Toyota Highlander vs the 2016 Honda Pilot

OK, so admittedly for the last 13 years I have told you my friends how great the Toyota product line is. It is a great product line, I will never tell you otherwise. I will however let you know I have made the switch to Honda, because I believe it is also a great product that is getting better! I want my customers , clients, and friends to have the BEST product on the market! I believe that in 2015-2016 model year Honda fills that bill.

Lets start with the all new Honda Pilot. In my opinion, the previous generation was ugly, boxy and just not modern enough. Honda has fixed that with the sleek new Pilot. Available in multiple grades starting with the LX, EX, EX-L , Touring and Touring Elite models I am sure there is a combination that will suit all your needs.

In this comparison I am going to compare to what I know. The Toyota Highlander. A redesign in 2014, it has sold well and dealers can not keep them on their lots . Like I said Toyota is a great product. The Highlander also comes in multiple trim levels, the LE, LE plus, XLE, Limited, and Limited Platinum. For this Comparison I am going to pit the top sellers against each other. The Toyota Highlander XLE and the Honda Pilot EX-L.

Head to head the warranties are identical . You get a 3yr 36000 mile Bumper to bumper warranty and a 5yr 60000 mile powertrain warranty. Toyota also gives you service at the Toyota dealership for 2 years or 25k miles. For a comparably equipped SUV you will spend about $1300 more MSRP to MSRP for the Highlander. The service has to come from somewhere right? Also, floor mats are standard on the Honda Pilot, you pay extra for them on the Highlander.

The Pilot produces 280hp at 6000rpm compare to 270hp at 6200 rpm on the Highlander and 262 lb/ft of torque at 4700 compared to 248 lb/ft on the Highlander. It takes less rpm to get more power out of the Pilot and that is reflected in the gas mileage too. Check this out The Pilot gets 18 city mpg/ 26 hwy mpg/ 21 combined compared to Highlander’s 18 city mpg/24hwy mpg/ 20 combined.  Save on the price of the car and on actually using the car. Honda wins 2 out of 2, so far.

Safety is very important to me and Im assuming you as well. Toyota has the “star safety system” which consists of EBD, (electronic brake distribution) ABS, BA,(Brake Assist), VSC,(vehicle stability control) TRAC (traction control) . Honda has ALL these system PLUS the A.C.E. body structure. ACE (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) means that no matter what the front end of the vehicle collides with, Honda has engineered the front end to displace most energy away from the passengers compartment. Toyota offers no such body structure. Honda also puts a camera (lanewatch)on the passenger side that activates with the right turn signal giving the driver better visibility of anything on the right hand side. Toyota offers no such safety.

The Honda Pilot offers 3 cubic feet more of cargo space, and tons more room in the 3rd row. After selling both products I can without a doubt tell you an average adult CAN fit in 3rd row of this generation Pilot. The Highlander’s 3rd row is better for small children.

So there you have it, a head to head from a guy that has sold both. I think the 2015-16 Highlander is a great suv , and if you buy one you will be satisfied, unless you want an SUV that will give you more Power, Room, Safety features, save you gas and Cost you less. If you want one that does all that, come see me at Altoona Honda for a Pilot.

Toyota Finishes Strong and takes sales crown for 2014

Toyota Motor Sales today announced total December sales of 215,057, a 12.7 percent increase from 2013. The strong December brings 2014 sales to 2,373,771, an increase of 6.2 percent.

For 2014, the Toyota division remained the industry’s No. 1 retail brand with sales of 2,062,382, an increase of 5.1 percent. Lexus sales rose 13.7 percent to 311,389. It marked the first year since 2007 Lexus topped the 300,000 mark.

Strong December sales of the new Camry helped it maintain its status as America’s best-selling car for the 13th consecutive year with sales of 428,606. Corolla sales improved in December and for the year, Corolla saw a 12.3 percent spike in sales to 339,498.

“The industry finished last year on a high note thanks to a strong economic tailwind,” said Bill Fay, Toyota Division Group Vice President and General Manager. “That momentum should continue in 2015 and combined with continued strong replacement demand, boost sales further.”

Meanwhile, Lexus posted its best month ever with a 14.7 percent increase to 39,879.

December Highlights

• Sienna sales rose 24.6 percent to 11,688
• RAV4 and Highlander set December records with respective sales of 22,997 and 15,019
• Tacoma sales increased 11.9 percent to 14,284
• Lexus RX sales increased 3.5 percent to 13,625
• The all-new Lexus NX and RC posted respective sales of 2,905 and 1,042
• Lexus IS sales increased 9.7 percent to 5,939
• Lexus GX sales increased 48 percent to 2,700

2014 Highlights

• Corolla regained its status as the best-selling subcompact car
• TMS SUVs set a one-year sales record
• RAV4 sales increased 22.7 percent to 267,698
• 4Runner increased 49 percent to 8,144
• The new Highlander sold 146,127 units, up 14.5 percent
• Lexus IS sets one-year sales record of 51,358, up 46.7 percent
• RX led Lexus with sales of 107,490
• 

2015 Subaru Outback VS 2015 Toyota Venza

Outback returns for 2015 with enhancements throughout, from more cargo room and improved fuel efficiency to new standard front seat-cushion airbags. Still, even with these upgrades and a reputation as a sure-footed wagon, Venza’s advantages in several critical areas are sure to pique shoppers’ interest. To schedule your personal tour of this vehicle go to jeremybrowncarguy.com .

Outback Highlights
Available EyeSight® driver assist technology – includes adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking and lane departure and sway warning functions
Impressive EPA-fuel economy estimates
STARLINKTM app integration
8 standard airbags
Standard All-Wheel Drive

Venza Highlights

CAPABILITY: Venza’s V6 has more horsepower and higher towing capacity4 than Outback 3.6R Limited, all while only 1 MPG less in EPA combined MPG ratings2

PERFORMANCE: According to AMCI, the industry leader in vehicle testing, Venza’s available All Wheel Drive (AWD) with active torque control system matched and even beat Outback’s in their low-traction tests. Plus, Venza V6 models do it in style with modern, bold 20-in. alloy wheels while Outback Limited comes with 18-in. alloys

COMFORT: While Outback has more front head and leg room than Venza, it comes at the expense of the rear passengers. In fact, Outback’s rear seats have close to two inches less head room and almost five inches less leg room than the front seats. Venza’s head room varies by only .3 inches and its leg room by just about an inch, all with more cargo room behind the rear seats, providing balanced space for all occupants and luggage

CONNECTIVITY: While Outback’s STARLINKTM smartphone integration offers some of the same apps as Venza XLE’s Entune® App Suite5, with Entune®, users can book restaurant reservations and even purchase movie tickets, all from Venza’s head unit.

AMENITIES: Venza comes standard with dual-zone automatic climate control and HomeLink® universal transceiver on every grade, where HomeLink® is available for all but Outback’s base grade and automatic climate control is standard on Premium models and up. And Venza XLE and up come standard with navigation and Smart Key6 with push button start, both extra-cost options on Outback that raise its price past Venza XLE’s base MSRP

VALUE: While Outback comes with 3-year/36,000-mile roadside assistance, Venza ups the value factor with ToyotaCare’s8 no-cost factory-scheduled maintenance plan for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first, and adds roadside assistance for two years, unlimited miles. Outback does not offer a no-cost maintenance plan

2015 Ford Explorer vs 2015 Toyota 4runner

A segment veteran, Explorer helped establish the modern SUV market. Moving to unibody construction with this latest generation, Explorer is much more focused on suburban comfort rather than capability. 4Runner, however, remains one of the last body-on-frame SUVs in the market, pairing its legendary off-road capability with upscale amenities and technology. For 2015, a new TRD Pro model takes that off-road capability to the next level.

VALUE: 4Runner comes standard with ToyotaCare, including a no-cost scheduled maintenance plan for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. Plus, 4Runner has added value as a KBB.com 2014 Best Resale Value Top 103 winner while Explorer is not. 4Runner also has a lower 5-year cost of ownership according to IntelliChoice.

PERFORMANCE: Thanks to its body-on-frame construction, 4Runner Limited is sporty and rugged with a standard full-time four-wheel drive system and X-REAS sport enhancement suspension, both of which are unavailable to Explorer. Plus, 4Runner has a higher ground clearance with higher approach and departure angles, helping make for a solid off-road experience.

CONVENIENCE: While 4Runner has a tow hitch and receiver standard, Explorer only has it as an extra cost option. Additionally, 4Runner offers more cargo space than Explorer.

TECHNOLOGY: 4Runner Limited features standard EntuneTM Premium JBL® Audio with Navigation and App Suite, which includes a 6.1-in. touch-screen, integrated apps and data services, and navigation. While Explorer has a standard 8-in. touch-screen, it doesn’t have integrated apps or standard navigation

SAFETY: 4Runner comes with eight standard airbags, including driver and front passenger knee airbags, while Explorer has seven. Also, 4Runner Limited features Safety Connect® with emergency assistance, stolen vehicle locator, roadside assistance and automatic collision notification whereas Explorer only has a post-crash alert system.

For more information check out jeremybrowncarguy.com and fill out the contact me form. Maybe we will take one and try it out!