Compare the2024 Honda PilotVS 2023 Lexus GX

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

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition has a standard Low-Speed Braking Control that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the Pilot uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The GX uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the Pilot and the GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear 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, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

The Honda Pilot achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2024 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The GX has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2024.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Pilot for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the GX (2/24,000 vs. 1/10,000).

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.

As tested in Car and Driver the Honda Pilot is faster than the Lexus GX:

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

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

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Pilot’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The GX doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The GX requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 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 GX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Pilot higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus GX (3). This means the Pilot produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the GX every 15,000 miles.

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

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

The Pilot stops shorter than the GX:

The Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the GX’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition has standard 20-inch wheels. The GX’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

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 GX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For superior ride and handling, the Honda Pilot has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Lexus GX has a solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pilot’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the GX (113.8 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pilot is 4.9 inches wider in the front and 5.2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the GX.

The Pilot TrailSport handles at .85 G’s, while the GX pulls only .74 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Pilot Elite executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the GX (27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.3 seconds @ .58 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Pilot TrailSport’s turning circle is 3.4 feet tighter than the GX’s (37.7 feet vs. 41.1 feet). The Pilot’s turning circle is 3.3 feet tighter than the GX’s (37.8 feet vs. 41.1 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Pilot TrailSport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the GX (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Pilot to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 500 to 1100 pounds less than the Lexus GX.

Unibody construction lowers the Pilot’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The GX doesn’t use unibody construction, but a body-on-frame design.

The front grille of the Pilot uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The GX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Pilot TrailSport is quieter than the GX (39 vs. 43 dB).

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

The Pilot has 28.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the GX (158.4 vs. 129.7).

The Pilot has 2.5 inches more front headroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 6.5 inches more front shoulder room, 6.7 inches more rear legroom, 2.2 inches more rear hip room, 4.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 4.1 inches more third row headroom, 3.2 inches more third row legroom, 1.5 inches more third row hip room and 5 inches more third row shoulder room than the GX.

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

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Pilot easier. The Pilot’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 33.2 inches, while the GX’s liftover is 34.4 inches.

The Pilot’s cargo area is larger than the GX’s in almost every dimension:

The Pilot’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The GX’s swing out door blocks loading from the passenger’s side.

To make loading and unloading groceries and cargo easier, especially for short adults, the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition has a standard power liftgate, which opens and closes automatically by pressing a button, or on the Pilot Elite/Touring/Black Edition, by just kicking your foot under the back bumper, completely leaving your hands free. The GX doesn’t offer a power cargo door.

The Pilot Elite/Black Edition has a standard heads-up display that projects speed, navigation instruction and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The GX doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Pilot’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The GX’s parking brake has to be released manually.

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 GX’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

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

The Pilot’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The GX’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The GX doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Pilot is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The GX doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Insurance will cost less for the Pilot owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pilot will cost $635 less than the GX over a five-year period.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Pilot will be $15383 to $15798 less than for the Lexus GX.

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Pilot third among upper midsize suvs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The GX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Honda Pilot outsold the Lexus GX by over three to one during 2023.