Compare the2022 Honda PilotVS 2022 Acura MDX

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Pilot deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Pilot’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The MDX’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Pilot and the MDX 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 almost 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Pilot’s reliability 17 points higher than the MDX.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda 19th in initial quality. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 23 places higher in reliability than Acura.

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

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

The Pilot has a gallon more fuel capacity than the MDX (19.5 vs. 18.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Pilot stops shorter than the MDX:

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 MDX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For better maneuverability, the Pilot’s turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the MDX’s (39.4 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 250 pounds less than the Acura MDX.

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

The Pilot has 12.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (151.7 vs. 139.1).

The Pilot has 1 inch more front headroom, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.8 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.7 inches more third row headroom, 2.8 inches more third row legroom, 4 inches more third row hip room and 2.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

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

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

The Pilot has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The MDX doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

The Pilot’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The MDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

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