Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, or other suggestions

[mollybrown]

We're finally getting a new car, and I think we've narrowed it down to these 2.  My pick was originally the Highlander because I would like a smaller SUV with a third row, but the gas mileage between the 2 isn't really that different even though the Pilot is bigger.  If you have either of these, what made you choose it?  The only real requirement is that it must seat at least 7, and I would really like a car that doesn't get terrible gas mileage.  DH is leaning towards the Pilot because he prefers the way Hondas drive.  We'll be test driving next week, but I want to go in with as much information as possible since we want to buy by year end.  Thanks!

[imojoebunny]

I have a Hylander hybrid. I am in the market for a new car (mine is a company lease and the lease is up in the spring) and recently test drove the Pilot. They are pretty much the same, drive the same, have similar gas mileage and reliability. The one thing I like better on the highlander is that the middle seat splits down, so you can put it down to let kids in and out. This is especially important, since we often have 4 boosters, making crawling over to get in the 3 rd row more difficult. The Pilot just has a 60/40 split, which to me, is not as convenient.

I would go with which ever one you can get a better deal on honestly.

[WOT?*]

I like the Pilot and everyone I know likes them because they're Honda people, but I'm partial to the Highlander because I'm a Toyota/Lexus person. lol. I like the lines better on the Highlander, too; they're not as boxy and SUV/truck-like.  I do love the split middle seat in the middle of the Highlander and yes, I like that it's a little smaller. Right now I'm driving a Mazda CX-9 and sometimes it just feels huge to me, even after five years.

(Note: our other cars are a Lexus and a Camry Hybrid.  No Hondas in our driveway.  DH didn't like how they drove/felt compared to the Toyotas. lol.  He wants to get me the Lexus RX but I want that third row.)

[lmdbww]

My IL's just got a Highlander. She wanted a Lexus RX 350 but she was having issues locating a CPO (and got into an altercation w/the dealership which is a story for another day lol) She seems really happy with it so far.

Their second car is a Honda CRV, they just wanted an option w/more seating for whatever reason.

[mollybrown]

Nov 21, 2014 11:53:49 GMT -5 WOT?* said:

(Note: our other cars are a Lexus and a Camry Hybrid.  No Hondas in our driveway.  DH didn't like how they drove/felt compared to the Toyotas. lol.  He wants to get me the Lexus RX but I want that third row.)

So funny how people get so hung up on this.  I'll bet they wouldn't be able to tell if they did blind test drives.

And I know so little about Toyotas that I thought the Highlander was somewhere between the size of a CRV and Pilot.  It looks like the Pilot and Highlander are actually pretty equivalent.  I don't think we can go wrong since I've never heard anything but glowing reviews of either car.

[halfpint]

I loved my Pilot. We ultimately chose it because it felt so much roomier than the Highlander. If I had been able to find a Highlander hybrid for the same price, I probably would have gotten that, but I really liked the options we had with the Pilot, and the cargo capacity, etc., felt better. I also liked that the Pilot could convert to a completely flat back end - we even slept back there a couple of times when car camping.

[elcjet]

I test drove both and bought the Highlander two months ago after having been a long-time Honda owner.

I *love* it and have absolutely no regrets, but I didn't buy it because I needed to seat 7 people.  I bought it because I sometimes need to drive 2 adults around with my 2 children (like, 3 times a year) and I needed room for my Costco runs and our family camping trips.  I got the one with the 2nd row captain's chairs, and it has been fantastic for the kids compared to our CRV.

I also preferred the way the Highlander drove - it drove more like a car and less like a truck. I think the Pilot has a better turning radius, but I felt the Highlander had a little more get-up-and-go.  As far as gas mileage, I drive 40 miles a day to work and I get between 19 and 22 mpg depending on traffic.  This is compared to the 25 I got in my CRV.  I just decided to stop looking at my gas mileage every second and then it doesn't bother me as much.

My one thing that I don't like on the Highlander is the cruise control -- Honda has a much better setup for cruise control.  But the Highlander's infotainment system is much better, IMHO.

Anyway, it sounds like the 2016 Pilot is getting a complete overhaul and in the final stages of focus groups -- might make sense to wait and see what it's like before choosing one.  Where I live, they aren't negotiating very much on Highlanders because they are in such high demand. 

[WOT?*]

mollybrown - I bet you're right. He didn't like how his butt fit in the seat as much as he liked the Camry seat. I probably would reverse that for myself because I'm not fond of the seat in the Camry when I'm sitting in it.

[penguingrrl]

I love my pilot. The deciding factor for me was that I read somewhere that it was nearly impossible to put three carseats in the middle row of the highlander because the middle seat wasn't a full seat (that may not still be true) and I wanted the option to put all three kids in one row and use the entire trunk. I also liked that it had 8 seats standard instead of 7. I didn't expect to use a full 8 seats as often as I have, but I've used all 8 often enough that going down to a 7 seat vehicle would be hard for me (usually it's when the 5 of us plus my sister, BIL and niece go somewhere and we can use one car instead of two).

The only downside I've personally found is that if the third row is in use there's very little trunk space. But the 3rd row has a 60/40 split so I have often kept the 40 up for one child when we were regularly carpooling and used the rest for my stroller or groceries or whatever.

[doobeedoo]

I am on my second Highlander (I used to drive Honda sedans). I love it. It is the *perfect* size for me--does not feel too big and it is easy to get in and out of for me, which was not the case with the Pilot or MDX or any of the larger ones. For those, I need a running board and it still a bit unladylike getting up there! It drives well, and gets decent gas mileage. I highly recommend.

[thejen626]

I drove a 2012 Highlander Limited for two years. LOVED it. And it held its value really well.

[penguingrrl]

Nov 21, 2014 20:57:49 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Nov 21, 2014 19:00:00 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

I love my pilot. The deciding factor for me was that I read somewhere that it was nearly impossible to put three carseats in the middle row of the highlander because the middle seat wasn't a full seat (that may not still be true) and I wanted the option to put all three kids in one row and use the entire trunk. I also liked that it had 8 seats standard instead of 7. I didn't expect to use a full 8 seats as often as I have, but I've used all 8 often enough that going down to a 7 seat vehicle would be hard for me (usually it's when the 5 of us plus my sister, BIL and niece go somewhere and we can use one car instead of two).

The only downside I've personally found is that if the third row is in use there's very little trunk space. But the 3rd row has a 60/40 split so I have often kept the 40 up for one child when we were regularly carpooling and used the rest for my stroller or groceries or whatever.

Yup.

2010 Highlander:
thecarseatlady.com/lets-play-what-was-the-car-maker-thinking-or-were-they-thinking-at-all/

And this is about the 2014 Highlander:

Just found this gem in the 2014 Toyota USA Highlander manual: If you have a car seat installed in the passenger seat of the 2nd row or 3rd row, you can't have anyone sit in the center seat of that row because their seat belt may not function properly. Basically, if you install a car seat on the passenger side that car seat effectively takes up 2 seating positions in the car (passenger & center).

How the h*** are vehicle manufacturers allowed to get away with crap like this - and in a vehicle targeted to families no less! And burying this rather important tidbit in a random warning on p.77 at the end of the car seat/seat belt section... yeah, that's classy. The worst part is that it doesn't even make sense - as the passenger/center seats don't overlap much at all.

NOTE: The Highlander was redesigned for 2014 - this info does not pertain to the 2013 & older models. However, the 2013 & older models have such a miniscule center seat, that it is essentially useless anyway.

What a stupid design! Wasn't there a similar issue with some years of the Rav4? Why would you do that with a family vehicle? I mean, the whole reason I have a third row is to put as many kids as I need to in the car safely and being unable to buckle everyone safely negates that!

[cajunmom]

I've wanted a Pilot for like, forever. When we were car shopping this past May, we finally went and drove one. I loved it, except for the small little thing of absolutely ZERO storage space when the third row is up, which would be like always for us. What good does a vehicle do me when we're taking a trip with six people but can't fit anything in the back? So we just got another minivan. But one day I will have my Pilot, one day when it's just H and I.

[VillainV]

I love my Honda Pilot. I never test drove a Highlander, but I've ridden in plenty, and they're nice too.

Things I love about my (2009) Pilot:
- Easily seats lots of people, or holds lots of stuff
- Split fold-down seats allow for a lot of flexibility with cargo and seating options
- Comfortable to ride in and drive
- Hondas seem to come with the options packages I like

Things I don't love so much:
- The cargo floor slopes a little bit. It has never been an issue as far as loading cargo, it's just...weird. And maybe it's been redesigned
- Gas mileage is not great. I'm a conservative driver, and rarely see over 20 (I usually get like 19mpg)
- The interior fittings are a little truck-ish (the the air vents) -- might have been re-designed. I don't hate it, but it's not my favorite

[mollybrown]

Nov 21, 2014 22:10:04 GMT -5 VillainV said:

- The cargo floor slopes a little bit. It has never been an issue as far as loading cargo, it's just...weird. And maybe it's been redesigned

We test drove the Pilot today, and the salesguy actually explained this.  It's supposed to make it easier to get luggage in and out of the car.

The cargo space with the third row seemed adequate for us since we don't have strollers or anything for the kids anymore.  There is also a compartment under the floor, so it seems pretty flexible unless you're trying to transport 8 people and luggage.  We'll mostly be using the 3rd row for carpooling to school and consolidating to one car when we're going someplace with family.  You definitely can't transport lots of people and lots of stuff simultaneously.

The only big "flaw" with the Pilot for us is the 60/40 split.  It doesn't work so great with 2 kids in carseats, unless we can install them right next to each other.  Otherwise, anyone trying to use the 3rd row has to climb over.  This could actually be a deal breaker, although H will fight hard just because he's Honda loyal.

[carfar]

I love my highlander Hybrid.

[tiffany81]

I was deciding between these two and hated the drive of the pilot. I was all set to get the highlander and tried out the Acura MDX instead. And LOVED it. So try that too if you haven't already.

[madringal]

I went back and forth between the same two in 2008 and eventually got the Pilot and had it for 6 years and really liked it, but the drive wasn't the smoothest. It felt very truck-like after a few years.

I recently traded it in for a Chevy Traverse, and I love it. It has the third row, but way more room in the back when when the seats are up. I also got one with the two captains chairs in the middle row. There is no good way to get in and out of the third row in the Pilot if you have any car seats in the middle row.

I will say that I bought a used Traverse and the first one I had was awful with serious mechanical issues. I was able to swap it out for a different one, and I haven't had any problems and love it so much!

[imojoebunny]

Nov 22, 2014 9:03:32 GMT -5 tiffany81 said:

I was deciding between these two and hated the drive of the pilot. I was all set to get the highlander and tried out the Acura MDX instead. And LOVED it. So try that too if you haven't already.

Lol... Of course it's nicer, it's 2x the price!  My dad has a 2014.  It's nice, but $$$$$.  We have an RDX, it's great, but I had 5 kids today. 

[wanderlustmom]

I love my Pilot. We have two kids but needed to upgrade in size from a CRV because of carpool. We have a 2013 and no issues. Hope to drive it at least 10 years.

[tiffany81]

Nov 24, 2014 20:25:14 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

Nov 22, 2014 9:03:32 GMT -5 tiffany81 said:

I was deciding between these two and hated the drive of the pilot. I was all set to get the highlander and tried out the Acura MDX instead. And LOVED it. So try that too if you haven't already.

Lol... Of course it's nicer, it's 2x the price!  My dad has a 2014.  It's nice, but $$$$$.  We have an RDX, it's great, but I had 5 kids today. 

Lol. Well I bought a gently used 2 year old MDX for only 6k more than a new pilot so it was comparable. The highlander is pricier too. But yeah, it's more expensive new.

I want an RDX next. How do you like yours?

[caramia]

I love my 2010 pilot so much. I don't know how it compares to a highlander, but it definitely has more space than my sister's Ford Explorer, even with the 3rd row up.

[imojoebunny]

Nov 24, 2014 20:34:50 GMT -5 tiffany81 said:

Nov 24, 2014 20:25:14 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

Lol... Of course it's nicer, it's 2x the price!  My dad has a 2014.  It's nice, but $$$$$.  We have an RDX, it's great, but I had 5 kids today. 

Lol. Well I bought a gently used 2 year old MDX for only 6k more than a new pilot so it was comparable. The highlander is pricier too. But yeah, it's more expensive new.

I want an RDX next. How do you like yours?

We really like the RDX.  We take it on family trips over the highlander hybrid, since it drives better, and we don't need the extra space all the time.  We have had ours for 6 years nd are about to sell it.  The resale seems like it will be decent.  I wish it had 6 seats:)

[tiffany81]

Nov 24, 2014 20:50:19 GMT -5 imojoebunny said:

Nov 24, 2014 20:34:50 GMT -5 tiffany81 said:

Lol. Well I bought a gently used 2 year old MDX for only 6k more than a new pilot so it was comparable. The highlander is pricier too. But yeah, it's more expensive new.

I want an RDX next. How do you like yours?

We really like the RDX.  We take it on family trips over the highlander hybrid, since it drives better, and we don't need the extra space all the time.  We have had ours for 6 years nd are about to sell it.  The resale seems like it will be decent.  I wish it had 6 seats:)

I've had my MDX about 7 years now and wish it was smaller. Lol. I thought I'd have a big family and am now a single mom to one. Resale will be good I think for you. Acuras are great cars.

[pamela]

I have a 3yo CRV and before that replaced a 3yo Civic. A Honda will run forever, but their finishes just aren't as nice. Just comparing base to base, Honda's are cheaper than Toyota. And it doesn't matter quite as much when they are brand new, but give it a year or 2 and you will be able to tell a difference. The Honda is going to be louder for example because their insulation/sound proofing is weak to begin with and just seems to disappear. It's really bad. If I'm only driving the CRV I don't notice it after awhile because I get used to it, but going back and forth between it and our other car, it's really loud. My SIL's pilot is the same.

[jenn248]

Ditto all of the recs for the Honda Pilot. I was not a fan of the exterior intitially, but I love all of the features and it's quite comfortable as a passenger (DH drives it 99% of the time).

[penguingrrl]

Nov 25, 2014 13:49:53 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

Nov 21, 2014 23:13:24 GMT -5 mollybrown said:

We test drove the Pilot today, and the salesguy actually explained this.  It's supposed to make it easier to get luggage in and out of the car.

The cargo space with the third row seemed adequate for us since we don't have strollers or anything for the kids anymore.  There is also a compartment under the floor, so it seems pretty flexible unless you're trying to transport 8 people and luggage.  We'll mostly be using the 3rd row for carpooling to school and consolidating to one car when we're going someplace with family.  You definitely can't transport lots of people and lots of stuff simultaneously.

The only big "flaw" with the Pilot for us is the 60/40 split.  It doesn't work so great with 2 kids in carseats, unless we can install them right next to each other.  Otherwise, anyone trying to use the 3rd row has to climb over.  This could actually be a deal breaker, although H will fight hard just because he's Honda loyal.

This was our main dealbreaker too.  If one kid can buckle themselves (my DD1 can), we thought about putting one seat in each row so you can fold the seats, but it's kind of a PITA.  I know some people leave one of the third row seats up and let the kid climb in through the liftgate.  I just wouldn't want any cargo next to the kid in that case (so I would want to put up the other seat in the third row after they climbed in, which is also a PITA.  

We did look at the Traverse/Acadia, but there is only one top tether anchor in the third row (in the center, so you would have to squeeze people/seats on each side with a FFing seat) and the headrests/restraints in that row are useless for adults.

I think my saving grace on that front was that by the time I bought my pilot my oldest was 5.5 and boostered (having outgrown her radian for height). I kept her booster on the seat that needed to move so when we needed access it was a bit easier (high back, but not latchable) and had a radian in the middle so I was just barely able to get the seat to move forward and back. Any wider seat than a radian and it would have been nearly impossible.

[mollybrown]

Nov 25, 2014 15:44:27 GMT -5 penguingrrl said:

Nov 25, 2014 13:49:53 GMT -5 @fivedogs said:

This was our main dealbreaker too.  If one kid can buckle themselves (my DD1 can), we thought about putting one seat in each row so you can fold the seats, but it's kind of a PITA.  I know some people leave one of the third row seats up and let the kid climb in through the liftgate.  I just wouldn't want any cargo next to the kid in that case (so I would want to put up the other seat in the third row after they climbed in, which is also a PITA.  

We did look at the Traverse/Acadia, but there is only one top tether anchor in the third row (in the center, so you would have to squeeze people/seats on each side with a FFing seat) and the headrests/restraints in that row are useless for adults.

I think my saving grace on that front was that by the time I bought my pilot my oldest was 5.5 and boostered (having outgrown her radian for height). I kept her booster on the seat that needed to move so when we needed access it was a bit easier (high back, but not latchable) and had a radian in the middle so I was just barely able to get the seat to move forward and back. Any wider seat than a radian and it would have been nearly impossible.

We do have Radians, so we could do a carseat switcheroo and make it work.  But he is 5.5 and tall, so this is a good reminder that I should probably have verified that he hadn't exceeded the height limit for our carseats a long time ago.  He's 4 ft, so it looks like we still have a few inches.  I could certainly switch him to a booster if it becomes a big issue, but I'm not ready for that milestone.

[madisen]

Have you looked at the Nissan Rogue? Starting with the 2014 model there's an optional 3rd row seat.