Compare the2025 Honda PilotVS 2024 Acura MDX

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

With its standard Collision Mitigation Braking System, the Honda Pilot is better at preventing collisions with pedestrians than the Acura MDX, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety:

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

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

There are almost 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 17 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Acura With 14 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Honda higher than Acura.

As tested in Motor Trend the Honda Pilot is faster than the Acura MDX V6:

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The MDX requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Pilot higher (7 out of 10) than the Acura MDX (5). This means the Pilot produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the MDX every 15,000 miles.

The Pilot stops much shorter than the MDX:

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 MDX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which has mileage and speed limitations, or roadside assistance and a tow-truck.

For better maneuverability, the Pilot TrailSport’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the MDX’s (37.7 feet vs. 40.5 feet). The Pilot’s turning circle is 2.7 feet tighter than the MDX’s (37.8 feet vs. 40.5 feet).

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 MDX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Pilot TrailSport is quieter than the MDX Type S (66 vs. 68 dB).

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

The Pilot has 19.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the MDX (158.4 vs. 139.1).

The Pilot has 2 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear shoulder room, 3.1 inches more third row headroom, 3.4 inches more third row legroom, 4 inches more third row hip room and 4.3 inches more third row shoulder room than the MDX.

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

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

The power windows standard on both the Pilot and the MDX have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Pilot is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The MDX prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition’s standard rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The MDX has an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

Insurance will cost less for the Pilot owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Pilot will cost $440 less than the MDX 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 MDX only retains 50.63% to 53.63%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Pilot will be $10151 to $23239 less than for the Acura MDX.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Pilot and the Acura MDX, 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 MDX isn’t in the top three.

The Honda Pilot outsold the Acura MDX by almost two to one during 2023.