Toyota Grand Highlander Vs. Mazda CX-90 Vs. Honda Pilot: Which One Deserves Your Money?

Three-row crossovers are the family vehicles that replaced minivans, and in 2026, these three represent the best of what the segment offers from Japanese manufacturers. The Toyota Grand Highlander was purpose-built to address the regular Highlander's cramped third row and limited cargo. The Mazda CX-90 replaced the CX-9 with a platform that prioritizes driving dynamics and interior quality over raw space. The Honda Pilot has been the default three-row recommendation for two decades, offering a naturally aspirated V6, available all-wheel drive, and a TrailSport trim that goes places neither competitor attempts. All three seat seven or eight. All three tow up to 5,000 pounds in the right configuration. The differences that matter are in how they use space, what powers them, and where they draw the line between practical and premium.

Three powertrains versus two versus one

Offering the most variety, the Grand Highlander gives buyers a turbocharged 2.4 liter four-cylinder, a 2.5-liter Hybrid returning 34-36 mpg combined, and a 362 hp Hybrid Max that pairs turbocharging with electric assist for legitimate performance. That breadth means a Grand Highlander can be configured as a fuel-sipping commuter or a quick, powerful family hauler depending on which powertrain you choose. No competitor in this comparison matches that flexibility.

Taking the performance route, the CX-90 pairs a turbocharged 3.3 liter inline-six producing 340 hp with standard AWD across the lineup. A plug-in hybrid option adds 25 miles of electric-only range at 323 hp for buyers who want electrification without abandoning combustion entirely. Over in the Pilot camp, a single naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 at 285 hp powers every trim through a 10-speed automatic. No hybrid. No turbo. No complexity to manage long-term. For buyers who view powertrain simplicity as a reliability feature, the Pilot makes the strongest case. For buyers who want options, the Grand Highlander makes a better one.

Third-row space and cargo are not close

Built specifically to solve the regular Highlander's third-row problem, the Grand Highlander is the longest vehicle in this comparison at over 201 inches. Third-row legroom is the most generous of the three, and cargo behind that third row leads the segment. With seats folded, total volume exceeds both competitors by a margin that matters when you are loading luggage for a family of six. If usable third-row space for adults and maximum cargo flexibility are the priorities, the Grand Highlander was engineered from the ground up to win exactly this argument.

Sitting at the opposite end, the CX-90 offers just 14.9 cubic feet behind its third row, the smallest in this group and barely enough for a couple of backpacks. Third-row legroom at 30.4 inches is tight for anyone above average height. Mazda prioritized driving dynamics and interior quality over packaging efficiency, and the cargo numbers reflect that choice. Splitting the difference, the Pilot offers competitive third-row space and cargo volume that falls between the Grand Highlander and CX-90, with a practical layout that Honda has been refining across multiple Pilot generations.

Interior quality and driving dynamics favor one brand over the other two

Step inside the CX-90 and the cabin quality is immediately apparent. Soft-touch materials, tight panel gaps, genuine wood and metal accents, and a design aesthetic that approaches European luxury pricing without European luxury costs make it the most refined interior in this comparison. Behind the wheel, the turbocharged inline-six delivers smooth, linear power, and the chassis responds to steering inputs with a precision that neither the Grand Highlander nor the Pilot can match. For the driver who takes the long way home, the CX-90 rewards that decision more than any three-row crossover in the segment.

Approaching the cabin from a technology-first perspective, the Grand Highlander offers a clean, well-organized interior with available 12.3-inch touchscreen, digital gauge cluster, and Toyota's latest multimedia system. Build quality is solid but materials are more utilitarian than the Mazda. Similarly, the Pilot delivers a practical, family-oriented cabin with Google Built-In on higher trims and Honda's CabinWatch camera for monitoring rear passengers on the infotainment screen. Neither Toyota nor Honda embarrasses itself inside. Neither attempts what Mazda achieves.

AWD and off-road capability follow different strategies

Every CX-90, regardless of trim or powertrain, comes with standard all-wheel drive. No option box. No price upgrade. Every buyer gets AWD. In snow states and wet climates, that eliminates the single biggest decision anxiety in the configurator and ensures every CX-90 on the lot is winter-ready.

Going a different direction entirely, the Pilot offers an available TrailSport trim with off-road-tuned suspension, steel skid plates, all-terrain tires, and trail-specific driving modes. No CX-90 or Grand Highlander trim attempts genuine off-road capability. For families who camp on dirt roads, access remote trailheads, or live where pavement is a suggestion rather than a guarantee, the Pilot TrailSport is the only vehicle in this comparison built for that life. The Grand Highlander offers AWD as an option across most trims, with ToyotaCare providing two years of complimentary maintenance that neither competitor matches.

Entry pricing tells a different story than you expect

Starting at $40,830 with a standard turbocharged inline-six and AWD, the CX-90 offers the cheapest way into this comparison with the most power and the only standard all-wheel-drive system. At that price, it undercuts the Grand Highlander by over $2,600 and the Pilot by $1,365 while including hardware both competitors charge extra for.

Beginning at $43,455 for the LE, the Grand Highlander is the most expensive entry point but justifies it with the most cargo space and three available powertrains. Sitting in the middle at $42,195, the Pilot covers seven trims from the base Sport to the $54,995 Black Edition, offering the widest range of configurations in the group. All three carry identical 3-year/36,000-mile basic and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranties. Only Toyota includes complimentary maintenance.

The bottom line

Buy the Grand Highlander if third-row space, cargo volume, and powertrain choice matter most. Its Hybrid Max delivers performance no competitor matches, and its interior is built to carry more people and more stuff than anything else in this segment. Buy the CX-90 if driving dynamics and interior quality matter more than raw space. It starts cheapest, drives best, and looks the most expensive inside. Buy the Pilot if you want a proven V6, a dedicated off-road trim, and the kind of straightforward engineering that Honda owners have trusted for 20 years. Three excellent family SUVs. Three very different definitions of what a family needs.

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This story was originally published June 17, 2026 at 5:55 AM.