Toyota Highlander vs Honda Pilot
Three-row SUVs · head to head, 2010–2027
The Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot were both sold for 18 model years (2010–2027). Among the Highlander's own years, its best bet is 2018; years to avoid: 2020; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the Pilot's own years, its best bet is 2022; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025.
Toyota Highlander
SUV · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2018
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid 2020
- Be careful 2021
Honda Pilot
SUV · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2022
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2017, 2019
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Highlander year says nothing about whether it beats a Pilot. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Toyota Highlander | Honda Pilot | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | Not rated | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.9× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | CAREFULSerious complaints 2.4× usual, mostly power train and brakes | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2020 | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.9× usual, mostly power train and brakes | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual | Side by side |
| 2019 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly power train and fuel system | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and collision avoidance | Side by side |
| 2018 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2017 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly engine and fuel system | Side by side |
| 2016 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2015 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.1× usual | Side by side |
| 2014 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.2× usual | Side by side |
| 2013 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual | Side by side |
| 2012 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.5× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.2× usual | Side by side |
| 2011 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual | Side by side |
| 2010 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.3× usual | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year with full data, at a glance
Newer years (up to 2027) have thinner price and equipment data for one or both models, so this table uses 2026. Use "Compare any year" above for the others.
| 2026 Toyota Highlander | 2026 Honda Pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | Not rated | TOO NEW |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | $45,570 to $54,975 base price by trim, 7 trims | — |
| Engines and horsepower | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo, 265 hp 2.5L 4-cyl hybrid, 186 hp | 3.5L 6-cyl, 285 hp |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 24–35 mpg | 20–22 mpg |
| Seats | 7 | — |
| Third row | Yes | — |
| Cargo behind last row | 16 cu ft | — |
| Max cargo | 84.3 cu ft | — |
| Max towing | 3,500–5,000 lb | — |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | 5 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 0 · 0 | 1 · 22 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Highlander XLE lowest price, $45,570 | Highlander Hybrid Platinum highest price, $54,975 | Pilot Sport first listed | Pilot Black Edition last listed | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Heated front seats | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | — | Standard | No | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | Standard | Standard | No | Standard |
| 360-degree camera | — | Standard | No | No |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | Standard | Standard | No | No |
| Remote start | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (Highlander, Pilot).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Toyota Highlander
30 manufacturer programs on file: 15 extended coverage, 15 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Customer Support Program ZKG ? (Z3G, 2010–2018 models)
- Extended coverage Multiple Models and Model Years Vehicles Painted with Blizzard Pearl (070) or Super White (040) Paint Color Coverage for Peeling of Factory-Applied Paint Toyota has added approximately 430,700 2008 ? 2018 model year Highlander and… (2010–2018 models)
- Extended coverage Technical Instructions Customer Support Program ZKG Multiple Models and Model Years Vehicles Painted with Blizzard Pearl (070) or Super White (040) Paint Color Coverage for Peeling of Factory-Applied Paint (2010, 2012–2016, 2018 models)
- Extended coverage Customer Support Program ZKG - Paint Repair Process Operation Flow Chart (2011–2017 models)
Honda Pilot
29 manufacturer programs on file: 29 extended coverage, 0 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. (ONL6T603102023-4, 2017–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension - Warranty Extension reimbursement form for engine idle stop repairs made before the warranty extension notice date. (ONL6T603102023-2, 2018–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028) (19-003-1, 2010–2012, 2014–2015 models)
- Extended coverage Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Honda is extending the warranty coverage for valve… (A23-009, 2017–2020 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2010–2016, 2018, 2022–2025. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2020: the Pilot is rated good buy (serious complaints 1.2× usual), while the Highlander is rated avoid (serious complaints 2.9× usual, mostly power train and brakes). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Highlander 2020.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Highlander 2025; Pilot 2025.
- Best EPA combined rating in 2026: Highlander at 35 mpg (Pilot: 22), for the most efficient version of each.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.