Buying a midsize 3-row sport-utility vehicle means spending big money. Even the base model of this vehicle class is a lot of money. If you invest in one of these machines, you want it to be many things. Perhaps most of all, you want it to be high quality. The 2025 Honda Pilot and 2025 Toyota Highlander enjoy good reputations for quality while delivering on many other fronts, such as safety, technology, and good looks. With these two SUVs, you also get plenty of space.
Let’s take a closer look at two of the oldest and most trusted names in this class.
2025 Honda Pilot
Whether you’re looking to get away from it all for a few days or need a spacious, comfortable place to be while getting around town, the 2025 Honda Pilot is ready. It’s got all of the necessary safety and entertainment technology and, perhaps most importantly, 14 cupholders. Of those 14, eight can handle 32-ounce bottles.
The Pilot inspires confidence when running errands or heading out for a weekend away. For families who want to go off the beaten track, Honda’s got a trim package for that: the TrailSport edition. It features steel skid plates, an extra inch of ground clearance, the TrailWatch Camera System to better navigate around rocks and trees, and special software designed to help it traverse challenging terrain. All-wheel drive (AWD) is available and standard on some trim levels.
Pricing for the Honda Pilot starts at $41,650, including destination fee.
Honda Pilot Highlights
Getting in: When you move up to the Touring and Elite models, a removable center seat in the second row makes access to the third row easier. The seat fits under the cargo space floor to get out of the way until you need it.
Off-road ready: The rugged TrailSport, with its 285-horsepower V6 engine, can tow 5,000 pounds. It also includes functional off-road upgrades like standard all-wheel drive, all-terrain tires, and a retuned suspension system.
Traffic Jam Assist: Under the right conditions, the Honda Pilot can practically drive itself through slower-moving highway traffic. Just keep your eyes on the road and a hand on the steering wheel to let it know you’re paying attention, and it’ll go, stop, and steer for miles at a time. It works very well, and it’s standard across the lineup.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Pilot models for sale near you.
2025 Toyota Highlander
Outstanding reliability, good road manners, and plenty of versatility, including room for eight passengers, make it easy to see why Toyota Highlander has been a popular entry in this segment for a long time.
The Highlander receives a few updates this year, including a now-standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a Sport Mode startup screen on the sporty XSE trim. With an open, comfortable interior and many technological upgrades, the Highlander is still a vehicle to benchmark in the segment. Pricing starts at $41,270, including the destination fees.
Toyota Highlander Highlights
All-wheel drive: The Highlander is available with two versions of all-wheel drive. In its higher trim levels, buyers can choose a Dynamic Torque Vectoring system that can manage torque distribution between the left and right rear wheels and the front and back. It also provides additional inputs to improve driver response.
Connected: Need to connect several devices? All Highlander models have five USB ports throughout the cabin, plus two 12-volt power outlets to power other items.
Fuel efficient: Six-cylinder engines (like the one in the Honda Pilot) are a mainstay in this class, but the tide is changing. Toyota put a 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder under the hood of the Highlander in 2023, and it posts 25 mpg combined — 3 mpg better than the Pilot.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Highlander models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander sit at or near the top of the segment. They’re well-built, well-equipped, and well-liked by consumers. In this case, they also come with 3-row seating, strong powerplants, great technology, and good looks.
Pricing
New 2025 Honda Pilot Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (18901)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$41,650 |
$39,209 |
|||
$44,950 |
$42,176 |
|||
$48,950 |
$45,836 |
|||
$50,850 |
$47,666 |
|||
$54,530 |
$51,307 |
|||
$56,030 |
$52,466 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Honda Pilot vehicles and New 2025 Toyota Highlander vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specs
| 2025 Honda Pilot | 2025 Toyota Highlander | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.5-liter 6-cylinder | 2.4-liter turbo 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 285 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 265 hp @ 6,000 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm | 310 lb-ft @ 1,700 rpm |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel Economy | 19 city/27 highway/22 combined mpg | 22 city/29 highway/25 combined |
| Also Available | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder hybrid, AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 8 |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 inches | 112.2 inches |
| Overall Length | 199.9 inches | 194.9 inches |
| Width | 78.5 inches | 76.0 inches |
| Height | 71.0 inches | 68.1 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.8 feet | 37.4 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.5 inches | 41.2 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.2 inches | 39.4 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 39.3 inches | 36.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.0 inches | 42.0 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 40.8 inches | 38.7 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 32.5 inches | 28.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.9 inches | 59.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 61.7 inches | 58.7 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 59.5 inches | 55.0 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 18.6/48.5/87.0 cubic feet | 16.0/48.4/84.3 cubic feet |
Conclusion
The differences between the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander are minor. The Pilot’s slightly more expensive and a bit more powerful. The Highlander is more fuel-efficient and can be had as a hybrid. There’s not an obvious victor here, so drive them both. Pick the one you like better.
