2025 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander

Midsize crossover SUVs offer versatile interiors and exciting drivetrains to enhance your drives in Dover, Ohio. Whether you need an SUV that can tow thousands of pounds, store a lot of cargo, or accommodate up to eight people, you’ll find what you need with either the 2025 Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander. Our Parkway Honda team has conducted a detailed comparison of these two SUVs to ensure you have a clear understanding of their key features, performance, and dimensions.

2025 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander: Performance

The 2025 Honda Pilot features a V-6 engine delivering 285 horsepower. The 2025 Toyota Highlander is equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 265 horsepower. The Pilot offers two-wheel drive (2WD), and the Highlander features all-wheel drive (AWD). Both SUVs offer a front-wheel drive (FWD) option, allowing you to select the drivetrain that works best for you.

These different drivetrains yield varying fuel economy numbers. The Honda Pilot’s are as follows:

• 2WD: EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and 22 mpg combined
• AWD: EPA-estimated 19 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined
• TrailSport: EPA-estimated 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined

The Toyota Highlander’s mpg ratings are as follows:

• FWD: EPA-estimated 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined
• AWD: EPA-estimated 21 mpg in the city, 28 mpg on the highway, and 24 mpg combined

2025 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander: Key Features

When shopping for a new SUV in the New Philadelphia area, consider the interior design and how its technologies can enhance your daily drive.

There are several similarities between the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander specs, including an available panoramic moonroof, hands-free tailgate, and multiview camera system. These midsize crossover SUVs also offer heated and ventilated front seats on higher trims.

You can stay connected to your favorite apps with the Toyota Highlander’s available 12.3-inch multimedia touch screen. The 2025 Honda Pilot features a 9-inch vivid touch screen display (7 inches on the Sport trim). A 7-inch thin-film transistor display is standard on lower trims; the Elite and Black Edition trims have a 10.2-inch driver information cluster. While these screens are smaller than the Highlander’s, the new Pilot offers a more extensive sound system. The Toyota SUV has an available JBL premium audio system with 11 speakers, while the Honda SUV offers a Bose premium sound system with 12 speakers.

Safety

Auto manufacturers are making SUVs safer to drive; they know your family and friends are precious cargo. The 2025 Pilot comes equipped with Honda Sensing, and the Highlander has the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ system. Both safety suites include helpful driver-assistance features such as lane-departure assist, adaptive cruise control, and traffic sign recognition. While there are similarities in safety technologies, one SUV received the highest safety rating from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

The IIHS awarded the 2025 Honda Pilot its 2025 Top Safety Pick, noting its ability to protect you and your passengers in case of an accident. The IIHS recognized the Toyota Highlander as the Top Safety Pick in 2024, but didn’t award it to Toyota for the 2025 model year.

2025 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander: Dimensions

Let’s investigate the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot dimensions to determine which is the right fit for your Ohio lifestyle.

Interior Space

Both the 2025 Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander have plenty of room for traveling with family or friends. These three-row SUVs both have a seven- or eight-person seating capacity depending on the trim. The Highlander offers a bit more legroom; it has 42 inches in the front row, 38.7 inches in the second row, and 28 inches in the third row. The Pilot has 41 inches of legroom in the front row, 40.8 inches in the second row, and 32.5 inches in the third row.

Cargo and Towing Capacities

What the Pilot lacks in legroom, it makes up for in cargo capacity. The Honda SUV outperforms the Highlander with 18.6 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third row, 48.5 cubic feet behind the second, and 87 total cubic feet with all seats behind the first row folded down. The Toyota SUV offers 16 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet behind the second row, and a total of 84.3 cubic feet behind the first row.

You can make the most of life in Tuscarawas County with a new SUV’s towing power. Hitch up a utility trailer with your favorite off-roading adventure vehicles or a small travel trailer for a weekend getaway. The 2025 Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander offer the same towing capacities; the 2WD Pilot and AWD Highlander can tow up to 3,500 pounds, while the AWD Pilot and FWD Highlander can tow up to 5,000 pounds.

Off-Road Capabilities

One perk of owning a midsize crossover SUV, such as the 2025 Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander, is its ability to go off-roading wherever you travel. The wide wheelbase dimensions of 113.8 inches for the Highlander and 112.2 inches for the Pilot give you a more stable ride. Ground clearance provides confidence in your vehicle when tackling obstacles. The Toyota SUV can handle more with its 8-inch ground clearance compared to the Pilot’s 7.3-inch clearance.

Test Drive the Pilot at Parkway Honda in Dover Today

The best way to compare the Honda Pilot to the Toyota Highlander is to see one in person. Visit Parkway Honda to test-drive the 2025 Pilot and experience all its exciting features firsthand. Our expert sales team will help you explore its versatile interior, functionality, and technology. Ask about our new SUV specials while you’re at Parkway Honda for your test drive.  Contact us today to schedule your test-drive, and we’ll help you find the perfect Pilot.