Looking for a new vehicle as the '02 Accord (225k miles) won't carry 3 kiddos around (4 years old & younger so 3 car seats). I would rather forego the minivan route if possible & make a 3rd row SUV work. Long story short narrowed it down to a 2016 Highlander XLE (new model was in 2014) vs. a new Pilot EX-L which is a new model in 2016. Need vehicle by May 2016 so time remains to order & get what we want. We thought about waiting for the 2017 Pilot to possibly help on some 1st year reliability issues but not sure when arriving & that would be cutting it close.
Highlander:
Pros - reliability, good 3rd row access, 2nd row captain's chairs available ($275 MSRP), flip-up rear hatch window, potentially less expensive, prefer exterior/interior color choices better (Nautical Blue w/ Almond leather), 120V power outlet
Cons - 3rd row cramped & low seating position, less cargo space, no transmission dipstick
Pilot:
Pros - larger & better 3rd row comfort, larger cargo area behind 3rd row, lower 2nd row seat heights so can reach 3rd row better while seated in 2nd row, Honda LaneWatch (right lane camera when changing lanes), Honda Sensing (lane departure warning, forward collision warning, etc.) available for $1k MSRP, backup sensors available, better mpg but comes at a cost of VCM(?) and direct injection
Cons - first model year so reliability questionable, VCM, direct injection, no CD player, audio controls touchscreen only, no 2nd row captain's chairs available, 3rd row access with (2) car seats in 2nd row only if 1 is in middle seat, no transmission dipstick
Looking for other items that we may have not have considered enough.
A big driver on this decision is space - people & cargo. Roof carriers are available for the Pilot & I assume aftermarket for the Highlander to help on the latter. We tend to keep vehicles for a long time (>decade) so reliability raises its hand as well.
Thanks.
Highlander:
Pros - reliability, good 3rd row access, 2nd row captain's chairs available ($275 MSRP), flip-up rear hatch window, potentially less expensive, prefer exterior/interior color choices better (Nautical Blue w/ Almond leather), 120V power outlet
Cons - 3rd row cramped & low seating position, less cargo space, no transmission dipstick
Pilot:
Pros - larger & better 3rd row comfort, larger cargo area behind 3rd row, lower 2nd row seat heights so can reach 3rd row better while seated in 2nd row, Honda LaneWatch (right lane camera when changing lanes), Honda Sensing (lane departure warning, forward collision warning, etc.) available for $1k MSRP, backup sensors available, better mpg but comes at a cost of VCM(?) and direct injection
Cons - first model year so reliability questionable, VCM, direct injection, no CD player, audio controls touchscreen only, no 2nd row captain's chairs available, 3rd row access with (2) car seats in 2nd row only if 1 is in middle seat, no transmission dipstick
Looking for other items that we may have not have considered enough.
A big driver on this decision is space - people & cargo. Roof carriers are available for the Pilot & I assume aftermarket for the Highlander to help on the latter. We tend to keep vehicles for a long time (>decade) so reliability raises its hand as well.
Thanks.