2026 Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander: We Compared the Data
By the CarWhere Vehicle Data Team · Updated November 8, 2026 · how we score
Our pick: the Pilot — it leads our weighted scorecard 5.5–5 across 10 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($42,395 vs $46,270) and more available power (285 hp vs 265 hp). Choose the Highlander if a lower NHTSA complaint rate matters most to you (0.39 vs 1.07 per 1,000 sold).
Scorecard: Pilot 5.5 pts · Highlander 5 pts across 10 scored categories.
The scorecard
| Category (weight) | 2026 Pilot | 2026 Highlander | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (2) | $42,395 | $46,270 | Pilot |
| NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold (2) | 1.07 | 0.39 | Highlander |
| 5-year value retained (1.5) | 46.6% | 52.7% | Highlander |
| Best EPA combined (1.5) | 22 mpg | 35 mpg | Highlander |
| Most horsepower available (1) | 285 hp | 265 hp | Pilot |
| Max towing (1) | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb | Tie |
| Cargo behind rear seats (1) | 18.6 cu ft | 16 cu ft | Pilot |
| Standard seats (1) | 7 | 7 | Tie |
| Median discount verified buyers got (1) | 6.9% off MSRP | 1% off MSRP | Pilot |
| Recalls, 2023–2025 model years (0.5) | 7 | 10 | Pilot |
| Weighted points | 5.5 | 5 | Pilot |
Which one we'd buy, and for whom
- Commuter. Commuters: the Highlander — 35 mpg vs 22 mpg (best EPA combined).
- Family. Families: the Pilot — 18.6 cu ft vs 16 cu ft (cargo behind rear seats).
- Budget. Tight budgets: the Pilot — $42,395 vs $46,270 (starting MSRP). Used, the median asking price is $23,704 for the Pilot vs $27,723 for the Highlander.
- Resale. Resale-minded buyers: the Highlander — 52.7% vs 46.6% (5-year value retained).
- Towing. Towing: it's a wash — Pilot 5,000 lb vs Highlander 5,000 lb (max towing).
Price: sticker and what buyers paid
The Pilot starts at $42,395 and tops out at $55,195; the Highlander runs $46,270 to $55,675 (manufacturer MSRP, before destination). Verified Pilot buyers paid a median 6.9% off MSRP across 48 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 8% off. Verified Highlander buyers paid a median 1% off MSRP across 19 deals; the CarWhere Index target is 3.5% off. Used, the median asking price is $23,704 for the Pilot and $27,723 for the Highlander (all model years, US dealer listings).
Reliability: NHTSA complaints and recalls
- Pilot: 1.07 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 17th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Highlander: 0.39 NHTSA owner complaints per 1,000 sold (2015–2022 sales years; 67th percentile among the SUVs we track).
- Recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 model years: Pilot 7, Highlander 10.
Latest rated model years on our years-to-avoid pages: Highlander 2016 (solid).
Complaint rates are owner complaints filed with NHTSA divided by vehicles sold — a federal-data signal, not a survey score.
Specs side by side
| 2026 Pilot | 2026 Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting MSRP (base trim) | $42,395 | $46,270 |
| Top-trim MSRP | $55,195 | $55,675 |
| Horsepower | 285 hp | 243–265 hp |
| Max torque | 262 lb-ft | 310 lb-ft |
| EPA combined | 20–22 mpg | 24–35 mpg (hybrid avail.) |
| Max towing | 5,000 lb | 5,000 lb |
| Seats (standard / max) | 7 / 8 | 7 / 8 |
| Cargo behind rear seats | 18.6 cu ft | 16 cu ft |
Automaker-published figures; EPA ratings from fueleconomy.gov. "—" = not published.
Size
| Pilot | Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 200.1 in | 194.9 in |
| Width | 78.5 in | 76 in |
| Height | 71 in | 68.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 in | 112.2 in |
| Ground clearance | 7.3 in | 8 in |
Resale: 5-year value retained
A 5-year-old (2021) Pilot lists for a median $24,934 — 46.6% of today's median new price of $53,502. A 5-year-old (2021) Highlander lists for a median $30,260 — 52.7% of today's median new price of $57,374.
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More on the Honda Pilot
More on the Toyota Highlander
Related head-to-heads
FAQ
Is the Pilot better than the Highlander?
On our data, yes. Our pick: the Pilot — it leads our weighted scorecard 5.5–5 across 10 categories, winning on a lower starting price ($42,395 vs $46,270) and more available power (285 hp vs 265 hp). Choose the Highlander if a lower NHTSA complaint rate matters most to you (0.39 vs 1.07 per 1,000 sold).
Which is more reliable, the Pilot or the Highlander?
On federal data, the Highlander: owners filed 0.39 NHTSA complaints per 1,000 vehicles sold versus 1.07 for the Pilot (2015–2022 sales years). That's complaint volume, not a survey score. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns touching the 2023–2025 Pilot and 10 for the Highlander.
Which holds its value better, the Pilot or the Highlander?
The Highlander: a 5-year-old example lists for 52.7% of the new price, versus 46.6% for the Pilot, based on median used asking prices against today's median new price.
Which is cheaper, the Pilot or the Highlander?
The Pilot starts lower: $42,395 vs $46,270 starting MSRP (before destination). Verified buyers paid a median 6.9% off MSRP on the Pilot (48 deals) and 1% on the Highlander (19 deals).
Which has better gas mileage, the Pilot or the Highlander?
The Highlander: up to 35 mpg combined vs 22 mpg for the Pilot (best EPA rating across each lineup).
How we score
Each category compares one published number per model and counts only when both models have it. The winner earns the category weight; results inside the tie band earn nothing. Our pick has more weighted points; level points fall back to more category wins, then the reliability winner, then the price winner.
- Starting MSRP: lower wins; tie within 3%.
- NHTSA complaints per 1,000 sold: lower wins; tie within 15%.
- 5-year value retained: higher wins; tie within 2 points.
- Best EPA combined: higher wins; tie within 1 mpg (3 MPGe).
- Most horsepower available: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Max towing: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Cargo behind rear seats: higher wins; tie within 5%.
- Standard seats: higher wins; tie same count.
- Median discount verified buyers got: higher wins; tie within 0.5 points.
- Recalls, 2023–2025 model years: lower wins; tie within 1.
Towing weighs 2 for pickups and 1 otherwise; seating is only scored between SUVs and minivans, using standard (never optional) seats. Sources: automaker spec pages and order guides; EPA ratings (fueleconomy.gov); NHTSA owner complaints and recall campaigns against published US sales; median used asking prices across active US dealer listings from licensed vehicle-data providers; verified buyer-submitted deal sheets for discounts.
Cite this page: CarWhere, "2026 Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander: We Compared the Data," carwhere.com/compare-cars/honda-pilot-vs-toyota-highlander, updated November 8, 2026.