Toyota Highlander vs Honda Pilot: fuel economy and fuel cost

In model year 2026 the Toyota Highlander is the cheaper of the two to fuel: about $1,860 a year for its lowest-cost configuration (Highlander Hybrid LTD/PLAT, 35 MPG combined), against $2,910 for the Honda Pilot (Pilot, 22 MPG combined). That is $1,050 a year, or $5,250 over five years.

Both are classed as Standard SUVs by the EPA. Costs assume 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel and electricity prices for both vehicles, using the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Each figure is rounded to $10 and every difference is calculated from the rounded values.

Illustration: Standard SUVs

Hybrid
Standard SUVs

Toyota Highlander

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Highlander Hybrid LTD/PLAT

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$1,860

$12.40 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

3 configurations in MY2026

Illustration: Standard SUVs

Gas
Standard SUVs

Honda Pilot

Lowest fuel cost configuration

Pilot

Combined

City

Highway

Annual fuel cost

$2,910

$19.40 per 100 miles

15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

4 configurations in MY2026

What the fuel costs

Annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration

Toyota Highlander$1,860 a year · $12.40 per 100 mi
Honda Pilot$2,910 a year · $19.40 per 100 mi

Difference per year

$1,050

Toyota Highlander costs less to fuel

Over 5 years

$5,250

$1,050 a year × 5, 15,000 mi/yr, same fuel prices

Head to head, MY2026

Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot compared on their lowest fuel cost configuration
Measure	Toyota Highlander	Honda Pilot
Lowest-cost configuration	Highlander Hybrid LTD/PLAT	Pilot
Powertrain	Hybrid	Gas
Combined rating	35 MPG (better)	22 MPG
City rating	35 MPG (better)	19 MPG
Highway rating	34 MPG (better)	27 MPG
Annual fuel cost	$1,860/yr (better)	$2,910/yr
Cost per 100 miles	$12.40 (better)	$19.40
Annual cost range, all configurations	$1,860–$2,750	$2,910–$3,280
Configurations in MY2026	3	4
EPA class	Standard SUVs	Standard SUVs

Best configuration by powertrain

Lowest-cost configuration of each powertrain, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot
Powertrain	Toyota Highlander	Honda Pilot
Gas	24 MPG · $2,750/yr Highlander	22 MPG · $2,910/yr Pilot
Hybrid	35 MPG · $1,860/yr Highlander Hybrid LTD/PLAT	Not offered in MY2026

Each cell shows the combined rating and the annual fuel cost of the lowest-cost configuration with that powertrain.

Where each one comes out ahead

Generated from the numbers above, comparing the lowest fuel cost configurations. No subjective judgements.

Toyota Highlander

Lower annual fuel cost: $1,860 vs $2,910
Higher combined rating: 35 MPG vs 22 MPG
Higher city rating: 35 MPG vs 19 MPG
Higher highway rating: 34 MPG vs 27 MPG
Lower annual cost for the best gas configuration: $2,750 vs $2,910
Offers hybrid configurations in MY2026; the Honda Pilot does not

Honda Pilot

Not ahead on any measure listed here.

Year by year

Combined rating and annual fuel cost by model year, Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot
Model year	Toyota Highlander		Honda Pilot
Model year	Combined	Per year	Combined	Per year
2026	24–35 MPG	$1,860–$2,750	20–22 MPG	$2,910–$3,280
2025	24–35 MPG	$1,860–$2,750	20–22 MPG	$2,910–$3,280
2024	24–36 MPG	$1,820–$2,750	20–22 MPG	$2,910–$3,270
2023	24–36 MPG	$1,820–$2,750	20–22 MPG	$2,910–$3,270
2022	23–36 MPG	$1,820–$2,860	21–23 MPG	$2,880–$3,070
2021	23–36 MPG	$1,820–$2,870	22–23 MPG	$2,880–$2,950
2020	23–36 MPG	$1,820–$2,860	21–23 MPG	$2,880–$3,090
2019	22–29 MPG	$2,260–$3,030	21–23 MPG	$2,880–$3,090
2018	22–29 MPG	$2,260–$3,030	21–23 MPG	$2,880–$3,090
2017	22–29 MPG	$2,260–$3,030	21–23 MPG	$2,880–$3,090
2016	20–28 MPG	$2,320–$3,200	21–23 MPG	$2,880–$3,110
2015	20–28 MPG	$2,320–$3,200	20 MPG	$3,190–$3,290
2014	20–28 MPG	$2,320–$3,200	20 MPG	$3,190–$3,290
2013	19–28 MPG	$2,370–$3,470	20 MPG	$3,190–$3,290
2012	19–28 MPG	$2,370–$3,470	20 MPG	$3,190–$3,290
2011	19–28 MPG	$2,360–$3,470	18–19 MPG	$3,460–$3,570
2010	19–26 MPG	$2,510–$3,440	18–19 MPG	$3,440–$3,630
2009	19–26 MPG	$2,510–$3,440	18–19 MPG	$3,440–$3,630
2008	19–26 MPG	$2,510–$3,440	17–18 MPG	$3,630–$3,840
2007	19–26 MPG	$2,510–$3,440	17–18 MPG	$3,630–$3,840
2006	19–27 MPG	$2,420–$3,440	17–18 MPG	$3,630–$3,840
2005	19–22 MPG	$2,970–$3,440	17 MPG	$3,840
2004	19–22 MPG	$2,970–$3,440	17 MPG	$3,840
2003	18–22 MPG	$2,970–$3,630	17 MPG	$3,840

Earlier model years are costed with today's fuel prices, so the table shows how each model's efficiency changed, not what fuel cost at the time. Ranges cover every configuration of that model year.

Frequently asked questions

Which is cheaper to fuel, the Toyota Highlander or the Honda Pilot?

The Toyota Highlander is cheaper: about $1,860 a year against $2,910 for the Honda Pilot, a difference of $1,050 a year. That compares the lowest-cost configuration of each in model year 2026 at 15,000 miles a year with the same fuel prices.

How much would the Toyota Highlander save over five years?

About $5,250 ($1,050 a year for five years), assuming 15,000 miles a year and the same fuel prices. Your total depends on how much you drive and on local prices; see fuel cost by state.

Which has the better fuel economy rating, the Toyota Highlander or the Honda Pilot?

The Toyota Highlander is rated 35 MPG combined against 22 MPG for the Honda Pilot. City: 35 MPG vs 19 MPG. Highway: 34 MPG vs 27 MPG. These are the EPA ratings of each model's lowest-cost configuration.

How is the annual fuel cost calculated?

Distance of 15,000 miles a year at the EPA combined rating (55% city, 45% highway). Gasoline is priced at $4.36/gal (EIA U.S. average for regular, Sep 2026) and electricity at 18.3¢/kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, Jul 2026); premium and diesel configurations use their own EIA prices. Each result is rounded to $10, and differences are calculated from the rounded figures.

Are the Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot in the same class?

Yes. The EPA classes both as Standard SUVs.

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More comparisons

EPA ratings: fueleconomy.gov file of Sep 29, 2026 · Prices: EIA regular gasoline, U.S. avg, Sep 2026 ($4.36/gal); residential electricity, U.S. avg, Jul 2026 (18.3¢/kWh) · 15,000 mi/yr, 55% city, same prices for both vehicles