Toyota Land Cruiser vs Honda Pilot

The 2026 Honda Pilot underwent a subtle transformation, adopting a more rugged, truck-like appearance with a larger, blockier grille and gray plastic scuff plates. This design shift aligned with industry trends, enhancing its utilitarian style with standard roof rails and a matching rear bumper scuff plate. While the exterior updates were minimal, they continued the rugged design direction introduced three years prior. Inside, the Pilot retained its familiar layout but introduced notable upgrades, including larger infotainment and digital instrument panels. The top trims featured unique diamond quilting in synthetic suede, with contrasting stitching and a new trim element that varied in appearance depending on lighting. These changes maintained the Pilot's reputation as a tastefully designed midsize SUV, excelling in practicality and material quality.

In contrast, the 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser offered two distinct versions: the Land Cruiser 1958 and a higher trim level. The 1958 featured round headlights and cloth seats, while the higher trim boasted rectangular lamps and artificial leather upholstery. The latter also offered a broader color palette and additional features. Starting at $59,775, the 1958 catered to those seeking a basic yet functional vehicle, while the upmarket version, priced from $64,620, targeted buyers desiring more luxury. Our test vehicle, equipped with options like two-tone paint, a Premium Package, and off-road enhancements, had an MSRP of $73,740. Inside, the Land Cruiser prioritized function over form, with the Premium Package adding soft leather upholstery and generous padding. While not as upscale as its Lexus counterpart, the Land Cruiser exuded quality, with all-season floor mats emphasizing its off-road capabilities.

The 2026 Honda Pilot retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard on the Sport and EX-L trims, with all-wheel drive available as an option, while other trims came standard with AWD. The Pilot's acceleration was more than adequate, with a confident V6 sound and a soft brake pedal effort suitable for a family SUV. Honda's steering revisions for 2026 improved feedback and stability, addressing previous highway vagueness. Overall, the Pilot maintained its confident handling, though it didn't feel sporty.

In contrast, the 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser featured the i-Force Max hybrid powertrain, combining a turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with an electric motor to produce 326 horsepower and 465 pound-feet of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission, full-time four-wheel drive, and a 6,000-pound towing capacity were standard. The Land Cruiser's fuel economy averaged 20.3 mpg during a Southern California heat wave and 18.1 mpg on a mountainous route. Off-road capabilities were enhanced with features like center and locking rear differentials, hill-start and hill-descent assist, and Crawl Control. The higher-spec Land Cruiser offered wider tires, Multi-Terrain Select modes, and a surround-view camera system. Despite its weight, the i-Force Max powertrain provided impressive torque, making the Land Cruiser capable of tackling challenging terrains. In daily driving, it rode like a truck, absorbing bumps and humps, though wind noise was noticeable on highways.

The 2026 Honda Pilot's cabin remained largely unchanged, offering excellent interior space and versatility. A standout feature was the removable second-row center seat, providing flexibility between a bench and captain's chairs. The center seat was suitable for smaller passengers, while the outboard seats offered ample legroom and comfort. Access to the third row was easy, with adequate space for smaller adults. Cargo capacity was impressive, with up to 22.4 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 112.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The front seats provided ample storage, including a long tray, cupholders, and a giant center armrest bin.

In contrast, the 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser's 1958 model featured basic amenities, including manually adjustable front seats and cloth upholstery. The higher trim level offered power-adjustable front seats with heating and ventilation, wrapped in SofTex artificial leather. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Premium Package, added genuine leather, memory settings, heated and ventilated rear seats, and a power sunroof. The Land Cruiser's front and rear seats were comfortable, accommodating up to five people. Cargo space measured 46.2 cubic feet, expanding to 82.2 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, the high liftover height and lack of a flat surface made loading bulky items challenging.

For 2026, the Honda Pilot upgraded to a larger 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument panel across all trims. The physical shortcut buttons were replaced with customizable on-screen shortcuts, while wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The EX-L trim added a wireless phone charger, though it required precise positioning. The Pilot retained unique features like multiple camera angles and the Cabin Talk intercom system.

In contrast, the 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser's 1958 model came with a 7-inch digital driver display and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The higher trim level offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and touchscreen, along with wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Premium Package added a 14-speaker JBL audio system, a digital rearview mirror, and a head-up display. Five connected service plans were available, with complimentary subscriptions to Service Connect, Safety Connect, and Remote Connect. The Intelligent Assistant worked well, though it occasionally misinterpreted commands. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable data panels in the digital driver display.

Crash test scores for the 2026 Honda Pilot were unavailable, but it was expected to perform well based on the 2025 model's five-star NHTSA rating and IIHS Top Safety Pick designation. All trims came with the Honda Sensing suite, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and more. The safety features generally worked well, though the forward collision warning was slightly sensitive.

In contrast, the 2027 Toyota Land Cruiser featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, including high-beam assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and more. Proactive Driving Assist added subtle braking and steering inputs, though it could be aggressive. Additional features included blind-spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert, and a safe-exit assist system. The Premium Package added lane-change assist and Traffic Jam Assist. The NHTSA gave the Land Cruiser a four-star overall rating, with mixed IIHS scores, including a Marginal result for rear-seat passenger protection.