Compare the2024 Mazda CX-90VS 2024 Honda Pilot

The CX-90 Premium has a standard Secondary Collision Reduction System, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Pilot doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the CX-90. But it costs extra on the Pilot.

The CX-90 has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Pilot Sport/EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the CX-90 has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Braking on the Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium automatically engages the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Pilot Sport/EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite offers Cross Traffic Monitor and the Pilot’s Cross Traffic Monitor does not include automatic braking.

Both the CX-90 and the Pilot 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 and available around view monitors.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, daytime pedestrian crash prevention, and nighttime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the CX-90 its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2023, a rating granted to only 67 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Pilot has not been tested, yet.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the CX-90’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Pilot’s camshafts. If the Pilot’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Mazda vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Mazda above average in long-term dependability. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

The CX-90’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 70 lbs.-ft. more torque (332 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The CX-90 PHEV’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid produces 38 more horsepower (323 vs. 285) and 107 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid produces 55 more horsepower (340 vs. 285) and 107 lbs.-ft. more torque (369 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the CX-90 PHEV 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Honda Pilot:

On the EPA test cycle the CX-90 running its gasoline engine gets better mileage than the Pilot:

The CX-90 PHEV can travel with zero emissions for 26 miles. The Pilot can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the CX-90’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Pilot doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The CX-90 Turbo S’ standard fuel tank has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pilot (19.6 vs. 18.5 gallons).

The CX-90’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pilot are solid, not vented.

The CX-90 stops much shorter than the Pilot:

For better traction, the CX-90 has larger standard tires than the Pilot (265/55R19 vs. 255/50R20). The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pilot (275/45R21 vs. 265/60R18).

The CX-90’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pilot LX/EX-L’s standard 60 series tires. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ tires have a lower 45 series profile than the Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the CX-90 has standard 19-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Pilot LX/EX-L. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the CX-90’s wheelbase is 9 inches longer than on the Pilot (122.8 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The CX-90’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (51.7% to 48.3%) than the Pilot’s (55.3% to 44.7%). This gives the CX-90 more stable handling and braking.

The CX-90 Premium Plus handles at .85 G’s, while the Pilot Elite pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The CX-90 Premium Plus executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Pilot TrailSport (27.2 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the CX-90 has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (8 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the CX-90 to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The engine in the CX-90 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pilot. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

The CX-90’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Pilot’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the CX-90 Turbo S has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Pilot doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The CX-90’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite.

The CX-90 Premium Plus has standard front air conditioned seats and the CX-90 Turbo S Premium Plus also has them in the second row. This keeps the passengers comfortable and takes the sting out of hot seats in summer. The Pilot doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats for the second row.

Car and Driver performed a comparison test in its October 2023 issue and they ranked the Mazda CX-90 Premium Plus first. They ranked the Honda Pilot Elite fifth.