The Highlander starts off strong with its 2.4-litre 4-cylindre engine that produces 264 horsepower. On the other hand, the Pilot flies out of the gate with its 3.5-litre V6 engine, which is capable of 285 horsepower. More power under the hood means higher velocity joyrides for Pilot drivers.

To match its power output, the Honda equips a 10-speed automatic transmission with a Shift-By-Wire feature. The Toyota features an 8-speed automatic transmission. What is the benefit of having more gears in the Pilot? The more gears a vehicle has, the more efficiently and dynamically it can accelerate.

All-wheel drive comes standard on either SUV, helping drivers experience optimized traction on any terrain. Speaking of terrain, the Pilot and the Highlander both offer drive mode systems, so you can venture outside your comfort zone.

However, the Honda’s system includes up to seven modes, including:

• Sport
• Normal
• ECON
• Snow
• Tow

Trail and Sand are available modes for the Pilot. Similar modes are found on the Highlander thanks to its Multi-Terrain Select feature, which includes Mud & Sand, Rock & Dirt, Snow, and Normal modes. However, that’s all the modes it offers. For more ways to tailor your experience, choose the Honda.

Both the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander allow you to use their 60/40 flat-folding 3rd-row seats to maximize storage space.

Only the Honda Pilot, however, has one-touch 2nd-row seats. A simple push of the button provides easy access to the third row, making it a breeze for rear-seat passengers to get in and out. Plus, the 2nd-row centre seat can be stowed in its hidden compartment when not needed, providing even more ways to configure the cabin of the Pilot.

The Toyota Highlander has an impressive amount of cargo room, but you’ll only have 453 litres (16 cubic feet) of cargo space behind the third-row seats when they’re upright. The Honda Pilot, however, eclipses the Highlander in terms of room behind the third row. You’ll have up to 635 litres (22.4 cubic feet) of cargo volume for your essentials.

Overall, the Honda Pilot gives drivers up to 3,166 litres (111.8 cubic feet) of total cargo volume, which is far more than the 2,387 litres (84.3 cubic feet) found in the Highlander. The Pilot makes sure you’ll have plenty of room for whatever you need, including luggage, tents, backpacks, and sporting gear.

When driving to work or taking the kids to school, you’ll probably want a sophisticated audio and multimedia system to keep everyone entertained. In many ways, the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander are evenly matched in this regard, with the following features standard:

• Touchscreen display
• Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility

The Honda Pilot offers a novel feature unseen on the Toyota Highlander: standard Speed-sensitive Volume Control. This feature will automatically adjust the audio when you’re going faster, so you can drown out the noise of the highway with your favourite playlist.

Both Honda and Toyota are nearly as committed to your safety as you are. That’s why the 2023 Honda Pilot and the 2023 Toyota Highlander come standardly equipped with a comprehensive safety suite: Honda Sensing® and Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+, respectively.

These driver-assistive bundles have brand-specific versions of these features:

• Forward Collision Warning
• Collision Mitigation Braking System™
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
• Blind Spot Information System and Rear Cross Traffic Monitor

However, there are several systems that only come standard in the Pilot:

• Traffic sign recognition
• Traffic Jam Assist

Although the Toyota Highlander’s safety suite will help keep your family safe, it goes without these additional features. It’s the Honda Pilot that goes above and beyond to help you feel confident in several traffic-related scenarios.