The Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander are well-known models that have competed with one another for years. The competition between them has grown more intense for the 2023 model year because Honda has introduced an all-new version of the Pilot. And the Highlander is front-and-center in its sights. Honda would like nothing more than to knock the Highlander off its lofty sales perch. It has improved the Pilot in every area in an attempt to accomplish that formidable task.
Complete makeovers in the midsize SUV segment don't come every day. In making its changes, Honda has pulled out all the stops. It completely revamped the Pilot's exterior design and installed a more upscale interior. While the standard engine remains a 3.5-liter V6, Honda upgraded it to offer five additional horsepower. Perhaps more importantly, Honda replaced the previous 9-speed automatic transmission with a 10-speed unit. The Pilot continues to offer standard front-wheel drive (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. Honda also upgraded the SUV's infotainment systems and tweaked its standard and optional safety offerings.
The 2023 Toyota Highlander can't claim to be all-new, but it does boast significant changes. The most important one is the installation of a new base engine. Toyota replaced the 3.5-liter V6 with a turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. The new power plant produces less horsepower but generates much higher peak torque. Plus, it delivers better fuel economy. While it was making changes to combat the all-new Pilot, Toyota also revised the Highlander's instrument panel and upgraded the infotainment system.
While the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander present distinct pluses and minuses, they also have a lot in common. Both are versatile 3-row vehicles designed to meet the needs of today's families. Both offer seating for as many as eight and feature flexible seating arrangements that accommodate various combinations of people and cargo. Both emphasize safety with impressive arrays of standard electronic safety equipment. And both give their buyers the choice of FWD or AWD.
2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Honda offers the 2023 Pilot in six trim levels: LX, Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite. The LX, Sport, EX-L, and Touring trims offer the choice of FWD or AWD. The off-road-oriented Pilot TrailSport and the super-luxury Elite are AWD-only.
The front-drive 2023 Honda Pilot LX is the least expensive vehicle in the lineup, with a manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $37,295, including the $1,345 destination charge. A front-wheel-drive version of the popular EX-L trim carries a starting price of $43,295. The Touring offers niceties like a panoramic sunroof, Bose premium sound system, and a hands-free power-operated liftgate. With FWD, it has a base MSRP of $47,795.
The off-road-ready TrailSport with all-terrain wheels and tires, specially tuned suspension, and second-row captain's chairs has a suggested list of $49,695. The AWD-only Pilot Elite, with perforated leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, has a base MSRP of $53,375.
The 2023 Highlander offers Toyota customers an extensive selection. The Japanese automaker sells the conventional Highlander in six grades: L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. All six offer the choice of FWD or AWD. The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid lets consumers choose among five grades: LE, XLE, Limited, Platinum, and Bronze Edition. Toyota markets both FWD and AWD hybrid models.
The luxurious Platinum trim equipped with AWD sits atop the Highlander's conventionally powered lineup. It has a base price of $52,360, including the $1,335 destination fee. The FWD Highlander L is at the entry point of the lineup with an MSRP of $37,755. It's the least costly of the Highlanders. Most of the sales come from mid-level models. The popular Highlander LE starts at $40,155, and the well-equipped XLE trim starts at $43,155.
Hybrid-powered Highlanders are more expensive. The luxuriously equipped AWD Platinum Hybrid has a base price of $53,760. The special Bronze Edition hybrid has a suggested base price of $47,115 in FWD form and $48,715 with AWD. No L-trim hybrid exists, so the least expensive Highlander Hybrid is the LE, with a base MSRP of $41,555.
Advantage: Toyota Highlander
2023 Toyota Highlander Turbo Limited
The Honda Pilot does not rank among the top three models in the Upper Midsize SUV segment in the JD Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS), which assesses owner-reported problems during the third year of ownership. The Pilot also does not rank among the top three models in its segment in the JD Power 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), which tracks problems experienced by owners during the first 90 days.
The 2023 Honda Pilot has the following warranty, roadside assistance, and scheduled maintenance coverage:
The Toyota Highlander is the highest-ranked model in the Upper Midsize SUV segment in the 2023 VDS. The Highlander does not rank among the top three models in its segment in the 2022 IQS.
The 2023 Toyota Highlander has the following warranty, roadside assistance, and scheduled maintenance coverage:
Advantage: Toyota Highlander
2023 Honda Pilot
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Honda offers Pilot customers a single engine choice: a normally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 that delivers 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The engine is a revised version of the V6 in the previous-generation Pilot. The more substantive change is the switch to a 10-speed automatic transmission from the previous model's 9-speed automatic.
Another significant change is the introduction of the second generation of Honda's torque-vectoring i-VTM4 AWD system. Standard on TrailSport and Elite, the system features what Honda says is a more robust rear differential that can handle 40 percent more torque and provides 30 percent faster response. According to Honda, the company designed it to take full advantage of available traction. It can send up to 70 percent of the engine's torque to the rear axle. The system can distribute up to 100 percent of that torque to either the left or right rear wheel.
The 2023 Honda Pilot offers five standard selectable drive modes: Normal, Econ, Snow, Sport, and Tow. TrailSport, Elite, and AWD versions of the EX-L and Touring have a recalibrated Sand mode and a new Trail mode.
With only a single engine and two drivetrains, the 2023 Pilot delivers a very narrow fuel-economy range. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the FWD Pilots at 22 mpg combined. The AWD versions of the Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite (AWD-only) get a 21-mpg combined rating. The EPA rates the TrailSport at 20 mpg combined.
After several years of standing pat under the hood, the 2023 Toyota Highlander features a significant change. A turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine replaces the normally aspirated 3.5-liter V6. The new 4-cylinder delivers 265 hp and 310 pound-feet of torque. While somewhat down on total horsepower, the engine delivers a 17-percent increase in torque with multiple benefits. Toyota matches the engine to an 8-speed automatic transmission, driving the front or all four wheels. All 2023 Highlanders feature hill-start assist and trailer sway control.
The 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid teams a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine running the Atkinson cycle with two electric motor-generators. The gasoline engine and one of the motor-generators provide propulsion. The second motor-generator works with the first to charge the hybrid battery. The hybrids employ an electronically controlled continuously variable transmission (eCVT) with a sequential shift mode. Both FWD and AWD versions are available. The hybrids' AWD system uses a separate rear-mounted electric motor to power the rear wheels.
It should come as no surprise the hybrid models lead the 2023 Highlander lineup in fuel economy. The EPA rates the FWD hybrid versions at 36 mpg combined. With AWD, the hybrid figure drops slightly to 35 mpg combined. The new turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder in the conventionally powered Highlander achieves better numbers than the former 3.5-liter V6 but doesn't come close to the hybrids. With FWD, the Highlander equipped with the 2.5-liter turbo gets a 25-mpg combined rating. With AWD, the Highlander turns in a 24-mpg combined figure.
Advantage: Toyota Highlander
2023 Toyota Highlander Turbo
Honda offers several electronic safety systems as standard equipment across the 2023 Pilot lineup. The carmaker packages many of them in the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). It includes forward-collision warning, collision-avoidance assist with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and adaptive cruise control. Many of the systems use a new camera with a wider 90-degree field of view and wide-angle radar with a 120-degree field of view. According to Honda, this improves the SUV's ability to recognize vehicles, bicycles, pedestrians, road signs, white lines, and curbs.
For 2023, Honda's blind-spot warning system gives an expanded 82 feet of radar range. The automaker updated the new Pilot's adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assistance systems to be less intrusive and more natural. Traffic-jam assist, traffic-sign recognition, and hill-descent control are new standard features on the Pilot. Rear seat belt and rear-seat reminders are also new to the Pilot for 2023.
Because the 2023 Honda Pilot is so new at this writing, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has published crash-test results for this midsize SUV.
Toyota equips all 2023 Highlanders with one of its electronic safety equipment arrays, Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+. It includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane-keeping assistance, traffic-sign recognition, automatic high-beam headlights, and adaptive cruise control. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning are standard on LE and higher trims. The 2023 Toyota Highlander Limited and Platinum offer front and rear parking assist with automatic braking. The Highlander's adaptive cruise control system enables the crossover SUV to maintain its set speed and following distance. It is simple to deploy using steering-wheel-mounted controls. The automatic high-beam headlights provide relief for a sometimes tedious process.
Toyota's Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management, available on the hybrid models, is a safety system that provides integrated control of the anti-lock brakes, brake assist, electronic traction control, electronic stability control, hill-start assist, and electric power steering. Toyota says this helps the Highlander remain stable on slippery road surfaces where direction changes could cause swerving or spinouts.
The NHTSA gave the 2023 Toyota Highlander the highest-possible 5-star overall safety rating. The IIHS, meanwhile, named the 2023 Toyota Highlander a Top Safety Pick+ for the 2023 calendar year.
Advantage: Toyota Highlander
2023 Honda Pilot Elite
Photo: Christian Wardlaw
Honda offers two infotainment systems in its 2023 Pilot. A new 7-inch touchscreen system is standard on LX and Sport trims. It has physical knobs for volume and tuning and offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. All other trims get a larger 9-inch color touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a faster processor. The larger unit has a volume knob but lacks a tuning knob. On the plus side, it does offer a finger rest so you can steady your hand while making your selections. Honda has simplified its navigation system by reducing the number of menus and improving the graphics.
Two standard illuminated USB ports occupy space in a multi-use cubby that sits forward of the shifter. Second-row passengers will find two 2.5A USB-A charging ports for their use. The 2023 Honda Pilot EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite trims have Qi-compatible wireless charging and add two USB charging ports in the third row. A Wi-Fi hotspot comes with a free three-month trial.
Touring and Elite trims feature a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system with Bose Centerpoint technology, SurroundStage digital signal processing, and a 15.7-liter capacity subwoofer. The TrailSport offers a TrailWatch system with four exterior cameras to help drivers navigate obstacles outside their natural line of sight. When driving in Trail mode at speeds below 15 mph, the forward view camera automatically turns on, helping drivers see things they otherwise could not.
The 2023 Toyota Highlander's multimedia infotainment system is the product of the automaker's Texas-based Connected Technologies team. It offers an 8-inch standard touchscreen in base form, while a 12.3-inch touchscreen is widely available. The Toyota Audio Multimedia system supports SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto.
The available Wi-Fi Connect subscription offers 4G connectivity for up to five devices. It also enables an integrated streaming feature, allowing Highlander owners to link their Apple Music and Amazon Music subscriptions to the vehicle. Vehicle occupants can connect two smartphones simultaneously via dual Bluetooth.
Safety Connect, available with a 10-year trial subscription, gives access to an emergency assistance button and roadside assistance. Service Connect, also with a 10-year trial subscription, lets drivers track their Highlander's mechanical condition. The one-year trial of Remote Connect enables owners to activate headlights, lock and unlock the doors, and start the vehicle remotely.
The standard audio system across all but the top trims employs six speakers. A 1,200-watt 11-speaker JBL premium audio system is optional on the XSE and standard on Limited and Platinum trims.
Advantage: Honda Pilot
2023 Toyota Highlander Turbo XSE
The 2023 Honda Pilot can seat up to eight. The most innovative feature of the interior is the "on-demand" eight-occupant flexibility offered on the Touring and Elite trims. The key is a removable middle seat that stows underneath the rear cargo floor for later use. With the middle seat in place, the second row functions as a traditional three-person bench. With its back folded down, it serves as a wide center armrest with cupholders between the two outboard seats. When removed, the space it once occupied becomes a pass-through to the third-row bench. Second-row captain's chairs are standard on the TrailSport and optional on the EX-L.
Honda equips the Pilot with a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat with power lumbar support. All but the LX and Sport also feature two-position memory. Heated seats are standard in all but the LX, and heated second-row outboard seats are standard on the Elite trim. The LX and Sport get cloth seats. Synthetic leather seats are standard on the TrailSport, while the other trims have leather seating. Tri-zone automatic climate control is standard on all 2023 Honda Pilots.
The 2023 Pilot offers the most cargo room in the model's history. It has 22.4 cubic feet of space behind the third row of seats and up to 59.5 cubic feet behind the second row. The maximum interior space behind the first row is 113.7 cubic feet. Honda designers filled the interior with storage spaces and cupholders. A full-size tablet will fit on the center console, and a shelf runs across the passenger side of the dashboard. There are 14 cupholders in the cabin, including eight that will accommodate 32-ounce bottles.
Like the Honda Pilot, the 2023 Toyota Highlander can accommodate seven or eight passengers depending upon configuration. Toyota equips the L and LE with three-person second- and third-row bench seating. The driver and a single upfront passenger get bucket seats. The Hybrid Bronze Edition, XSE, Limited Hybrid, XLE, Limited, and Platinum trims seat seven with standard second-row captain's chairs and a three-person third-row bench. Buyers can have a second-row bench or captain's chairs in the XLE, XLE Hybrid, and Limited.
Toyota outfits the Highlander L and LE trims with cloth-covered seats. The middle grades cover their seats in synthetic leather, while the Platinum trim features embossed, perforated leather seating. The comfort of first- and second-row seats is excellent. Third-row headroom and legroom are tight for adults.
The Highlander's dash is well-designed with easy-to-identify controls. The available 12.3-inch touchscreen gives the interior a luxury feel. The Highlander's cabin offers occupants five USB ports. There are two Type-C ports plus one Type-A port easily accessible at the bottom of the dash and two Type-C ports at the back of the center console for use by second-row passengers.
The Highlander delivers ample passenger and cargo space, though it doesn't equal that of the Pilot. The Highlander has 16.0 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row. Folding the third-row seatbacks expands the space to 48.4 cubic feet. With both rows folded, the Highlander has 84.3 cubic feet of space.
Advantage: Honda Pilot
If you'd like to learn more about these Upper Midsize SUVs, be sure to read our expert reviews of the 2023 Honda Pilot and the 2023 Toyota Highlander. To find out how people like you rate models in this segment, check out our ratings from verified vehicle owners.
Also, please keep in mind that while the information in this article was accurate and valid on March 7, 2023, it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker's website or your local dealership.
Jack R. Nerad has reviewed cars, trucks, vans, and sport utilities for over three decades. He managed the editorial efforts of Motor Trend magazine and Kelley Blue Book and is currently the host of the SportsMap Radio Network program America on the Road, available on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, Stitcher, and other outlets.
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