Compare the2024 Honda PilotVS 2024 Infiniti QX60

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 QX60’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Pilot and the QX60 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, 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, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Honda Pilot is safer than the QX60:

There are over 5 times as many Honda dealers as there are Infiniti 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 QX60.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Infiniti vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 8 places higher in reliability than Infiniti.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Pilot is faster than the Infiniti QX60:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Pilot’s fuel efficiency. The QX60 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 QX60 requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Pilot has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the QX60. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Pilot higher (7 out of 10) than the Infiniti QX60 (5). This means the Pilot produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the QX60 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 nine-speed automatic is available for the QX60.

The Pilot stops shorter than the QX60:

For better traction, the Pilot TrailSport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the QX60 (265/60R18 vs. 255/50R20).

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 QX60; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Pilot TrailSport handles at .81 G’s, while the QX60 Sensory AWD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Pilot TrailSport’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the QX60’s (37.7 feet vs. 38.7 feet). The Pilot’s turning circle is .9 feet tighter than the QX60’s (37.8 feet vs. 38.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Pilot has a greater minimum ground clearance than the QX60 (7.3 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Pilot to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Pilot TrailSport’s minimum ground clearance is 1.6 inches higher than on the QX60 (8.3 vs. 6.7 inches).

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 350 pounds less than the Infiniti QX60.

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 QX60 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 QX60 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Pilot TrailSport is quieter than the QX60 Autograph AWD (66 vs. 67 dB).

The Pilot offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the QX60 can only carry 7.

The Pilot has 17.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the QX60 (158.4 vs. 140.6).

The Pilot has 1.3 inches more front shoulder room, 2.7 inches more rear headroom, 3.1 inches more rear legroom, .7 inches more rear hip room, 2 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.6 inches more third row headroom, 4.5 inches more third row legroom and 3.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the QX60.

The Pilot’s cargo area provides more volume than the QX60.

Consumer Reports rated the Pilot’s headlight performance “Good,” a higher rating than the QX60’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

Insurance will cost less for the Pilot owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pilot will cost $1520 to $3100 less than the QX60 over a five-year period.

The Pilot will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Pilot will retain 55.18% to 56.17% of its original price after five years, while the QX60 only retains 47.06% to 47.83%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Pilot will be $12006 to $16772 less than for the Infiniti QX60.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Pilot and the Infiniti QX60, 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 QX60 isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Honda Pilot outsold the Infiniti QX60 by almost four to one during 2023.