Compare the2025 Honda PilotVS 2025 GMC Acadia

The Honda Pilot has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Acadia doesn’t offer knee airbags.

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

Both the Pilot and the Acadia have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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.

The Honda Pilot achieved a “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the 2025 model year. This recognition was based on its impressive performance in the small overlap frontal crash test, updated moderate overlap front crash test, updated side impact crash test, headlight evaluations, and pedestrian crash prevention testing. The Acadia has not yet been evaluated by the IIHS for 2025.

The Pilot’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Acadia’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

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 11 points higher than the Acadia.

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 GMC vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 20 more problems per 100 vehicles, GMC is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than GMC vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda fourth in overall reliability. GMC is ranked 20th.

On the EPA test cycle the Pilot 4WD gets better fuel mileage than the Acadia AWD (19 city/25 hwy vs. 19 city/24 hwy).

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 Acadia. 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 GMC Acadia (5). This means the Pilot produces up to 8 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Acadia 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 an eight-speed automatic is available for the Acadia.

For better stopping power the Pilot’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Acadia:

The Pilot stops shorter than the Acadia:

The Pilot EX-L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Acadia AT4’s standard 65 series tires.

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

For better maneuverability, the Pilot’s turning circle is tighter than the Acadia’s:

For greater off-road capability the Pilot has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Acadia Elevation (7.3 vs. 6.8 inches), allowing the Pilot to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Pilot TrailSport’s minimum ground clearance is .5 inch higher than on the Acadia AT4 (8.3 vs. 7.8 inches).

The Pilot is 4.1 inches shorter than the Acadia, making the Pilot easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Pilot has .2 inches more rear headroom, 1.1 inches more third row headroom, .4 inches more third row legroom and 1.6 inches more third row shoulder room than the Acadia.

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

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

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than GMC. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With an 8% lower rating, GMC is ranked 15th.

The Pilot’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Acadia’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Pilot to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Acadia doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition is put in reverse, both rearview mirrors tilt from their original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirrors into their original positions. The Acadia’s mirrors don’t automatically adjust for backing.

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

The Honda Pilot outsold the GMC Acadia by almost three to one during 2024.