2024 Toyota Land Cruiser vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser embraced its iconic heritage with a boxy design and flat roof, reminiscent of its predecessors. Each of the three trims featured nostalgic elements, such as the heritage grille and round headlights, while integrating modern touches like LED lighting. The vehicle offered improved visibility with a lowered beltline and came standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, with 20-inch options available. Inside, the Land Cruiser provided a comfortable cabin with heated front seats across all trims, and the First Edition boasted real leather and unique logos. The Premium Package added luxury features like a moonroof and ventilated seats, enhancing the overall driving experience.

In contrast, the 2025 Honda Pilot Black Edition showcased a more rugged appearance with black wheels and trim, complemented by red accents inside. The cabin featured black leather seats with red perforations and ambient lighting, creating a unique atmosphere. While the Pilot aimed for a rugged look, it was more suited for suburban environments. The interior design was practical, with thoughtful storage solutions, but lacked a significant "wow factor." The digital displays appeared dated, though they offered essential features. The Pilot's design focused on functionality, making it a reliable choice for families.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser was equipped with a hybrid powertrain, combining a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-hp electric motor, producing a total of 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. It featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD, with a two-speed transfer case for high and low range. The Multi-Terrain Select system and CRAWL control enhanced its off-road capabilities, while the push-button disconnect for the front sway bar improved articulation. The Land Cruiser excelled in off-road conditions, offering a smooth and quiet ride with its advanced systems.

The 2025 Honda Pilot, powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivered 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It featured a 10-speed automatic transmission and offered various driving modes, including Sport and Trail. The Pilot's AWD system provided torque vectoring and hill descent control, with up to 8.3 inches of ground clearance in the TrailSport trim. While the V6 offered good acceleration, the transmission occasionally felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was a concern, with an average of 20 mpg during testing. The Pilot's handling was predictable, but an adaptive-damping suspension could have improved ride quality.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser offered two rows of seating, with headroom measuring 36.1 inches in the front and 35.3 inches in the back. Legroom was 33.0 inches in the front and 26.7 inches in the rear. The center console provided easy access to off-road controls, and the cargo area offered 37.5 cubic feet of space. The trunk included a 120-volt AC outlet and USB-C ports in higher trims, enhancing its practicality.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of seating and thoughtful storage solutions. The front row featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, but the passenger seat lacked adjustability. The second row was roomy, with a removable center section for easy access to the third row. The third row was suitable for adults on short trips. The Pilot offered 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 86.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. Features like a hands-free power tailgate and triple-zone climate control added to its family-friendly appeal.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser featured a 12.3-inch center touchscreen with the Multi-Terrain Monitor system, standard on higher trims. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with USB-C ports for both front and rear passengers. The middle trim included a 10-speaker sound system, with an optional upgrade to a 14-speaker JBL system. The Premium Package added a head-up display and digital rear-view mirror.

The 2025 Honda Pilot Black Edition came with a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. However, the wireless CarPlay function was inconsistent, and the voice recognition system often required multiple attempts. The Pilot's CabinTalk feature allowed communication with rear passengers, and a small head-up display was included.

The 2024 Toyota Land Cruiser had not been rated by IIHS or NHTSA, but it came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and road-sign assist. The Premium Package added features like lane-keep assist and traffic jam assist.

The 2025 Honda Pilot included Honda Sensing safety features, such as forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Black Edition had parking sensors and a multi-view camera system. The Pilot earned a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA.