2019 Honda Pilot vs 2019 Toyota RAV4

There’s a reason small SUVs like the 2019 Toyota RAV4 are among the most popular vehicles on the new car market. Consider the RAV4 and its rivals, the Honda CR-V, Mazda CX-5, and Ford Escape—what do they have in common? To put it simply, these vehicles are asked to do it all. Daily commuter car? Check. Family-hauler to school, practice, and the mall? Check, check, and check. Road-trip vehicle? Yeah, that too. On top of it all, these vehicles have to be affordable, efficient, and reliable. Sales of traditional sedans have been dwindling, but if sedans could do as much as crossovers can, they would still be popular vehicles.

The RAV4 is one of the oldest vehicles in the segment, and its story tells us how these small SUVs became so popular. The previous RAV4 was an extremely competent vehicle for Toyota, covering all the things we ask of compact SUVs. But the new 2020 RAV4 goes a few steps further. It has standout Tonka-truck styling, a surprisingly upscale interior, and something that it had lost since debuting more than two decades ago: a bit of off-road ability. We’ll see whether this makes it better than the RAV4 it replaces, and if it allows the 2020 RAV4 to stand out in a crowded small SUV market.

The 3-row crossover is the king of family vehicles. Sure, minivans remain a popular choice for large families, but there has been a pendulum swing from the days of blocky old Dodge Caravans to now. Having one or two children does not immediately necessitate a minivan, and there are plenty of useful, capable, and more nimble SUVs from which to choose.

The 2019 Honda Pilot stands as one of the cornerstones of this 3-row SUV market. It’s large, versatile, and designed specifically with families in mind. It may not have the sliding doors or built-in vacuum of the Honda Odyssey, but for active families, a vehicle like this truly rivals a minivan in actual usability.

The Pilot joined the SUV market in the early 2000s, at the height of the SUV craze and in the waning days of the minivan’s rule. With plenty of cabin space, moderate ability to get off the beaten trail, and V6 power, the Pilot was perfectly positioned for rising fuel prices later in the decade. As many consumers ditched their traditional truck-based SUVs to save on fuel, the Pilot only grew in popularity.

The Pilot is now in its third generation, having received a mild refresh for 2019 that includes slightly updated front and rear styling. It also receives an updated infotainment system and, more importantly, it brings the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance features as standard equipment.