2024 Toyota Grand Highlander vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was part of a diverse lineup of Toyota crossovers and SUVs, offering both all-gas and hybrid options. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with models like the Highlander and RAV4, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a blockier style with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the Toyota 4Runner.

Inside, the Grand Highlander offered three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with Softex synthetic leather or real leather upholstery. The XLE trim included a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat and heated front seats, while higher trims added ventilation and a heated steering wheel. The interior boasted practical features like a large center console and second-row sunshades. With 13 cupholders and seven USB-C ports, it excelled as a comfortable road-trip vehicle, showcasing Toyota's reputation for quality and reliability.

The 2025 Honda Pilot was available in several trims, including the Black Edition, which featured black wheels and trim with red accents inside. The Pilot aimed for a rugged look, especially in the TrailSport trim, but the Black Edition was more suited for suburban environments. Despite its dated appearance, the Pilot's interior offered thoughtful design and quality materials. However, the digital displays were smaller and less impressive compared to rivals, lacking a significant "wow factor."

The Pilot's interior was practical, with comfortable seating and useful storage solutions. The Black Edition had a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, but the front passenger seat lacked adjustability. The second row was roomy, with a removable center section for easy access to the third row. The Pilot's cabin featured conveniences like a triple-zone climate control system and a panoramic sunroof. Cargo space was ample, with 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 86.5 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The base 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produced 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. A 2.5-liter hybrid option delivered 245 combined horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain generated 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with FWD and AWD, while the Hybrid Max was AWD only. The Hybrid Max boasted a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds, offering impressive acceleration.

The Grand Highlander was large, making it less maneuverable than the smaller Highlander. It exhibited some body roll and numb steering, but the brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate. Three drive modes—Sport, Eco, and Normal—were standard, with additional modes for AWD models. Sport mode improved steering and throttle response, while Eco mode prioritized efficiency.

The 2025 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Econ, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand. The AWD system provided hill descent control and torque vectoring, enhancing off-road capability.

The Pilot's V6 delivered good acceleration, but the transmission occasionally felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was underwhelming, averaging 20 mpg. The suspension provided a soft ride, but handling was predictable. The Pilot maintained a connection with the road, with well-calibrated steering and braking systems. While not tested off-road, the TrailSport trim demonstrated the Pilot's capability on challenging terrain.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was notably larger than its rivals, measuring 201.4 inches in length with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. This translated to generous cargo space, with a total capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. Even with all seats in place, it offered 20.6 cubic feet of storage. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with ample head, leg, and shoulder room in all rows, making it suitable for adults in the third row.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seating and practical storage solutions. The Black Edition's front row had a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, but the front passenger seat lacked adjustability. The second row was roomy, with a removable center section for easy access to the third row. The Pilot offered conveniences like a triple-zone climate control system and a panoramic sunroof. Cargo space was ample, with 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 86.5 cubic feet with seats folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous models. It offered an intelligent assistant, cloud-based navigation, and live agent assistance via a subscription. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims came with an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing good sound quality. Streaming audio integration and SiriusXM satellite radio were available, with additional subscription options for enhanced functionality.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with smaller display screens. The Black Edition had a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging. The Pilot's voice recognition system was inconsistent, and the Bose audio system was adequate but not exceptional. The CabinTalk feature allowed communication with rear passengers, and a small head-up display was included.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not been crash-tested, but it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard. This suite included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 Honda Pilot featured Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. The Black Edition had parking sensors and a multi-view camera system. The Pilot earned high marks in crash tests, with a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA.