Compare the2025 Honda PilotVS 2025 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.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Pilot’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The QX60 doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

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

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:

The Honda Pilot 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 an “Acceptable” 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 QX60 is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024, though it hasn’t yet been rated in the updated moderate overlap frontal test, a requirement for the “Top Safety Pick Plus” award.

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’ 2024 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 6 more problems per 100 vehicles, Infiniti is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Infiniti With 13 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks Honda higher than Infiniti.

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.

The Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 17 more horsepower (285 vs. 268) than the QX60’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

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, which can cost on average about 84.9 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 about 50 to 200 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.

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.

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Pilot, using the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on 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%.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Pilot and the Infiniti QX60, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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