The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Pilot doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Highlander AWD's standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Pilot doesn't offer Downhill Assist Control.

Both the Highlander and the Pilot have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available crash mitigating brakes, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Honda Pilot:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Honda Pilot:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Honda doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the Pilot.

There are over 19 percent more Toyota dealers than there are Honda dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Highlander's warranty.

The camshafts in the Highlander's engine are driven by a hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs. The Pilot's camshafts are driven by a rubber belt that needs periodic replacement. If the Pilot's cam drive belt breaks the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked 14th.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is ranked fifth.

For better stopping power the Highlander's front brake rotors are larger than those on the Pilot:

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Pilot:

The Highlander's front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Pilot's (56.1% to 43.9%). This gives the Highlander more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander's turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Pilot's (38.7 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (8 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Highlander is 3.4 inches shorter than the Pilot, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Highlander has .6 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom and 1 inch more third row hip room than the Pilot.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Pilot's rear cargo window doesn't open.

The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Pilot's rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The Highlander has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. The Pilot has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the EX/EX-L/Touring/Elite.

The Highlander's standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Pilot EX/EX-L/Touring/Elite.

The Highlander's power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Pilot's power mirror controls are on the dash, hidden behind the steering wheel, where they are awkward to manipulate.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications: