Compare the2025 GMC AcadiaVS 2025 Honda Pilot

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

© 1999 - 2025Advanta-STAR Automotive Research, all rights reserved. This vehicle comparison and all of the content in it are provided only by license from Advanta-STAR Automotive Research Corporation of America (“Advanta-STAR”). If you are not a legally licensed user of this vehicle comparison, it is against federal law to access it, copy it, forward it, or use it in any manner whatsoever. Any unauthorized use of this vehicle comparison is a violation of U.S. and international law and is punishable criminally and civilly. Removal of this watermark/notification without prior written license and approval received from Advanta-STAR is an agreement, understanding, and/or stipulation by the person(s), entities, agents, attorneys, and any other persons involved in the removal of this watermark/notification (including but not limited to Search Optics, LLC and any and all parent entities, sister entities, and subsidiary entities of Search Optics, LLC and/or any other entity, agent, attorney, and persons related in any manner to Search Optics, LLC) to: 1) an agreed upon amount of liquidated monetary damages of a minimum of $1,250,000.00 US Dollars in favor of Advanta-STAR; 2) the jurisdiction and enforcement of any legal claims associated with this matter asserted by Advanta-STAR in the United States Federal District Court in Portand, Oregon; and 3) service of process of any legal claims asserted by Advanta-STAR associated with this matter may be accomplished by First-Class Postage by the United States Postal Service or comparable service. KTTLP-13TLQ 2a06:98c0:3600::103 2025/07/05

The Acadia has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Pilot doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the GMC Acadia achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Honda Pilot has not been tested.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the GMC Acadia’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system is only offered on some models of the Honda Pilot.

Both the Acadia and Pilot have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Acadia has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Pilot’s Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Acadia and the Pilot have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive, front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Acadia	Pilot
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	165	382
Neck Injury Risk	20.1%	28.9%
Neck Stress	178 lbs.	350 lbs.
Neck Compression	2 lbs.	101 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	32/13 lbs.	178/233 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	234	440
Neck Stress	159 lbs.	232 lbs.
Neck Compression	48 lbs.	98 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	160/266 lbs.	396/388 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the GMC Acadia is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Acadia	Pilot
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	518 lbs.	540 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Acadia’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Pilot’s (6 vs. 5 years).

There are over 55 percent more GMC dealers than there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Acadia’s warranty.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Acadia’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Pilot’s camshafts. If the Pilot’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

Engine

The Acadia’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 43 more horsepower (328 vs. 285) and 64 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Consumer Reports the GMC Acadia is faster than the Honda Pilot:

	Acadia	Pilot
Zero to 60 MPH	7.6 sec	7.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.1 sec	5 sec
Quarter Mile	15.8 sec	16.1 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	93 MPH	90 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Acadia gets better mileage than the Pilot:

			MPG
Acadia
	FWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.5 turbo 4-cyl.	19 city/24 hwy
Pilot
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/27 hwy
	AWD	TrailSport 3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/23 hwy

The Acadia FWD’s standard fuel tank has almost a gallon more fuel capacity than the Pilot (19.4 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Acadia AWD’s standard fuel tank has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pilot (21.7 vs. 18.5 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

The Acadia stops much shorter than the Pilot:

	Acadia	Pilot
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Acadia Denali’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pilot (275/45R22 vs. 265/60R18).

The Acadia Denali’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Acadia Denali offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Pilot’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The GMC Acadia’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Honda Pilot only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Acadia’s wheelbase is 7.1 inches longer than on the Pilot (120.9 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Acadia Denali AWD handles at .81 G’s, while the Pilot Elite pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Acadia Denali AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Pilot TrailSport (27.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

Passenger Space

The Acadia has 2.1 inches more front headroom, 3.3 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, .7 inches more rear legroom, 1 inch more rear hip room, .3 inches more rear shoulder room and 4 inches more third row hip room than the Pilot.

Cargo Capacity

The Acadia’s cargo area provides more volume than the Pilot.

	Acadia	Pilot
Behind Third Seat	23 cubic feet	21.8 cubic feet

Pressing a switch automatically lowers the Acadia Denali’s second row seats and pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Pilot doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

The Acadia’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pilot’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The Acadia uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Pilot uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

Ergonomics

The Acadia’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Pilot does not have an oil pressure gauge.

If the windows are left open on the Acadia the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Pilot can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Acadia’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

The Acadia has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel is only available on the Pilot TrailSport/Elite/Black Edition.

Compared to traditional radio, the GMC Acadia’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the GMC Acadia has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Only the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition offers wireless charging.

The Acadia’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Pilot doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the GMC Acadia and the Honda Pilot, based on reliability, safety and performance.

See Available Inventory