Midsize SUVs are a great option for families, offering plenty of seating and flexible cargo space while not having to say “I drive a mini-van.” With hints of aggressiveness and sportiness dressing up bulky, roomy bodies, they have become the go-to for growing or large families. None have been more prominent than the Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot, two of the longest-running models. Every year they make an effort to outdo each other – so which one has succeeded for the 2024 model year?

Two very different engines are used in these vehicles. The 2024 Toyota Highlander gets an advanced 265-horsepower 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, putting down 310 lb-ft of torque. The Honda answers with a naturally aspirated 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine, with a 10-speed automatic that helps move its 262 lb-ft of torque to the road. This leaves them fairly equal when it comes time to get going one has more top-end power, while the other has better acceleration thanks to the torque on demand. Both can tow up to 3500 pounds at the base level, with models that can tow up to 5000 pounds.

Where they’re not equal is when it comes to fuel economy. The larger, thirstier V6 in the Pilot gets 19 MPG city and 27 MPG highway with front-wheel drive, dropping to 19 MPG city and 25 MPG highway with all-wheel drive. On the other hand, the fuel economy of the 2024 Toyota Highlander is 22 MPG city and 29 MPG highway with front-wheel drive, and 21 MPG city and 28 MPG highway with all-wheel drive. Unlike the Honda, the Highlander has a hybrid version, which gets 35 MPG city and 35 MPG highway with all-wheel drive!

Both the 2024 Honda Pilot and the new Highlander are well-equipped and attractive. The Honda is a bit more aggressive, while the Highlander has more fluidity. Both offer special editions, and the different trim levels line up pretty evenly throughout.

One of the key places where the Highlander comes out ahead is being more efficient with space. The Highlander is 5 inches shorter, 2.5 inches thinner, and 3 inches shorter than the Pilot. However, they have almost equal interior dimensions, and the Highlander even has more space provided in the front row seats, including an extra inch of leg room. The smaller footprint will help out a lot for folks looking for three rows but living in the constantly shrinking modern garages.

Every 2024 Toyota Highlander comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, Amazon Alexa, and a Wi-Fi hot spot. These all run through a standard 8-inch dash-mounted touch screen, while a 12.3-inch display is optional. The Pilot doesn’t offer all of those system across their model line-up, and the touchscreens are woefully outdated – the standard 7-inch is fine, but the optional 9-inch version isn’t much of an upgrade over the standard Toyota unit. Both come with numerous USB charging ports for media and phone charging, as well as available wireless phone charging.

Featuring the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 safety suite as standard equipment on every model, the 2024 Toyota Highlander is set up well to protect those inside of the vehicle as well as those around the vehicle. This system features a wide array of avoidance and assistance systems including forward collision warning, forward automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation and more. In addition, a backup camera is standard on every model, along with eight airbags. Similarly, the 2024 Pilot features the Honda Sensing Driver Assistance Suite standard on all models. It’s similarly equipped as the Safety Sense suite, and features many of the same systems working together.

Coming out on top of a stacked class is difficult, and the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander make a battle of it, but in the end, the new Highlander offers a little more bang for the buck – similar or better capabilities, but in a more fuel-efficient package that takes up less space in garages and driveways.

You can schedule a  test drive  of a Toyota Highlander and find out for yourself at Tri County Toyota in Royersford, PA!