The Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander is arguably two of the most popular crossovers on Nigerian roads. One may begin to wonder which of the two offers cooler features and better performance.

Given that honda and toyota are very popular car brands in the Nigerian market, it is only natural for the two cars to pitch against each other in the market place.

However, sometimes popularity is not enough ground for buyers to decide with but an informed decision about both cars is what guarantees a happy buy.

In this article, we will discuss in details the individual features alongside their performances to help buyers make more informed decisions.

Which is better in terms of comfort, performance, design, safety and overall experience?

1. Technology features

In comparison of the base trims of both vehicles, Pilot LX which is the base trim of the Honda Pilot is equipped with some quite cool technological features such as a 5.0" central display screen which can be upgraded to an 8.8" touchscreen, a 7-speaker audio system and other additional features an Apple CarPlay or Android compatible audio system.

Other trim levels of the honda pilot in addition to Honda Pilot LX include Honda Pilot EX-L, Honda Pilot EX, Honda Pilot Elite and Honda Pilot Touring.

On the other hand, the base trim of the Toyota Highlander, Highlander LE is equipped with a 6.1" central display screen and a 6-speaker audio system both of which can be upgraded to an 8.0" touchscreen and a 10-speaker JBL sound system respectively depending on buyer's choice. However, Apple CarPlay and Android compatibility features are unavailable in the toyota highlander.

The base Pilot LX is equipped with a standard 5.0" central display screen and a 7-speaker audio system

The trim levels available for the toyota highlander include Toyota Highlander LE Plus, Toyota Highlander LE, Toyota Highlander SE, Toyota Highlander XLE, Toyota Highlander Limited, and finally Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum.

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2. Performance and fuel economy

While there are some common similarities between the honda pilot and toyota highlander in that they are modern day SUVs, they also have some slight edges over each other in terms of performance and fuel economy.

Some common performance similarities in both cars include:

• They are both fitted with a front-wheel drive. However, all-wheel drive options are available for both.
• They are both very adapted for city driving and have low off-road capabilities.

Despite their seeming performance based similarities, both cars come preloaded with different engine capabilities. The Honda Pilot is hauled by a 3.5litre V6 engine capable of generating 280 horsepower and delivering 262 pound-feet of torque for driving. The V6 engine of the honda pilot is usally paired with either 6-speed or 9-speed automatic transmission depending on the trim level.

On the other hand, the Toyota Highlander is built with a 2.7litre 4-cylinder engine. However, there is an option of upgrade to a 3.5litre V6 engine capable of generating 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque for driiving.

Fuel economy rating for base trim of honda pilot is estimated at 20 mpg for city driving and 27 mpg highway while fuel economy rating for base trim  toyota highlander is 20 mpg for city driving and 24 mpg highway.

3. Interior and exterior design

Given that the honda pilot and toyota highlander are just regular everyday cross overs, there is really nothing very spectacular about both their interiors and exteriors.

The Highlander LE features a standard 6.1 inch central display screen and 6-speaker audio system

Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander are just average looking roomy crossovers with enough room for passengers and cargo. They are both almost of the same size. The honda pilot is 4.9m long, 1.8m tall, and 2.0m wide. The toyota highlander which is almost of same dimension is 4.9m long, 1.8m tall and 1.9m wide.

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4. Safety

Safety wise, both vehicles come with some standard safety features. Honda Pilot is equipped with anti-lock brake system (ABS), stability control, curtain airbags and cruise control. Blind spot monitoring is also available in Toyota Highlander, albeit in higher trims.

The Highlander also boasts of its own share of safety features such as cruise control, very high beams, and pre-collision system. In higher trim levels of highlander, there are some more cooler features like curtain airbags and blind spot monitoring.

5. Pricing

It is not only surprising that the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander have so much in common, interestingly also, they both fall within the same price range. A brand new base trim honda pilot LX with front-wheel dirve is priced at $31,450 (~N11.32 million) and base trim of toyota highlander, LE with front-wheel drive and a four-cylinder engine is priced at $31,330 (~N11.27 million).

The higher trim levels of honda pilot and toyota highlander both fall within the range of  $48,000 (~N17.28 million).

6. Honda pilot vs Toyota highlander, which is a better option?

Considering the features and performances of both cars, Honda Pilot seem to have more features and better performance but if you don't mind the additional features of Honda Pilot, you can opt for the Toyota Highlander.

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