Head-To-Head Resale Comparison

Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander: resale value, depreciation and costs

We compared 4,202 listing observations from the 2026 market cycle to see which model retains more value, costs less used, and brings the stronger ownership numbers.

The Short Answer

Toyota Highlander holds more value after five years

In the 2026 market cycle, the Honda Pilot is estimated to retain 62.4% of its original value after five years, while the Toyota Highlander retains 70.1%. That is a 7.7-point edge for the Toyota Highlander; year, trim, mileage, condition and local demand still determine the price of a specific vehicle.

Comparison Scorecard

The numbers that change the decision

Green cells mark a measurable advantage, not an overall verdict. Price and coverage are shown without declaring a winner because the right tradeoff depends on your budget and the exact vehicle.

Honda Pilot vs Toyota Highlander resale value and ownership metrics
MetricHonda PilotToyota Highlander
5-year value retainedSmoothed estimate in the 2026 market cycle62.4%70.1%
5-year depreciationEstimated share of original value lost37.6%29.9%
Average used asking priceMedian asking prices averaged across covered model years$28,132$29,724
Average original MSRPOriginal sticker prices averaged across covered years$43,299$42,145
Latest combined fuel economy2026 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Toyota Highlander21 MPG31 MPG
Average annual repair costRepairPal model-level estimateNot availableNot available
RepairPal reliability ratingOut of 5.0Not availableNot available
Latest NHTSA overall rating2026 vs 20265 / 5 stars5 / 5 stars
Listing observationsEvidence behind the model-level curves2,2841,918

Year By Year

Compare overlapping model years

These 12shared model years make age-matched shopping easier. Depreciation compares each year's normalized asking price with its original MSRP.

Shared model-year depreciation and median asking prices for the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander
Model yearHonda Pilot depreciationHonda Pilot median priceToyota Highlander depreciationToyota Highlander median price
20266.6%$52,9150.0%$50,750
202511.6%$43,4105.7%$38,749
202416.1%$40,1069.6%$38,989
202320.7%$38,49713.5%$33,587
202230.7%$29,39820.6%$32,340
202136.0%$25,50228.0%$30,404
202041.7%$22,89234.1%$28,496
201947.1%$21,47641.7%$24,938
201852.3%$18,39546.4%$21,699
201756.0%$17,67949.0%$20,960
201661.4%$15,29254.2%$18,767
201567.5%$12,02257.9%$17,013

Buyer Fit

Which one should you buy?

Start with the tradeoff you care about, then verify the exact year, trim, mileage and service history. A model-level advantage can disappear when two individual used cars are not equivalent.

Choose the Honda Pilot if...

  • Its average median used asking price is $1,592 lower across the covered model years.
  • You found a specific example with the stronger year, trim, mileage, condition or service history; those details can outweigh a model-level average.
  • Its $28,132 average median asking price fits your budget after you check the same-year rows below.
Research every Honda Pilot model year

Choose the Toyota Highlander if...

  • Five-year value retention matters: its estimate is 70.1%, 7.7 points above the Honda Pilot.
  • You are targeting one of the 12 shared model years where it posted lower measured depreciation than the Honda Pilot.
  • Fuel economy matters: the latest covered model year is rated at 31 MPG combined, 10 MPG higher.
Research every Toyota Highlander model year

Beyond The Score

How these models fit the used market

Resale value is only one part of the choice. Segment role, supply and the mix of years on sale help explain why two similarly priced vehicles can depreciate differently.

Honda Pilot

Honda Pilot coverage spans 2015-2026.

Toyota Highlander

Toyota Highlander coverage spans 2015-2026.

Go Deeper

Open the full model-year research

Compare trims, mileage, recalls, fuel costs and current listing examples before deciding on one specific car.

Keep Comparing

See how the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander stack up against other close alternatives using the same resale-value framework.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which holds its value better, the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander?

Toyota Highlander has the stronger five-year result in this comparison. The Honda Pilot is estimated to retain 62.4% of its original value after five years versus 70.1% for the Toyota Highlander, using the same 2026 observation cycle. The difference is 7.7 percentage points. This is a model-level curve, not an appraisal for one VIN; trim, mileage, condition, options and location can change an actual resale price.

Is the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander cheaper to buy used?

Across the model years in this dataset, the Honda Pilot has the lower average median asking price at $28,132, about $1,592 below the Toyota Highlander average. That broad average is a starting point, not a like-for-like quote, because each model can have a different year range, trim mix and mileage distribution. The year-by-year table is the better place to compare vehicles of the same age before checking listings near you.

Which is less expensive to maintain, the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander?

The available model data does not provide a complete annual repair-cost estimate for both vehicles, so this page does not name a maintenance-cost winner. Use the RepairPal ratings where shown, review recalls and complaints in each model-year guide, ask for service records, and budget for an independent pre-purchase inspection. Age, mileage, powertrain and previous maintenance usually matter more than a single broad reliability score.

How does CarResaleValue compare the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander?

CarResaleValue normalizes observed used-car asking prices to a standard 12,000 miles per year, applies a 5% asking-to-sale adjustment, and compares the result with original MSRP references. A smoothed retention curve produces the five-year estimate when the data contains an observed five-year cohort. This page combines 4,202 listing observations across 24 model-year records, then adds EPA fuel economy, NHTSA safety data and RepairPal ownership indicators where available.

Comparison methodology

This page combines 4,202 listing observations across 24 model-year records. Asking prices are mileage-normalized to 12,000 miles per year, adjusted by a 5% asking-to-sale estimate, and compared with original MSRP references. Five-year figures use a smoothed curve only when an observed five-year cohort exists. EPA, NHTSA and RepairPal fields are shown independently and may cover different model years. Read the full CarResaleValue methodology. You can also browse the suv resale value ranking.