Two family SUVs with completely different personalities hit the market this year. The Honda Pilot keeps things practical and comfortable for everyday family life, while the Toyota 4Runner gets its first major makeover in 15 years, bringing serious off-road muscle to the table. Here’s how these two midsize SUVs stack up when you’re trying to pick the perfect family adventure machine.
- The Pilot focuses on refined family comfort with seating for up to eight passengers and better fuel economy for daily driving
- The 4Runner brings rugged off-road capability with a completely redesigned platform and available hybrid power of 326 horsepower
- Both offer strong safety ratings, but they appeal to totally different lifestyles and driving needs
Two Different Approaches to Family Adventure
Walking around a dealer lot, you’ll notice these SUVs couldn’t be more different in their approach. The Honda Pilot has that smooth, minivan-meets-SUV vibe with rounded edges and a focus on getting families where they need to go comfortably. It’s the SUV equivalent of a well-organized soccer mom.
The Toyota 4Runner? It looks like it could climb a mountain tomorrow morning. The redesigned 2025 model keeps its boxy, truck-like appearance but adds modern touches like LED headlights and a more sophisticated grille. That signature roll-down rear window makes its return because some things are too good to change.
Inside, the differences become even more obvious. The Pilot’s cabin feels spacious and airy, designed around hauling people and their stuff with minimal fuss. You get up to eight seats, tons of cup holders, and everything feels designed for comfort first.
The 4Runner’s interior got a complete makeover for 2025, finally ditching that dated dashboard from the previous generation. It now features an 8-inch or available 14-inch touchscreen and feels much more modern, though it still maintains that rugged, purpose-built aesthetic. The materials are tough enough to handle muddy hiking boots and sandy beach gear.
Power and Performance Have Different Strengths
Under the hood, both SUVs take different paths to get you moving. The Honda Pilot sticks with what works – a proven 3.5-liter V6 engine making 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission that you’ll barely notice during daily driving.
The 4Runner breaks new ground with its completely redesigned powertrain lineup. The standard engine is a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder producing 278 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque. Here’s what makes it interesting – you can also get an i-FORCE MAX hybrid system that cranks out 326 horsepower and 465 lb-ft of torque. That’s more power than any 4Runner has ever had.
When it comes to towing, the 4Runner flexes its truck-based muscles. It can haul up to 6,000 pounds when properly equipped, compared to the Pilot’s 5,000-pound capacity. Both numbers are respectable for family adventures, but that extra 1,000 pounds of towing capacity gives the 4Runner an edge for bigger boat trailers or campers.
Fuel Economy Tells the Daily Driving Story
Here’s where your wallet starts talking. The Honda Pilot delivers 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway with front-wheel drive, or 19 city and 25 highway with all-wheel drive. The TrailSport trim drops slightly to 18 city and 23 highway.
The redesigned 4Runner improved its fuel economy compared to the old V6, but it’s still thirstier than the Pilot. Expect around 19-20 mpg city and 24-26 mpg highway, depending on the configuration. The hybrid models help bridge that gap, offering better efficiency than the standard turbo-four.
Over a year of driving, that difference adds up. If you’re doing mostly city driving and school runs, the Pilot’s better fuel economy makes it easier on the budget.
Interior Space and Family Life
Family hauling is where the Pilot really shines. It offers seating for up to eight passengers, and most people can actually use that third row comfortably. The second row offers either a bench seat or captain’s chairs, depending on your preference. There’s also a clever stowable center seat in the second row on higher trims.
The 4Runner traditionally seats five, though some trims offer an optional third row that seats seven. However, that third row works best for kids or emergency use. Where the 4Runner excels is in cargo space. With the rear seats folded, you get up to 90.2 cubic feet of cargo room, perfect for camping gear or sports equipment.
Both SUVs offer plenty of storage cubbies and USB ports to keep devices charged, but the Pilot feels more designed around the chaos of family life, while the 4Runner is built for adventure gear.
Technology and Safety Features
Both SUVs come loaded with modern safety tech. The Honda Pilot includes Honda Sensing as standard, with features like collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims add blind spot monitoring and a multi-view camera system.
The 4Runner counters with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, which includes similar features plus some new additions like Proactive Driving Assist. This system can provide gentle steering and braking inputs to help with everyday driving tasks.
For infotainment, both offer Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The Pilot’s system feels more family-focused with easy-to-use controls, while the 4Runner’s new setup (finally!) brings it into the modern age with wireless connectivity and much better graphics.
Off-Road Capability Shows Where They Part Ways
This is where these SUVs really show their different personalities. The Honda Pilot offers a TrailSport trim with slightly more ground clearance, skid plates, and all-terrain tires. It handles gravel roads and light trail duty perfectly fine, but serious off-roading isn’t really its thing.
The Toyota 4Runner? It’s been crawling over rocks and through mud for decades. The 2025 model takes that tradition seriously with multiple 4WD systems, up to 10.1 inches of ground clearance, and specialized trims like the TRD Pro and new Trailhunter edition that come with serious off-road hardware.
Features like crawl control, multi-terrain select, and an electronic locking rear differential mean the 4Runner can tackle trails that would leave the Pilot stuck. If weekend adventures include serious hiking, overlanding, or remote camping, the 4Runner is in a different league.
Pricing and Value
The Honda Pilot starts at around $40,200 for the base Sport trim and tops out at $54,580 for the Black Edition. Most families will find the sweet spot in the EX-L or TrailSport trims around $43,500-$49,400.
The Toyota 4Runner pricing ranges from about $41,270 for the base SR5 up to nearly $67,000 for the top Trailhunter edition. The hybrid models start around $52,490. Auto dealers often point out that 4Runners hold their value extremely well, which helps offset the higher initial cost.
When you factor in fuel costs over time, the Pilot’s better efficiency might save you money in the long run, but the 4Runner’s stronger resale value could balance that out when it’s time to trade up.
Which One Fits Your Life
The choice between these SUVs really comes down to how you plan to use them. The Honda Pilot excels as a comfortable family hauler for people who put fuel economy, interior space, and daily driving refinement at the top of their list. It’s perfect for families who need to get kids to school, haul sports teams, and take occasional weekend trips on paved roads.
The Toyota 4Runner appeals to adventurous families who want the capability to explore beyond the pavement. With its truck-based construction, serious off-road equipment, and rugged reliability, it’s built for people who see weekends as opportunities for outdoor adventure.
Pick the Pilot if you value fuel economy, need maximum passenger seating, and want a smooth, comfortable daily driver that can handle light outdoor activities.
Go with the 4Runner if off-road capability matters to your lifestyle, you prefer truck-like durability, and you’re willing to accept slightly lower fuel economy for the ability to explore remote places.
The Bottom Line
Both the 2025 Honda Pilot and Toyota 4Runner are excellent SUVs, but they serve different purposes. The Pilot keeps families comfortable and connected during daily life, while the 4Runner opens up a world of outdoor possibilities with its serious off-road credentials.
Your choice depends on whether you need a practical family shuttle or an adventure-ready explorer. Either way, you’re getting a well-built SUV that’ll serve your family for years to come.
