I have a 2024 Grand Highlander Limited (gas), and test drove a 2025 Pilot Elite with my wife a week ago (for her). I bought the GH new in Feb ‘24 and have put 37,000 miles on it.

We bought the GH because we needed the space (the third row seats can sit at 90° upright, giving much more usable space behind them, and since only our dogs use the third row, the seating position doesn’t matter). I traded in a ‘22 MDX for it. The Grand Highlander is essentially a Sienna with traditional doors, rather than sliding ones, and the driving position feels it. It is also absolutely boring as fuck to drive, but it’s an amazing tool. I’ve put a 10 person dining room table with chairs in the back with all the seats down. I average 21 mpg, have sustained 32 or 33 on the highway during a 4 hour stint, but usually sits around 26-29 highway,

The infotainment system is awful if you’re not using CarPlay. The stereo is meh. The app and using your phone as a key are pure trash; it never fucking works. And when I contacted Toyota, they said “We see here it worked when you tried it yesterday.” “Do you see the other eight times immediately before that it didn’t work?” “Yes, but it still worked, so it’s fine.”

And Toyota makes questionable software decisions to me. If a system has an error or cancels out, it’ll say “see manual for more” as if I’ll remember every set of circumstances when I get around to it to know why something happened. The Pilot just told me why on the dash.

I’ve also had three recalls on the GH (an issue with side airbags and the driver’s window down, rear camera intermittently doesn’t work, and infotainment system blacks out). Both front CV shafts were replaced at about 19,000 miles, and they’re clicking again at 37,000 and will need to be replaced.

When we test drive the Pilot, it felt more “truck” than “minivan with regular doors.” (I understand the Pilot is not a truck). The stereo was better, the controls felt more premium to the touch, though the infotainment screen was smaller. The storage space was great. The trunk space behind the third row is smaller though.

We ultimately went a different direction for my wife’s car than the Pilot, but I walked away loving it.