The 2025 Honda Pilot rolls into another model year perched near the top of our ranking for Best Midsize SUVs. What makes the Pilot such a compelling pick in this competitive segment?
To start, it’s easy to maneuver, has a cavernous interior, and comes with a great record for dependability and resale value. It even looks tougher than it did before before its makeover last year. Honda gave this generation of the Pilot a blockier, more traditional SUV-like design.
The GMC Acadia is also a year removed from a revamp. From its expansive infotainment screen to the turbo 4-cylinder engine under the hood, the 2025 Acadia is bigger and rides on a wheelbase that’s more than 10 inches longer than the old model. This is a boon for carving out extra space in all three rows.
Let’s browse highlights of the Honda Pilot and GMC Acadia.
2025 Honda Pilot
For the 2025 model year, Honda revised the Pilot’s trim structure. The base LX is no more. So now the six trims are: Sport, EX-L, Touring, TrailSport, Elite, and the new range-topping Black Edition. Pricing ranges from $41,595 for the Sport upward to $55,975 for the Black Edition. Honda shoppers can choose front- or all-wheel drive (AWD) on most trims. All-wheel drive comes standard on the rugged TrailSport, Elite, and upscale Black Edition.
Standard features include wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, four USB ports, ambient interior lighting, and cloth upholstery. The Pilot also benefits from several standard driver aids, such as adaptive cruise control, a driver attention monitor, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure warning.
Honda Pilot Highlights
Walk Away Close: This is ideal for those times when you have lots of stuff to carry and not enough arms for everything. The Walk Away Close power-operated tailgate gives the person with the key fob 30 seconds before it beeps and automatically shuts the rear hatch. Don’t worry; your head won’t get bumped. The system kicks into action only when it senses the key fob is more than three feet from the vehicle.
Cupholders for everyone: Honda engineers must be a thirsty bunch. How else can we explain the fact there are 14 cupholders throughout the 7- to 8-passenger cabin? Many of them are also capable of holding a 32-ounce bottle.
TrailSport model: This adds go-anywhere fun to the Pilot lineup. The TrailSport comes with all-terrain tires, a full-size spare, stronger suspension settings, underbody skid plates, and a surround-view camera. It also comes with second-row captain’s chairs, making accessing the third row easier.
Removable seat: The Honda Pilot Touring and Elite models have a nifty feature that adds more seating, extra storage, or greater space for those in the second row. A removable seat that doubles as a handy console is positioned between the dual second-row captain’s chairs. It can also be stowed in an underfloor compartment tucked in the cargo area.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Pilot models for sale near you.
2025 GMC Acadia
The GMC Acadia gets a total reboot in line with its mechanical sibling, the Chevrolet Traverse. Gone is the previous model’s V6 engine, and in its place is a 328-horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder mated to an 8-speed automatic with a choice of front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive. Despite having two fewer cylinders, this powertrain has 18 more horsepower than the outgoing V6.
There are three trims — Elevation, AT4, and Denali — and pricing starts at $44,295 for the base model. Spring for the luxurious Denali, and the price will jump to $55,295. All prices include destination fees.
GMC Acadia Highlights
Super Cruise: This hands-free highway driving aid is a fantastic addition to the Acadia lineup. Super Cruise allows a driver to take their hands off the wheel and feet off the pedals — a camera system monitors the driver to ensure they’re looking ahead and still paying attention. It’s programmed to work on more than 400,000 miles of approved divided highways stretching across North America. Hands-free driving is unavailable in the Honda Pilot.
15-inch touchscreen: The largest available touchscreen in the Pilot measures nine inches. Well, move over Honda because every Acadia is outfitted with a 15-inch touchscreen that’s complemented by an 11-inch digital gauge cluster. This imparts a high-tech look and feel to the GMC.
Rugged AT4 trim: Need to venture off-road with lots of people and all their assorted stuff? The Acadia AT4 comes standard with all-wheel drive and is equipped with all-terrain tires, extra ride height, and a stronger suspension.
Posh Denali model: There’s the Denali trim for those who prefer white glove treatment to mud-splattered adventuring. As the top-of-the-line model, it comes loaded with goodies like perforated leather seating, heated and ventilated front seats, a head-up instrument display, and available 22-inch alloy wheels.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Acadia models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Honda Pilot and GMC Acadia are still basking in the afterglow of recent remakes. The 3-row SUVs have the space shoppers want and the added grip of optional all-wheel drive.
Pricing
New 2025 Honda Pilot Prices
New 2025 GMC Acadia Prices
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors.
The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Honda Pilot vehicles and New 2025 GMC Acadia vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership.
These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
Specifications
| 2025 Honda Pilot | 2025 GMC Acadia | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.5-liter V6 | Turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 285 hp @ 6,100 rpm | 328 hp @ 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm | 326 lb-ft @ 3,500 rpm |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 8-speed automatic |
| Fuel economy MPG | 19 city/27 highway/22 combined | 20 city/27 highway/23 combined |
| Also Available | AWD | AWD |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 8 | 7 |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 inches | 120.9 inches |
| Overall Length | 199.9 inches | 203.9 inches |
| Width | 78.5 inches | 79.5 inches |
| Height | 71.0 inches | 70.9 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 37.8 feet | 39 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 40.5 inches | 42.6 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.2 inches | 40.0 inches |
| Headroom, 3rd Row | 39.3 inches | 38.2 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 41.0 inches | 44.2 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 40.8 inches | 41.3 inches |
| Legroom, 3rd Row | 32.5 inches | 32.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 61.9 inches | 62.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 61.7 inches | 62.0 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 3rd Row | 59.5 inches | 57.9 inches |
| Cargo Volume | 18.6 cubic feet | 23.0 cubic feet |
Conclusion
These two SUVs are equally worthy of a test drive. They’ve benefited from recent makeovers that have added more tech, extra safety equipment, greater off-road capability, and improved storage solutions. For some, the lower entry price of the Honda Pilot could be the deciding factor. However, this price gap narrows when comparing their most well-appointed trims. GMC should be applauded for ramping up the prestige and performance of the Acadia. The stretch in wheelbase makes the third-row seating vastly more comfortable, and cargo space behind these seats is 80% greater than the previous iteration.
Is it a little more expensive than the Honda Pilot? Generally speaking, the GMC will likely ask for more from your wallet. But could the extra outlay be worth it for that powerful turbo 4-cylinder, classy cabin with large screens, and available Super Cruise? We’d call that money well spent.