I drove the Toyota Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot for a week — here’s the 3-row SUV I'd spend my money on

When it comes to hauling a crowd, there’s no arguing the rising popularity of 3-row SUVs. They’re a major reason why we’re seeing fewer minivans on the road, like the Kia Carnival and Chrysler Pacifica, thanks to how they offer maximum passenger capacity in a more rugged SUV form.

While I’ve already spent time this year testing massive, full-size SUVs like the Infiniti QX80 and Chevrolet Tahoe, these behemoths of the road often strain budgets because they regularly push into six-digit territory. That’s why many buyers look down a tier at mid-size 3-row SUVs like the Toyota Grand Highlander and Honda Pilot.

These modestly priced options hover just a smidge over $50,000 each, yet they maximize value in every way imaginable. After spending a full week living with both the 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Limited Hybrid AWD and the 2026 Honda Pilot Elite AWD, I put their maximum utility to the test to tell you exactly which one I’d buy.

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Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Honda Pilot: Specifications

Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Honda Pilot: Design

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Although they don’t have the same flashy styling as all-electric options like the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, their contemporary aesthetics should please a wider range of buyers. The Toyota Grand Highlander embraces a blocky, slab-sided appearance that feels imposing on the road, echoing a scaled-up RAV4 in the process. However, I just find it way too conventional for my taste.

In contrast, the Honda Pilot Elite counters with a more athletic, truck-ish exterior stance that trades soft minivan curves for a rugged front grille and muscular lines. The front grille design, in particular, helps elevate its appearance by combining a honeycomb-like pattern on the bottom with wider blocks on the top.

Meanwhile, I also love how the back looks with the Pilot’s name spaced out and more prominent, while the dual exhausts give it a more aggressive demeanor.

Winner: Honda Pilot

Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Honda Pilot: Fuel economy

Rising gas prices are a major factor for people shopping for their next vehicle, so it’s no surprise that I recommend the Toyota Grand Highlander here — especially since this $55,655 as-tested trim runs on hybrid power. What’s truly impressive is the 38.8 mpg average fuel economy I achieved during my week of testing. Not only does that beat its 34 mpg combined EPA rating, but careful driving can yield even better efficiency. For example, one of my short-distance trips yielded an astounding 47.4 mpg average.

Even though it doesn't deliver nearly as high numbers, the 22.3 mpg average I accumulated while driving the Honda Pilot Elite AWD for a week is still respectable for a mid-size SUV, also beating out its 21 mpg combined EPA rating. Considering it features a larger 3.5-liter V6 engine, the Pilot is still quite efficient for its size.

While I appreciate that both of these 3-row SUVs run on regular unleaded gasoline, the Grand Highlander Limited Hybrid AWD is the clear choice to save you significant money at the pump in the long run.

Winner: Toyota Grand Highlander

Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Honda Pilot: Driving performance

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Clearly, when you’re driving people movers like these two, you don’t expect sports-car agility — but you do want a confident driving experience. Despite having superior fuel economy, the Grand Highlander Hybrid's 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and eCVT setup can feel underpowered. Sure, it makes for a super quiet ride around town, but it lacks the extra kick needed to overtake vehicles quickly on the highway.

That poses no problem for the Honda Pilot Elite. Its more powerful 3.5-liter V6 engine delivers a robust 285 horsepower. In several instances, I was actually startled by the amount of get-up-and-go it has from a dead stop. Surprisingly, too, the Pilot feels extremely maneuverable despite its tall stance — thanks to a responsive steering performance that makes it feel much more agile than its size suggests.

While the Grand Highlander’s soft demeanor is perfectly fine if you view driving as a chore, the Pilot handles unpredictable weather, highway merges, and twisty roads with a level of confidence that the hybrid simply cannot match.

Winner: Honda Pilot

Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Honda Pilot: Comfort

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When a vehicle is designed for maximum capacity, raw dimensions only tell half the story — how that space actually feels is what matters most. On paper, the Toyota Grand Highlander Limited has a massive footprint, offering generous legroom across the first and second rows, but my specific model maxed out at seven passengers compared to the Pilot’s eight-passenger bench seating configuration. At the same time, the Grand Highlander leans too heavily on hard, utilitarian plastics throughout the lower cabin.

Personally, I prefer the Honda Pilot Elite’s style, which delivers a sophisticated, almost luxury look that elevates the entire road-trip experience. I really love how the plush leather seats featuring premium quilted accents keep me perfectly supported and firmly planted in the driver’s seat.

To top it off, it maximizes passenger utility by offering bench seating in both the second and third rows — complete with an ingenious design that lets you collapse the middle seat in the second row to make way for an armrest with cup holders.

Ultimately, the Pilot takes the victory in the comfort category because it feels like a genuinely premium place to sit.

Winner: Honda Pilot

Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Honda Pilot: Value

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First and foremost, you can’t deny the dependability of both models. No matter which one you end up going with, you can expect them to last a long time — and when you’re ready to part with them, they'll absolutely fetch for top dollar.

Both 3-row mid-size SUVs hover right in that mid-$50,000 sweet spot, offering an identical, robust baseline of standard equipment. They include features such as advanced driver-assistance safety systems, panoramic sunroofs, rear sunshades, power liftgates, and more.

Beyond the window sticker, what truly solidifies their value is the legendary reputation backing both names. Whether you go with the Grand Highlander's intricate hybrid powertrain or the Pilot’s more powerful V6 engine, you can sleep better at night knowing they’ll last a long while with little more than routine oil changes and basic maintenance.

Winner: Tie

Toyota Grand Highlander vs. Honda Pilot: Verdict

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Choosing between two vehicles with such impeccable reputations and near-identical price tags is never easy, but after testing them both for a week, a clear winner emerges. The choice ultimately comes down to whether you prioritize hyper-efficiency above everything else or a superior, well-rounded passenger experience.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Limited Hybrid AWD delivers mind-boggling fuel economy numbers that defied my expectations for a vehicle of its size, making it an incredibly smart option for drivers looking to slash their monthly fuel costs.

But while it wins big at the pump, it feels distinctly compromised in other areas — leaning heavily on a utilitarian interior with hard plastics and a hybrid powertrain that overworks itself under heavy acceleration.

Although it’s nowhere near as good on the efficiency front, the Honda Pilot Elite AWD is the superior vehicle to actually live with every day. It completely dominates the categories that matter most to large families.

It doesn't just haul people around because it treats them to a vastly more flexible, comfortable, and premium environment, making it the 3-row SUV I’d put my money on.

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