Looking for the perfect midsize SUV? You may be considering the 2019 Toyota Highlander vs 2019 Honda Pilot. Both vehicles are popular vehicles in the midsize class and offer their own unique sets of qualities. To help you determine which of these midsize SUVs best fits your needs, we’ll take a look at the pros and cons of each vehicle.
The 2019 Toyota Highlander
Strengths
The 2019 Toyota Highlander truly offers quite a few impressive qualities for the modern driver. This midsize SUV is known for its power, efficiency, and included safety features. The 2019 Toyota Highlander offers drivers two engine options including a 2.7L 4-cylinder engine and a 3.5L V6 engine. When equipped with its 3.6L V6 engine, the Toyota Highlander becomes an incredibly capable and versatile SUV. Drivers investing in this configuration of the Highlander can enjoy up to 295 hp and 263 lb-ft torque, and can even tow a maximum of 5,000 LBS. For drivers looking to tow equipment for vacations and weekend trips, this is a must. This level of towing capacity even comes in handy for the occasional moving project. Drivers looking for all the space of a large SUV but the efficiency of a small SUV, will want to opt for the Highlander’s standard 2.7L 4-cylinder engine. With this configuration drivers can enjoy class-leading fuel economy ratings of up to 21 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
Of course, as a Toyota vehicle, the Highlander is also known for its abundance of standard safety features. Like other vehicles found in the Toyota lineup, the 2019 Toyota Highlander is equipped with some of the most advanced safety technology on the market. Under the umbrella of the Toyota Safety sense package, these features include lane departure warning with steering assist, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. A rearview camera is also included standard on the base model. The combination of these incredible standard features help make the 2019 Toyota Highlander one of the best values in its class. And having been awarded a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, the Highlander has proven the effectiveness of its safety technology.
Weaknesses
For the 2019 Toyota Highlander, the biggest concerns among critics and consumers revolve around its third row of seating. Although this midsize SUV can comfortably fit 7-8 passengers, other vehicles in its class offer a roomier third row. Consequently, this means the Highlander also offers less cargo space than other vehicles in the midsize class. However, drivers and critics note that the interior of the Highlander still offers a comfortable ride, which is further enhanced by a wealthy suite of standard entertainment technology. Second and third-row passengers can also enjoy the luxury of an available rear seat entertainment system, making any long trips fun and enjoyable.
Final Thoughts
The 2019 Toyota Highlander is an excellent choice for drivers looking for a powerful and advanced midsize SUV. It is fairly priced and its abundance of advanced standard safety technology is nearly impossible to compete with. In terms of entertainment, the Highlander performs well among others in its class, especially starting from its second trim level and up, however it could offer a few more standard features on its base model. Overall, the Highlander is best suited to drivers prioritizing safety and power, making it likely for this crowd to find themselves a perfect match in this midsize SUV.
Specs
- MSRP: $31,330
- MPG: 21 City/27 Highway
- Horsepower: up to 295 hp
- Torque: up to 263 lb-ft
- Towing Capacity: up to 5,000 LBS
- Seating: 7,8
The 2019 Honda Pilot
Strengths
The 2019 Honda Pilot is popular among consumers for its spacious interior and class-leading cargo space. Consumers rave about its roomy third-row and are pleased to hear that with the back seats folded down, the Pilot offers up to 83.9 cubic feet of space. Even with the third-row occupied, the Pilot still offers an impressive 16.5 cubic feet of space. This means transporting the belongings of you and your passengers can be done with ease, even for long road trips and vacations.
Like the Highlander, the Pilot also comes with a suite a standard safety technology, though not quite as impressive as the Highlander. These standard features include lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and a rearview camera.
Weaknesses
Unlike the Highlander, the main weakness of the 2019 Honda Pilot revolves around its power. Drivers are given only one engine option and while it happens to be a 3.5L V6 engine, it does not provide drivers with the capability they are looking for from a midsize SUV. Drivers investing in the 2019 Honda Pilot can expect a fair 280 hp and 262 lb-ft torque, but will only be able to tow up to 1,500 LBS. This low maximum towing capacity certainly makes it difficult to transport medium to large recreational equipment and can surely spoil your weekend plans. However, it should be noted that the Honda Pilot is an efficient midsize SUV, with nearly identical fuel economy ratings to the Toyota Highlander.
In addition, the 2019 Honda Pilot also lacks in some areas of entertainment features across its lower trim levels. The base model does not offer features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and also offers only two USB ports. However, a 5-inch touchscreen display comes standard and has been updated for this model year, and Bluetooth connectivity is also standard.
Final Thoughts
The 2019 Honda Pilot is best suited to the driver interested in purchasing a midsize SUV for its space rather than its capability. Drivers interested in a vehicle with plenty of standard driver assist technologies will also be pleased with the Pilot, as well as drivers looking for an efficient engine. The 2019 Honda Pilot is not the best vehicle for drivers looking for versatility as it lacks the necessary level of towing capability. Drivers interested in a full entertainment suite that comes standard on the base model will also want to look elsewhere for their midsize SUV.
Specs
- MSRP: $31,450
- MPG: 20 City/27 Highway
- Horsepower: up to 280 hp
- Torque: 262 lb-ft
- Towing Capacity: 1,500 LBS
- Seating: 7,8
Still Undecided On The 2019 Toyota Highlander vs 2019 Honda Pilot?
When it comes to choosing between the 2019 Toyota Highlander vs 2019 Honda Pilot, it can be a tough decision. At this point in your research, it’s perfectly normal to remain undecided on which vehicle is the best fit for you. After all, each of these midsize SUVs truly has their own set of strengths and weaknesses, and are even similar to each other in some areas. Before committing to either vehicle, it’s important to go and see each of these SUVs in person. Be sure to visit your local dealerships and ask any question that you may have about these vehicles. However, perhaps the most important part of visiting your local dealers will be to take these vehicles on a test drive. After driving the Highlander and the Pilot, you’ll be able to better decide which vehicle best suits your needs.
