Why the Toyota 4Runner Is Outselling Its Larger Honda Rival in 2024
The 2024 Toyota 4Runner and the Honda Pilot are two of the best midsize SUVs for people who need a rugged option. However, the Toyota 4Runner is outselling the Honda Pilot this year, which is not how things ended up in 2023. Here’s a look into why more people are picking the midsize Toyota SUV.
The 2024 Toyota 4Runner is one of the best midsize SUVs for reliability
Both the 2024 Toyota 4Runner and the Honda Pilot are among the best selling midsize SUVs, and the same was true for 2023. However, the Toyota is edging out the Pilot so far this year. According to Good Car Bad Car, the 4Runner has sold 45,755 units this year, whereas 41,933 people purchased the Honda Pilot. Notably, the Honda Pilot outsold the Toyota 4Runner in 2023, but not by much.
One reason the 4Runner is slightly outselling the Pilot could be due to reliability. J.D. Power gave the 2024 Toyota 4Runner an 86 out of 100, but the Pilot only has an 80. Both scores fall into the ‘great’ category, but it’s easy to see why people would pick the Toyota if they want the best option for reliability.
Related to reliability, the Toyota 4Runner also has lower annual maintenance costs than the Honda Pilot, which means the SUV offers a bit more value in this regard.
The 2024 Honda Pilot is less capable
There’s much to love about the 2024 Honda Pilot, as it’s one of the best midsize SUVs on the market. In many ways, it’s considered more modern than the Toyota 4Runner. However, the Toyota SUV is more capable than the Honda Pilot, which fills a need for many buyers. For starters, all trims of the 2023 and 2024 Toyota 4Runner can tow up to 5000 pounds, but only the upper trims of the Pilot can manage that much.
This is also the case when it comes to ground clearance. The 4Runner offers nine inches, whereas the 2024 Honda Pilot only offers 7.3 inches. Regarding performance, the Honda happens to be a tad bit more powerful with its 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 285 horsepower and has a torque of 262 lb-ft. The 2024 Toyota 4Runner uses a 270 horsepower 4.0-liter V6 that has a torque of 278 lb-ft.
The two midsize SUVs deliver similar acceleration times. However, the Honda Pilot is marginally faster.
Overall, they both have quite a bit for buyers to appreciate. Additionally, the fact that the two are so close in sales means they both offer quality but have something different to offer the market. Only time will tell if the 2024 Toyota 4Runner keeps its slight lead over the Honda Pilot.
