AWD system on higher models to increase grip.
8 inches of ground clearance are standard on every 2022 Toyota Highlander. A properly equipped V6 Highlander has a 5,000-pound towing capacity regardless of drive configuration.
The 2022 Highlander with a V6 engine is rated by the EPA at 23 mpg combined with FWD and 24 mpg combined with AWD. Toyota offers the 2022 Highlander Hybrid if you’re looking for a more fuel-efficient family car. The hybrid powertrain combines a front electric drive motor that receives power from a compact, 1.9 kilowatt-hour battery pack with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 186 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The power sources are combined by a second electric motor; this is an electronic continuously variable transmission (eCVT). The combined horsepower of hybrid Highlanders is 243 hp.
The rear wheels of AWD Highlander hybrids are propelled by a third electric motor. The gasoline engine does not deliver torque to the rear wheels, unlike on V6 Highlanders (and Pilots). No matter the powertrain configuration, properly outfitted Highlander Hybrids have a 3,500-pound towing capacity.
The FWD 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid gets 36 mpg in combined driving, according to the EPA. The Highlander hybrid AWD gets 35 mpg.
Despite having a lesser horsepower rating, the V6 in the Pilot is superior. If you can endure its noisy 4-cylinder engine, the Highlander Hybrid is the winner if fuel economy is your top goal.
Which vehicle, the Toyota Highlander or the Honda Pilot, has more cargo space?
83.7 and 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space are available within the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot, respectively. The Pilot, however, has more space behind the back seats. As opposed to 13.8 cubic feet inside the Highlander, you get 16.5 cubic feet of traditional cargo space. Additionally, the Pilot’s passenger volume is 152.9 cubic feet larger than the Highlander’s, or 8 cubic feet. You and your passengers can spread out and relax on the Pilot’s larger interior surfaces. For instance, the Pilot’s third-row occupants have 57.6 inches of shoulder room, compared to only 55 inches in the Highlander.
Is a Honda Pilot purchase worthwhile?
The Honda Pilot is a solid midsize SUV, that much is true. With three rows of comfortable seats, a sizable load area, and a high-quality cabin, it succeeds on almost all counts. Thanks to a strong base V6 engine and a good balance of handling ability and ride comfort, driving it is also not boring.
Is the Toyota Highlander a dependable vehicle?
The Toyota Highlander has a 4.0 out of 5.0 reliability rating, placing it seventh out of 26 midsize SUVs. It has cheaper ownership costs than the national average due to the $489 average annual repair cost. When compared to all other vehicles, the frequency and severity of repairs are both about average.
What issues do Toyota Highlanders have?
Similar problems with the motorized tailgate and air conditioning system plagued the Toyota Highlander’s previous version from 2008 to 2013. A few owners have also complained of oil leaks from the engine and clunking sounds they hear when rotating the steering wheel.
The Toyota Highlander is the largest SUV available.
One of the strongest rivals to the Toyota Highlander is the 2018 Chevrolet Traverse. Comparing the cabin measurements of the two vehicles reveals that the Traverse is, in fact, almost a foot longer than the Highlander. The Traverse boasts 20% more third-row legroom and an additional 14.5 cubic feet of total load space.
Mobile Wi-Fi, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay are additional standard amenities on the Traverse. None of the Highlander trim levels provide any of those technologies. Furthermore, the Traverse is less expensive to start even though Toyota offers the most common safety measures. You can therefore put the money you save towards Chevy extras like collision-avoidance braking, lane-keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and more.
What distinguishes the Honda Pilot EXL from the EX?
Additional variations between the Honda Pilot EX and EX-L The following features are either standard or offered on the EX-L but are not on the EX: seats with leather trim. system for advanced rear entertainment. electric tailgate
Cabin Space
Highlander: At 194.9 inches, the new 2020 Highlander is 4.7 inches longer than its more capable off-road sibling, the 4Runner. Even though their widths are nearly identical, the new Highlander sits three inches lower than the 4Runner. The Highlander is, it may be said, even more like a car than before. The Highlander makes better use of its interior space because it is built on the new TNGA unibody chassis.
The headroom is 39.9 inches without the panoramic moonroof and 39.4 inches with the optional glass roof. Without the sunroof, there is 37.1 inches of headroom in the second row and 38.4 inches with it. In any configuration, the third row offers 36.1 inches of headroom. In terms of legroom, the first two seats have enough of it. Even the tallest passengers can easily fit in the first two rows thanks to its 40.4 and 41.0 inch widths. However, the third row is a little congested at 27.7 inches.
4Runner: Despite standing a solid 71.5 inches tall and measuring 190 inches in length, the 4Runner lacks a tiny bit of headroom and shoulder room compared to its car-based predecessor. The truck-like structure, which utilizes robust but space-consuming suspension components, is partly to blame for this.
Comparing the 4Runner to its slightly bigger unibody sister, both vehicles offer comparable amounts of headroom. To be exact, 39.3 inches in the front and 38.6 inches in the back. Although it does manage to reclaim some space in the third row, which offers two inches more legroom than the Highlander, the legroom in the middle seat is noticeably shorter at 32.9 inches due to the body on frame structure.
Conclusion: The Toyota Highlander is larger than the 4Runner and has significantly more space inside for passengers. The way they are built is primarily to blame for this. The 4Runner is a body on frame, in contrast to the Highlander’s unibody design. As a result, the 4Runner sits on top of its frame as opposed to the Highlander, which means the cabin’s available area is immediately reduced.
Toyota Highlander hybrid: does it have a plug?
No. The Highlander Hybrid doesn’t require the driver to charge a battery or plug anything in. There is no requirement to connect to external power because its built-in hybrid battery automatically recharges as you drive.
Which issues does the Honda Pilot have?
Electrical troubles with the 2020 Pilot are rather typical, while not being as widespread as other Pilot faults. Owners of the 2020 model have complained about electrical issues that led to broken navigation systems, instrument panels, and entertainment systems.
Key Points
- The Pilot’s track record of dependability has one flaw: In 2013, a class action lawsuit involving an engine problem impacting more than 1.6 million automobiles was resolved. The 3.5-liter V6 engine used in 2009–2013 Pilots may malfunction or burn excessive amounts of oil, according to the lawsuit.
- Less than 100 complaints on vehicles from 2014 and later indicate that the Pilot has been a reliable vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- In a recent survey of the cars most likely to travel 200,000 miles, the Honda brand came in second. Although the Honda Odyssey minivan, which has the same platform as the Pilot, was listed in the study’s list of 16 cars projected to reach that mileage milestone, the Pilot was not.
- The average annual repair cost for more recent Pilots is $542, which is less expensive than the Ford Explorer’s average annual repair cost of $732.
- The Honda Pilot is a dependable and reasonably priced SUV that, while not the most thrilling car on the road, should satisfy the ordinary driver for a decade or more of devoted service and can easily travel over 150,000 miles with proper maintenance.
How trustworthy are Honda drivers?
Breakdown of the Honda Pilot’s reliability rating. The Honda Pilot has a 3.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating, which places it 13th out of 26 midsize SUVs. It has cheaper ownership costs than the national average due to the $542 average annual repair cost.
Which SUV has the highest rating for dependability?
A dependable SUV, or sport utility vehicle, should be at the top of your list if you have any plans to grow your family or are simply searching for a car that can accommodate more luggage and cargo. The best part is that you don’t need a minivan for the extra seats because it has all the bells and whistles of a modern automobile and might provide you some fun off-roading. This means that you can have a little bit of automotive style while being a soccer parent.
A new type of vehicle called an SUV came onto the market to give its occupants more enclosed room and the adaptability of a pickup truck. SUVs have grown in popularity over the years and are currently among the most common types of vehicles.
You can feel a bit confused while deciding which SUV is best for you because of its rising popularity and the wide range of vehicle features and brands available.
Here is a list of the most dependable SUVs for 2021 to help you focus your search.