2026 Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander

Honda Pilot
2026 Honda Pilot

vs

2026 Toyota Highlander
3.5L V6

Standard Engine

2.4L 4-Cylinder
10-speed automatic

Standard Transmission

8-speed automatic
285 hp

Standard Horsepower

265 hp
39.3 inches

Third-Row Headroom

36.1 inches
32.5 inches

Third-Row Legroom

28 inches
111.8 cubic feet

Maximum Cargo Space

84.3 cubic feet

If you’re shopping for a three-row SUV to power your adventures in Las Cruces, NM, you’ll likely have two models at the top of your list: the 2026 Honda Pilot and the 2026 Toyota Highlander. While both are capable family haulers, the Honda Pilot stands out due to its superior engine performance and passenger comfort. Compare the 2026 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander with Rudolph Honda to discover how much extra power and space you’ll enjoy behind the wheel of this popular Honda SUV.

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How does the performance of the 2026 Honda Pilot compare to the Toyota Highlander?

The 2026 Honda Pilot delivers superior engine performance over the Toyota Highlander thanks to its robust standard V6 engine, which completely outclasses the Highlander’s smaller four-cylinder option. Although both models deliver exceptional capability, the standard four-cylinder engine on the Highlander can’t match the robust V6 under the hood of the Pilot. See each model’s standard engine specifications in the breakdown below for the details:

2026 Honda Pilot: Standard Powertrain

  • Engine: 3.5L V6
  • Transmission: 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters
  • Horsepower: 285 hp

2026 Toyota Highlander: Standard Powertrain

  • Engine: 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder
  • Transmission: Direct Shift 8-speed Electronically Controlled Automatic Transmission (ECT)
  • Horsepower: 265 hp

Which SUV offers more passenger room and interior space between the 2026 Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander?

The 2026 Honda Pilot offers a significantly larger and more accommodating cabin layout than the Toyota Highlander, giving passengers in all three rows more head and legroom to stretch out. Compare the 2026 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander interior dimensions below to discover how much extra room you and your passengers will enjoy in the new Pilot:

2026 Honda Pilot: Standard Interior Dimensions

  • Headroom (Front/Middle/Rear): 40.5 inches / 40.2 inches / 39.3 inches
  • Shoulder Room (Front/Middle/Rear): 61.9 inches / 61.7 inches / 59.5 inches
  • Legroom (Front/Middle/Rear): 41.0 inches / 40.8 inches / 32.5 inches

2026 Toyota Highlander: Standard Interior Dimensions

  • Headroom (Front/Middle/Rear): 39.6 inches / 39.4 inches / 36.1 inches
  • Shoulder Room (Front/Middle/Rear): 59.0 inches / 58.4 inches / 55.0 inches
  • Legroom (Front/Middle/Rear): 42.0 inches / 38.7 inches / 28.0 inches

How does the cargo capacity of the 2026 Honda Pilot compare to the Toyota Highlander?

The 2026 Honda Pilot provides substantially more maximum cargo volume and loading flexibility than its Toyota competitor, making it much easier to pack for daily errands or extended road trips. See the available cargo space on each model below:

2026 Honda Pilot: Cargo Space

  • Behind Rear Seats (Standard/Max): 18.6 cubic feet / 21.8 cubic feet
  • Behind Middle Seats (Standard/Max): 48.5 cubic feet / 59.5 cubic feet
  • Behind Front Seats (Standard/Max): 87.0 cubic feet / 111.8 cubic feet

2026 Toyota Highlander: Cargo Space

  • Behind Rear Seats: 16.0 cubic feet
  • Behind Middle Seats: 48.4 cubic feet
  • Behind Front Seats: 84.3 cubic feet

Where can you go to test-drive a new 2026 Honda Pilot?

You can test-drive the new 2026 Honda Pilot by contacting the team or visiting the showroom at Rudolph Honda in El Paso. Our team will schedule a test drive at our El Paso dealership so you can experience all the perks of the Honda Pilot from behind the wheel. In the meantime, be sure to apply for financing online and get a trade-in estimate for your current vehicle. Don’t forget to check out our new vehicle specials as well.


Frequently Asked Questions

Which three-row SUV offers more standard engine power, the 2026 Honda Pilot or the Toyota Highlander?

The 2026 Honda Pilot comes standard with a robust 3.5L V6 engine that generates 285 horsepower, completely outperforming the 2026 Toyota Highlander’s base 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which yields 265 horsepower for your drives around Las Cruces, NM.

How does the cargo space compare between the 2026 Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander?

The 2026 Honda Pilot offers a highly flexible cargo layout with up to 111.8 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity behind the front row, outclassing the Toyota Highlander’s maximum of 84.3 cubic feet. Even with all rows occupied, the Pilot provides up to 21.8 cubic feet of volume behind the third row compared to the Highlander’s fixed 16 cubic feet for errand runs near Alamogordo, NM.

Does the 2026 Honda Pilot offer more legroom for third-row passengers than the Toyota Highlander?

Yes. The 2026 Honda Pilot features a significantly more spacious interior layout to handle your family trips outside Truth or Consequences, NM, providing 32.5 inches of third-row legroom and 39.3 inches of third-row headroom. This allows rear-seat occupants to stay much more comfortable than they would in the Highlander, which restricts third-row space to just 28 inches of legroom.

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