When it comes to three-row SUVs, American drivers have no shortage of options. The average driver can hardly be blamed for feeling more than a little overwhelmed when it comes to looking for a new vehicle. But while it's certainly true that a "one size fits all" type vehicle doesn't exist, there are plenty of reasons why a large number of drivers are searching for a Honda Pilot for sale.
The Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander are two competing vehicles in the segment, so it's hard to avoid comparing them to each other. In fact, for many smart consumers, it's a very good idea to compare these two SUVs. Both Honda and Toyota design reliable, functional vehicles that maintain their value for a long time—all of which are important traits to savvy car shoppers. However, there are a few very clear ways in which the 2025 Honda Pilot stands above the 2025 Toyota Highlander. Read on to see why the Pilot gets our vote.
More Passenger Space
Both the 2025 Pilot and the 2025 Highlander are three-row SUVs offered with a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. Each vehicle can provide seating for seven or eight passengers, depending on the trim and configurations chosen. The ease with which up to eight passengers can be accommodated, however, depends on the vehicle.
Most of the 2025 Honda Pilot configurations offer eight-passenger seating. Only the off-road-oriented TrailSport trim is offered in strictly seven-passenger form. On the other hand, the 2025 Toyota Highlander only includes standard eight-passenger seating on the base LE trim. All the other trims come with a standard seven-passenger configuration, although the XLE and Limited do have an eight-passenger option if you can find it.
There's also the matter of available space. First-row passengers in the Pilot enjoy 40.5 inches of headroom, while the Highlander offers 41.2 inches. However, this is only true on the lower trims, which do not have a moonroof. Adding a moonroof drops the headroom in the Highlander by almost two inches. Unfortunately, the moonroof is a requirement for those who select the XLE, XSE, and Limited trims. Platinum trim drivers receive a panoramic glass roof with a front moonroof, which reduces front headroom even further to 38.4 inches. Meanwhile, even third-row passengers in the Honda Pilot have 39.3 inches of head space.
The maximum of 59 inches of shoulder room available in the front row of the Highlander is also less than the 59.5 inches that third-row passengers receive in the Pilot. If you don't plan on carrying a lot of passengers, perhaps the Highlander will meet your needs. Otherwise, you might want to consider the comfort of your carpool and choose the Pilot. And yes, you can choose a Pilot that also has a moonroof.
Superior Overall Functionality
But what if having eight seats isn't as important to you as having plenty of room for all of the things you regularly bring with you when you slide behind the wheel? Both the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander offer towing for loads up to 5,000 lbs. However, if you're more interested in interior space, the Honda Pilot reigns supreme. The 2025 Highlander features 16 cu.ft. of cargo space with all seats occupied. This becomes 48.4 cu.ft. with the third row folded and 84.3 cu.ft. with all but the front row stowed. These are admirable figures but diminutive compared to the Pilot.
Designed with family adventure in mind, the 2025 Pilot provides 18.6 cu.ft. behind the third row. All trims also include One-Touch fold-flat second-row seats, which have a 40/20/40 split to allow maximum storage and seating capabilities. In fact, the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition offer a removable second-row middle seat, which can be stashed in a special storage spot in the truck. Accounting for additional storage space under and between the seats, the overall maximum usable space in the Pilot adds up to 113.7 cu.ft.
Power and Performance
When it comes to what's under the hood, the 2025 Honda Pilot and the 2025 Toyota Highlander are well-matched. The 2025 Pilot is equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine that provides a comfortable 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Comparatively, the Highlander is powered by a 2.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that's good for 265 hp and 310 lb-ft. Although the Highlander offers more torque, this doesn't translate into a performance benefit like faster acceleration or increased towing capacity.
The 2025 Honda Pilot lineup includes the Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite trims, along with the Black Edition special release. Of these options, the Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims can be equipped with front-wheel drive; all trims are offered with Honda's i-VTM4 all-wheel drive capability. Conversely, the 2025 Toyota Highlander is offered in LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims. The LE and XLE trims offer available all-wheel drive, while the XSE, Limited, and Platinum trims offer the option of Dynamic Torque Vectoring all-wheel drive, which is similar to Honda's standard i-VTM4 system.
Despite this fancier all-wheel drive option, the Highlander does not offer an off-road capable model. The Honda Pilot TrailSport includes all-terrain features like skid plates, an extra inch of ground clearance, and all-terrain tires to handle rugged landscapes. The Highlander simply does not have a comparable option.
Comfort and Convenience
Both the 2025 Honda Pilot and 2025 Toyota Highlander are offered in an array of trims that capture the needs, wants, and budgets of a large variety of drivers. Over the years, both Honda and Toyota have designed cabins that offer a "just right" selection of comfort and convenience features.
However, the Honda Pilot simply has more robust standard offerings. In a day and age when heated seats have become a subscription service, it is delightful to see that Honda has decked out the 2025 Pilot with standard features that make sense, such as tri-zone automatic climate control with air filtration and humidity control, heated front seats, and a 10-way power adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support. The front passenger also gets four-way power adjustment. In fact, you don't have to climb far up the trim levels to unlock even more thoughtful features, like a heated steering wheel, heated side mirrors, and even a heated windshield.
Heated seats are not standard on the 2025 Highlander. In fact, the LE trim only offers an eight-way power adjustable driver's seat and four-way manual adjustments for the front passenger. A heated steering wheel isn't in the cards unless you opt for the Limited or Platinum trims, which also add the 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat the Pilot offers across all trims.
Why We Love the Honda Pilot
It makes sense that each of us would crave a vehicle that fits our needs. The 2025 Honda Pilot simply has more of all of the things drivers are looking for. Not only does the Pilot offer more overall space for passengers and cargo alike, but it also provides more creative configurability for drivers who have the unenviable task of juggling both people and gear. With more flexible seating arrangements and a great number of practical storage opportunities, the interior of the Pilot isn't just bigger—it's better organized. And, with a greater array of standard features that mean something to discerning drivers, the interior just works better, as well.
