Compare the2022 Honda PilotVS 2021 Genesis GV80

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 GV80’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Pilot and the GV80 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 3 times as many Honda dealers as there are Genesis 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 GV80 have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

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 GV80.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Pilot is faster than the Genesis GV80 turbo 4 cyl.:

On the EPA test cycle the Pilot gets better mileage than the GV80:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Pilot’s fuel efficiency. The GV80 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GV80 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

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 GV80 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 GV80.

The Pilot stops shorter than the GV80:

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 GV80 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 GV80 doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

The Pilot Elite 4WD handles at .83 G’s, while the GV80 Standard AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 450 to 800 pounds less than the Genesis GV80.

The Pilot has standard seating for 8 passengers; the GV80 can only carry up to 7.

The Pilot has 11.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GV80 (151.7 vs. 140).

The Pilot has 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room, 4.6 inches more third row headroom, 1.6 inches more third row legroom and 4.4 inches more third row shoulder room than the GV80.

The Pilot’s cargo area provides more volume than the GV80.

The Pilot has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The GV80 doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

If the windows are left open on the Pilot the driver can close them all at the outside door handle. On a hot day the driver can lower the windows at the outside door handle or from a distance using the keyless remote. The driver of the GV80 can only operate the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

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 GV80’s headlights are rated “Acceptable.”

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