2019 Toyota Highlander vs 2019 Honda Pilot

Best-in-Class Driver Aids

Toyota has always been known for a focus on safety and reliability. The 2019 Highlander is no exception. It has the Toyota Safety Sense® P suite that includes lane departure alert with steering assist, dynamic radar cruise control, pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. It also has blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Highlander has the Star Safety System™ which consists of six active features: Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control, Traction Control, Anti-lock Braking System, Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Braking Assist, and Smart Stop Technology. The Pilot has similar systems, but many of them are overly sensitive or buggy. In particular, the adaptive cruise control on the Pilot is lackluster and the lane-keep features are intrusive in alerting and correction.

High-Quality Interior

The controls on the Highlander are simple and easily identifiable, making for intuitive operation while driving. Outward visibility is superlative, with a large windshield and tall windows. This couples very well with the rearview and surround-view cameras. The fit and finish of the interior is classy and comfy, with high quality leather seating and soft interior pieces. The Pilot is good, but it doesn’t have quite the ‘made-to-last’ feeling that the Highlander does.