DecodedCarsHonda Pilot vs Toyota Land Cruiser
2026 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.
The short version
The Toyota Land Cruiser is more fuel-efficient: 23 vs 22 MPG combined in its best version.
That works out to about $500 a year less in fuel for the Honda Pilot (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).
The Honda Pilot is the bigger car, about 4 inches longer.
Across all model years since 2005, the Toyota Land Cruiser has had fewer recall campaigns (18 vs 54).
The two cars
The 2026 Honda Pilot is a small SUV offered with a 3.5L 6-cyl engine and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 200 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 114-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 4,522 lb (Sport /EX-L 4dr SUV).
The 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser is a standard SUV offered with a 2.4L 4-cyl turbo engine, including a hybrid version and 4-wheel drive. It measures about 197 inches long and 78 inches wide on a 112-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 5,038 lb.
Buying used? The 2015 Pilot and the 2020 Land Cruiser have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2016 Pilot and the 2024 Land Cruiser.
| 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser | |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Engines | 3.5L 6-cyl | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo |
| Drivetrain | Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive | 4-Wheel Drive |
| NHTSA overall | Not rated | Not rated |
| Best combined MPG | 22 MPG | 23 MPG |
| City / highway MPG (best) | 19 city | 22 city |
| Fuel cost per year (EPA) | $3,050 | $3,550 |
| Horsepower (most powerful) | 285 hp | 278 hp |
| Seats (most) | – | 5 |
| Driver-assist features standard | 14 | 12 |
| Length | 200 in | 196.5 in |
| Width | 78.3 in | 78 in |
| Height | 70.9 in | 76 in |
| Curb weight (lightest) | 4,522 lb | 5,038 lb |
| Recalls (2026) | 1 | 1 |
| Recalls, all years since 2005 | 54 | 18 |
| Owner complaints (latest year) | 27 | 7 |
| Wikipedia views, 30 days | 11,561 | 61,214 |
| Best used year | 2015 | 2020 |
| Year to avoid | 2016 | 2024 |
Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →
Which one should you choose?
Choose the Honda Pilot if…
- You want more room (4 in longer)
- You want more standard driver-assist tech
Choose the Toyota Land Cruiser if…
- You want something easier to park (4 in shorter)
- You want a hybrid or electric option
- You put reliability history first (18 vs 54 recalls since 2005)
Pros & cons of each
2026 Honda Pilot
- AWD / 4WD available
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
- Below-average fuel economyBest version gets 22 MPG combined, 27% below the 2026 small SUV average of 30.2 MPG.
2026 Toyota Land Cruiser
- Excellent fuel economyUp to 23 MPG combined — 15% better than the average 2026 standard SUV (20 MPG).
- Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
- Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.
- Premium fuel requiredEvery gasoline version is rated for premium, which raises running costs.
Full 2026 Honda Pilot specs →Full 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →