Toyota Grand Highlander vs Honda Pilot
Summary
The Grand Highlander carries more, everywhere: 20.6 vs 18.6 cu ft behind the third row, 57.9 vs 48.5 behind the second — a 9.4 cu ft gap — and 97.5 vs 87 maximum. Its third row also publishes an inch more legroom, 33.5 in to 32.5.
The Pilot answers overhead and amidships: 39.3 in of third-row headroom against 37.2 — a 2.1 in margin — and 40.8 in of second-row legroom against Toyota's 39.5.
Both tow 5,000 lb, both seat eight, and both third-row safety records are fully verified. The Grand Highlander sells hybrid trims above its gas base; the Pilot is gas only.
The numbers, side by side
| Spec | Toyota Grand Highlander | Honda Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| MSRP range | $42,260 – $60,175 | $42,395 – $55,195 |
| Space | ||
| Row 1 legroom | 41.7" | 41" |
| Row 2 legroom | 39.5" | 40.8" |
| Row 3 legroom | 33.5" | 32.5" |
| Row 3 headroom | 37.2" | 39.3" |
| Cargo behind row 3 | 20.6 cu ft | 18.6 cu ft |
| Cargo behind row 2 | 57.9 cu ft | 48.5 cu ft |
| Max cargo | 97.5 cu ft | 87 cu ft |
| Exterior | ||
| Length | 201.4" | 200.1" |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 78.3" | 78.5" |
| Height | 72.1" | 71" |
| Capability | ||
| Max towing | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs |
| Seating | ||
| Max seats | 8 | 8 |
| Second row | Captain’s chairs or bench | Captain’s chairs or bench |
The cargo hold is Toyota’s
This is the widest packaging gap on the page: with the third row folded, the Grand Highlander holds 57.9 cu ft to the Pilot's 48.5, and its 97.5 cu ft maximum beats the Pilot's 87 by 10.5. Behind the third row in use, the margin narrows to 20.6 vs 18.6.
If the vehicle's job alternates between full-cabin duty and two-row hauling — the folded-third-row weeks of most family ownership — Toyota's numbers are the ones doing the work.
The rows split
Toyota takes the third row on legroom: 33.5 in against 32.5. Honda takes it on headroom: 39.3 in against 37.2 — the larger of the two margins, and the one a grown passenger feels first.
The second row goes to the Pilot, 40.8 in to 39.5, and the front row to the Grand Highlander, 41.7 in to 41. Neither gap is decisive on its own; which row your household loads daily is what makes one of them matter.
Safety: both records verified, hardware differs by one tether
Both third-row safety records are fully verified from the makers' own documents — including curtain-airbag coverage stated in words, which several rivals in this cohort cannot claim. Each documents one LATCH lower-anchor set in the third row; the Pilot adds three top tethers to the Grand Highlander's two.
For a third row that regularly carries forward-facing harnessed seats, that extra tether position is the practical difference.
Price ladders and powertrain
Starts are $42,260 and $42,395 — $135 apart. The ceilings diverge: the Grand Highlander reaches $60,175 because its ladder climbs through hybrid trims; the Pilot tops out at $55,195, gas only. Read that as a choice, not a penalty — Toyota sells an electrified option and Honda does not.
Towing is 5,000 lb on both.
When each one fits
Toyota Grand Highlander: The cargo numbers, the extra third-row legroom, and the hybrid ladder. The pick when the vehicle is the family's only hauler.
Honda Pilot: Third-row headroom and second-row legroom, at a lower price ceiling. The pick when people, not cargo, fill the back of the cabin.
Compare legroom yourself
Find your match
Six questions, deterministic scoring, top three matches across the full directory.
Take the quizWill you fit either third row?
Open the fit estimator preloaded with the Toyota Grand Highlander and check both models against your height.
Best-value family 3-row
The guide lens closest to this pairing — the whole cohort re-sorted on that axis, answer stated up top.
Deciding across the whole segment, not just these models? See Best Family 3-Row SUVs — every published model, ranked from verified specs. A cross-segment pairing gets both rankings, because neither one alone covers the models on this page.