2019 Highlander vs. 2019 Pilot

If you’re searching for a three-row SUV, you’re probably planning to bring along your friends and family wherever you’re headed. Cabin space is a given, and so is safety, but among all the eight-seater SUVs on the market, which one is right for your situation? The Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot both meet those standard requirements, but when you look at their key attributes, you’ll notice some big differences. Let’s survey these two family-friendly SUVs to determine the one that suits your needs.

Interior

While either SUV offers plenty of interior space, the Highlander’s comfortable cabin proves tough to beat. The Pilot’s furnishings don’t match the high-quality materials found throughout the Highlander, and Toyota presents a long list of available enhancements across their trims. The Highlander enjoyed a refresh in 2017, a year after the Pilot entered its latest generation. The result is a noticeably more contemporary style within the Highlander’s cabin, and a wide range of tech features for entertainment and driver assistance. Both SUVs seat eight and accommodate car seats in the passenger rows, but parents will appreciate the Highlander’s incredibly easy access to its car seat connections.

Performance

The Highlander offers two engine choices to the Pilot’s single V6. The first of Toyota’s options is a respectable 4-cylinder, while they also offer a robust 3.5-liter V6 that delivers serious horsepower. Both vehicles handle delightfully well and have a similar tow rating, but the Highlander pulls ahead with the V6’s outstanding fuel efficiency. It also earned higher predicted reliability ratings than the Pilot, promising lasting performance even after miles on the road.

Technology

The Highlander and the Pilot are each equipped with some impressive tech features, but only the Highlander comes with the Driver Easy Speak PA, an audio system that pipes the driver’s voice directly to the rear-seat passengers. Even if kids in the back get noisy, there will be no question that everyone from the front row to the back can hear the driver when necessary. As both SUVs may be considered family vehicles, they’ve both been outfitted with a variety of safety systems. While the Pilot certainly doesn’t skimp on standard features, the Highlander comes with the cutting-edge Safety Sensing P suite, which includes automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and more.

Price

The Highlander comes at a lower price than the Pilot, and the gap widens as you climb their trim ranges. The Highlander starts at $31,330 as opposed to the Pilot’s $31,500. The Highlander’s range-topping Limited Platinum trim asks $45,550, whereas the Pilot costs about $48,000 for its Elite trim.

Find Your Next SUV in Owensboro

If you want to hit the road with family and friends in comfort and style, the Highlander presents all the features you need at an unbeatable price. Impressive fuel economy and strong reliability ratings promise a rewarding value, and a diverse trim lineup promises something for everyone.

At Don Moore Toyota, we’re dedicated to helping drivers in Owensboro, Bowling Green, Evansville, and Central City find exactly what they need at a price that works for them. Whether you’re searching for a new vehicle or bringing your old one in for maintenance, you can expect top-quality customer service every time you visit our dealership.

If you’re looking for the Highlander or any other reliable Toyota, you’re sure to find it within our wide selection of new and pre-owned cars, pickups, and SUVs. You can browse our whole roster online any time, and you’re always welcome to come by the dealership to explore the lineup with one of our automotive professionals. When you find something that you’d like to try out, we’ll be happy to hand you the keys for a test drive. Remember that we also have special offers to make our Toyotas even more affordable.