Compare the2023 Honda PilotVS 2023 Cadillac XT6

For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Honda Pilot have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision. The Cadillac XT6 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Honda Pilot has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The XT6 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Pilot’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The XT6 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Pilot’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The XT6 doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Pilot and the XT6 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, 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 around view monitors.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Pilot for 2 years and 24,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Cadillac only pays for the first scheduled maintenance visit on the XT6.

There are over 89 percent more Honda dealers than there are Cadillac 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 20 points higher than the XT6.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Cadillac vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 12 places higher in reliability than Cadillac.

The Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 50 more horsepower (285 vs. 235) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the XT6’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Pilot gets better mileage than the XT6:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The XT6 with the 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) certifies the Honda Pilot as a “Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (SULEV). The Cadillac XT6 is only certified to “Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle” (ULEV) standards.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Pilot, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the XT6.

For better stopping power the Pilot’s brake rotors are larger than those on the XT6:

For better traction, the Pilot has larger standard tires than the XT6 (255/50R20 vs. 235/55R20).

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 XT6’s standard 65 series tires.

The Pilot TrailSport has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the XT6; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pilot’s wheelbase is 1.1 inches longer than on the XT6 (113.8 inches vs. 112.7 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pilot is .9 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the XT6.

For better maneuverability, the Pilot’s turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the XT6’s (37.8 feet vs. 39.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Pilot has a greater minimum ground clearance than the XT6 (7.3 vs. 6.65 inches), allowing the Pilot to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Pilot TrailSport’s minimum ground clearance is 1.65 inches higher than on the XT6 (8.3 vs. 6.65 inches).

The Pilot offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the XT6 can only carry 7.

The Pilot has .7 inches more front headroom, 8.3 inches more front hip room, 3.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear legroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room, 4.3 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.1 inches more third row headroom, 3 inches more third row legroom, 5.1 inches more third row hip room and 6 inches more third row shoulder room than the XT6.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pilot’s middle and third row seats recline. The XT6’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Pilot’s cargo area provides more volume than the XT6.

The Pilot’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the XT6’s (3500 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Pilot’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The XT6’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The Pilot has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The XT6 doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Pilot to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The XT6 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The Pilot TrailSport/Elite has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The XT6 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Honda Pilot outsold the Cadillac XT6 by almost five to one during 2022.