Midsized SUV Face-Off: Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander

Both SUVs match up closely in many ways, but only one can be the better choice

Jon Linkov, Consumer Reports Autos Editor.

By Jon Linkov
Autos Editor

Updated July 18, 2023

2023 Honda Pilot vs 2023 Toyota Highlander — The Honda Pilot vs. the Toyota Highlander.

For 2023, both the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander received some major updates. The Pilot has been fully redesigned while the Toyota received a new powertrain, swapping out the long-running V6 engine for a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The result is that these models now have some major differences. So which one performs better? Which is more enjoyable to drive? Which is easier to live with?

Skip Ahead

• Honda Pilot: The Case for It / The Case Against It
• Toyota Highlander: The Case for It / The Case Against It
• Verdict: Which One Should You Get?

To answer those questions and more, we took an in-depth look at these two midsized three-row SUVs to compare how they fare in CR’s testing and surveys.

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Jon Linkov

Jon Linkov is the deputy auto editor at Consumer Reports. He has been with CR since 2002, covering varied automotive topics including buying and leasing, maintenance and repair, ownership, reliability, used cars, and electric vehicles. He manages CR’s lineup of special interest publications, hosts CR’s “Talking Cars” podcast, and writes and edits content for CR’s online and print products. An avid cyclist, Jon also enjoys driving his ’80s-era sports car and instructing at track days.