Compare the2022 Honda PilotVS 2021 Lexus RXL

Both the Pilot and the RXL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front 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 and rear parking sensors.

There are over 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

The engine in the Pilot has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the RXL have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Pilot is faster than the RX 350L 3.5 DOHC V6:

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

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Pilot’s fuel efficiency. The RXL doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Pilot and the RXL Hybrid have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All Pilots have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 450hL requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Pilot has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (19.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Pilot has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The RXL doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Pilot, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RXL.

The Pilot stops much shorter than the RXL:

For better traction, the Pilot has larger tires than the RXL (245/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

The Pilot EX-L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RXL’s standard 65 series tires. The Pilot SE/Touring/Elite/Black Edition’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the RXL’s optional 55 series tires.

The Pilot has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The RXL doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Pilot (except LX)’s optional drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The RXL doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pilot’s wheelbase is 1.2 inches longer than on the RXL (111 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Pilot is 1.9 inches wider in the front and 2.3 inches wider in the rear than on the RXL.

The Pilot Elite 4WD handles at .83 G’s, while the RX 350L AWD pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Pilot Elite 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the RX 350L (27.5 seconds @ .63 average G’s vs. 28.5 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 600 pounds less than the Lexus RXL.

The Pilot uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RXL doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Pilot has standard seating for 8 passengers; the RXL can only carry 7.

The Pilot has 34.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RXL (151.7 vs. 117).

The Pilot has 3.3 inches more front hip room, 3.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 7.5 inches more rear legroom, 1.5 inches more rear hip room, 4.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 4.1 inches more third row headroom, 8.4 inches more third row legroom, .8 inches more third row hip room and 11.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the RXL.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pilot’s middle and third row seats recline. The RXL’s third row seats don’t recline.

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

The Pilot’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds).

The Pilot’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RXL’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Pilot’s headlights were rated “Good” to “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the RXL’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Insurance will cost less for the Pilot owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pilot will cost $1520 to $5945 less than the RXL over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Pilot is less expensive to operate than the RXL because it costs $382 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Pilot than the RXL, including $615 less for a water pump, $49 less for a muffler, $65 less for front brake pads, $241 less for a starter, $30 less for fuel injection, $1610 less for a timing belt/chain and $1463 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Pilot will be $11463 to $12292 less than for the Lexus RXL.

The Honda Pilot has won recognition from these important consumer publications: