Compare the2024 Mazda CX-90VS 2025 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.

Both the CX-90 and Pilot have rear cross-traffic warning, but the CX-90 Premium Plus/Turbo S Premium has Rear Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Pilot’s Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the CX-90 is much safer than the Pilot:

The Mazda CX-90 has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The Pilot is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

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 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/Black Edition’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 EX-L. The CX-90 Premium/Turbo S’ 21-inch wheels are larger than the 20-inch wheels on the Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

The CX-90 has variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Pilot doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

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.

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the CX-90 easier. The CX-90’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 31 inches, while the Pilot’s liftover is 33.2 inches.

The CX-90 uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Pilot uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

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/Black Edition.

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.