I’m wanting any feedback on Honda pilots vs Toyota highlanders. We need something with a towing hitch and captain sets.
Looking for something that will last a long time mileage wise as I don’t want to finish a loan and have to go right back into one, and also needing fuel efficiency & reliability. The SUV will be mainly highway driven on Manitoba winter roads.
This vehicle will be the primary vehicle for our family of 4 + 2 dogs.
Open to recommendations on other 7 seaters if you think they’d suit our needs!
We have the same family size (including dogs) and honestly the Highlander is a little small for my liking. We couldn’t go on trips if we didn’t have a cargo carrier on top, and we still end up cramped. It may be better once we no longer have bulky car seats.
Lake said: @Fife
yup. Have a 6 seat highlander. have a family of 4 with 2 dogs. its too small if we have to go anywhere and we fit much better in the my sienna.
Y’all just don’t know how to prioritize space. I’m having a hard time thinking 4 people and two dogs can’t be comfortable in the vehicle.
@Westley
the rear seats laying flat doesn’t leave a lot of head room for 2 large dogs. The rear slopes down quite a bit inside, and an adult cannot really fit in the rear seats. if you put the seats up, there is hardly any cargo space. If we are going somewhere, and need to haul anything more than just the people and the dogs, there is almost no room for “stuff”.
@Lake
Okay, so I agree the 3rd row seat is small on not for full size adults.
For us… when the dogs go on trips with us we keep the 3rd row down for the cargo space. They have a big dog bed and we even have a ramp because the are older. My dogs are mid size lab and shepherds.
Our cargo on the other side is strapped down and stacked up to the top. All the essentials for the kids are in a plastic tote in between them. If it doesn’t fit in there they can’t bring them.
I get we live in a world where bigger is better. All I’m saying is that if this scenario is by case and not a daily process it’s doable .
For specificities. 2019 Highlander platinum with 96k miles. No issues.
The 2019 has more space than the 2020 and newer. I have a 2020 Platinum Hybrid AWD, and the third row space is abysmal, and there is no headroom when the seats are folded down. we have a 70 pound aussie mix, and a current growing 40 pound Siberian Husky(who is 40 pounds at 5 months old, so hes not going to be small). The aussie mix already has not enough room in the back alone, and when they are both in the back, there is no room for anything else, and the Husky is still “small”, if you want to call 40 pounds and 3 feet tall small. If you need a third row, skip the highlander and get a Sienna. Sure, you lose the off road capability(what little it has), but you gain so much space for exactly the same vehicle footprint. Quite exactly, my 2020 highlander hybrid is nearly the exactly same footprint size as my sienna, same outer size, same wheelbase and length overall(nearly), same width. The sienna foregoes the higher ground clearance and lower roofline for a lower ground clearance and more headroom everywhere.
I can try and get a picture to illustrate how little space there is left if you really want it, but getting a puppy to sit still, especially this one, is no small task. With how the interior slops down so aggressively in the back for the third row, neither dog can really stand tall in the back, they need to crouch a bit or stay forward and keep their heads over the mid row seats.
Check out the Toyota Grand Highlander. I went from four straight Highlanders to the Grand Highlander and love the extra size. The third row is usable for adults.
The 2 things that turned me away from the Honda Pilot were:
Honda Passenger seat has no up/down (height adjustment). My wife is short.
Honda Pilot has a timing belt instead of a timing chain. Honda recommends inspecting and/or replacing the timing belt and water pump every 7 years or 60,000–100,000 miles. About $2000 to replace. Something else to worry about.
@Fin
The factory recommended maintenance schedules on Honda are crazy imo… way more pricey and involved than Toyota in our experience. NGL, Sold the odyssey rather than pay for the pump and belt. We were planning to move on soon anyway, the odometer and needed maintenance just sealed the deal
2 kids and 3 dogs here… The highlander works only because we have the 3rd row folded down. It’s essentially either a 7 seater with no trunk space, or a 4 seater with a big trunk. If you need all 7 seats, I’d opt for a bigger vehicle honestly, as much as the highlander is a great vehicle.
pilot doesn’t offer a hybrid package. i purchased a used 21 HiHy and i’m very happy with my decision. few years back i had a pilot which was great until my ex wrecked it. still prefer the toyota because i can easily get over 400miles mixed city/highway. in the city mileage is better if you’re not stoplight racing and accelerate gently pus regen braking.
I own both, V6 models, so not the hybrid not turbo-4. IMO for longevity, the V6 is proven in both Toyota and Honda to keep running beyond 170k Miles. (We also have Toyota 4Runner & Tacoma)
Comparing the Pilot and Highlander,
Highlander is tighter inside, especially the 3rd row. Honda Pilot has a more spacious 3rd row.
Pilot’s 9-speed automatic transmission can be a little jerky. Highlander’s 8-speed auto is very smooth, but I will admit the Pilot’s V6 engine has a little more power (280 hp vs 295 hp).
Pilot seats 8 passengers, whereas Highlander seats 7.
Honda Pilot is more useful for towing (5,000 lbs towing capacity vs 3,500 lbs)
Honda Pilot comes with a 2nd-row bench seat, or captain’s chairs. Toyota Highlander comes with Captain’s Chairs in most trim levels.
Honda Pilot has a lower maintenance cost vs Highlander, due to the low complexity of the Pilot’s drivetrain. With Honda’s CVT transmission and hybrid models, some owners have reported complex issues like overheating and failure.
Pilot also has slightly higher resale value over the long run. But resale value isn’t everything.
