2024 Toyota Sequoia vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia shared its platform with the Tundra pickup, featuring design elements like hexagonal grilles and muscular stances. The exterior color significantly influenced its appearance, with the Capstone model in Celestial Silver giving off a "cop car" vibe, while a switch to Solar Octane orange and black accents transformed it into a "Tonka truck." Inside, the Sequoia mirrored the Tundra's blocky, geometric dashboard design, with physical controls for climate and audio. The Capstone trim boasted semi-aniline leather upholstery, while other trims offered a mix of fabric, SofTex, and leather. All models included power-adjustable front seats and a moonroof, enhancing comfort and customization.

The 2025 Honda Pilot, particularly in the Black Edition, featured black wheels and trim, with red accents inside. The Modern Steel paint on the test model muted the black detailing, but other colors offered more contrast. The Pilot's rugged design aimed for a suburban appeal, with the TrailSport trim enhancing off-road capabilities. Inside, the Pilot's design was practical, with quality materials but lacking a "wow factor." The digital displays were smaller and less impressive compared to rivals, though they offered essential features. The Black Edition's interior included black leather seats with red accents, but the technology felt dated despite being functional.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia was exclusively a hybrid, using the iForce MAX powertrain with a twin-turbo V6 and electric motor, producing 437 horsepower and 583 lb-ft of torque. This marked a significant increase from its predecessor, with improved fuel economy at 20 mpg combined for 4WD models. The TRD Pro trim offered off-road capabilities with 4WD, skid plates, and specialized suspension. The Sequoia's towing capacity reached 9,520 pounds, with various towing upgrades available.

The 2025 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, generating 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It offered multiple driving modes and a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. The AWD system included torque vectoring and hill descent control, enhancing off-road performance. However, the Pilot's fuel economy was less impressive, averaging 20 mpg. The handling was predictable, but the suspension could benefit from adaptive damping, especially in the Elite and Black Edition models.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia offered up to 86.9 cubic feet of cargo space with seats folded. The third-row seats were adjustable but did not create a flat load floor due to the hybrid battery. Headroom was reduced, and legroom varied, with the second row offering 39.2 inches. Captain’s chairs were available in higher trims, though they lacked bolstering.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in practicality, with three rows of seating and thoughtful storage solutions. The front passenger seat lacked adjustability, but the overall seating was comfortable. The second row was spacious, with removable sections for easier access to the third row. Cargo space reached 86.5 cubic feet with seats folded, and the Pilot included features like a hands-free power tailgate and effective climate control.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia came with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, accessed via an 8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen. The infotainment system prioritized functionality over flashiness. A 12.3-inch driver-information display and panoramic view monitor were standard, with a 14-speaker JBL audio system available on higher trims.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen. It included wireless smartphone integration, navigation, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. However, the voice recognition system was inconsistent, and the wireless charging pad was poorly designed. The CabinTalk feature allowed communication with rear passengers, but the overall tech package met only basic expectations.

The 2024 Toyota Sequoia included the Toyota Safety Sense 2.5 suite as standard, featuring adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, and blind-spot monitoring with Trailer Merge Warning. Optional safety features were bundled in the Tow Technology Package. The Sequoia had not been rated by safety organizations, but its Tundra sibling received high marks.

The 2025 Honda Pilot came with Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control. The Black Edition added parking sensors and a multi-view camera system. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist had performance issues. The Pilot earned top safety ratings from both the IIHS and NHTSA.