2025 Honda Pilot vs 2025 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

$40,200 · Crossover

$34,490 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2025 Honda Pilot roars into view as the undisputed powerhouse, boasting a commanding 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, making it the choice for raw capability. Conversely, the 2025 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid captivates with its groundbreaking efficiency, achieving a remarkable 48 combined MPG thanks to its hybrid system and 33 miles of electric-only range. While the Pilot offers substantial size at 199.9 inches long, the Niro balances smaller dimensions with practicality, featuring a slightly larger 19.4 cu ft cargo hold compared to the Pilot's 18.6 cu ft. The upfront cost difference is substantial, with the Pilot commanding an MSRP of $40,200 against the Niro's $34,490. This dynamic pits proven V6 muscle against PHEV economic wizardry, forcing buyers to weigh the thrilling 105 hp advantage of the Pilot against the Niro's superior fuel economy.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

The Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid wins for commuters due to its exceptional 48 combined MPG and the ability to cover 33 miles purely on electricity.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is superior for families, offering greater interior volume via its larger 199.9-inch length and more potent 285 hp engine for highway passing.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Honda Pilot

Automotive enthusiasts demanding superior acceleration and output will prefer the Pilot's robust 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque.

💰 Best Value

2025 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid

The Kia Niro offers superior value by saving $5,710 upfront and delivering significantly lower running costs with its higher MPG rating.

Choose the Honda Pilot if...

You require maximum power output, evidenced by the 285 hp engine.
You value traditional driving dynamics coupled with a robust 10-speed automatic transmission.
You need the larger exterior footprint and taller stature (71.0 inches) for perceived road presence.

Choose the Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid if...

Your budget is capped below $35,000, given the $34,490 starting MSRP.
Your driving heavily favors electric power, benefiting from the 33-mile electric range.
Fuel efficiency is paramount, as demonstrated by the 26 MPG advantage over the Pilot (48 vs 22 combined).

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Honda Pilot	Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid
Length	199.9"	174.0"
Width	78.5"	71.8"
Height	71.0"	60.8"
Wheelbase	113.8"	107.1"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Honda	Kia
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	✓
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	—
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	—
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	3
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	✓
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Honda	Kia
Base Engine Displacement	3.5 L	1.6 L
Number of Cylinders	V6	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	plug-in hybrid
Horsepower	285 hp @ 6100 rpm	180 hp
Torque	262 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm	195 lb-ft
Number of Valves	24	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Cylinder Deactivation	✓	—

Drive Train

Feature	Honda	Kia
Transmission Type	10-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed automated manual
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	front wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓

Fuel

Feature	Honda	Kia
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	19/27 MPG	49/47 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	48 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	351.5/499.5 mi.	480.2/460.6 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.5 gal.	9.8 gal.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	—	113/102 MPGe
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	—	108 MPGe
EPA Electric Driving Range	—	33 mi.
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	—	31
Charging Time (240V)	—	2.8 hr.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	—	SAE J1772

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Honda	Kia
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	—
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	—
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Power Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	—
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	—
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	✓
Rear Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	✓
Interior Air Filtration	✓	—
Driver Vanity Mirror	✓	—
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Leatherette Steering Wheel	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Honda	Kia
Infotainment Display	7.0 in	10.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Stereo Power	240W	—
Speaker System	7	6
Subwoofer Count	1	1
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	✓
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—
Satellite Radio	—	With Real Time Traffic
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Honda	Kia
One-Touch Power Windows	4	1
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Honda	Kia
Front Head Room	40.5 in.	40.5 in.
Front Leg Room	41.0 in.	41.5 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.9 in.	56.2 in.
Front Hip Room	58.4 in.	53.3 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	Power
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	4-way	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Seat Material: Leatherette/Cloth	—	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Honda	Kia
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.8 in.	39.8 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	61.7 in.	55.4 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.4 in.	53.0 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Honda	Kia
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	20 x 8.0 in	16 x 6.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	255/50R	P205/60R H
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	—
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	—

Suspension

Feature	Honda	Kia
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	—
Stabilizer Bar	—	✓

Warranty

Feature	Honda	Kia
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ 100000 mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 24000 mi.	—
EV Battery Warranty	—	10 yr./ 100000 mi.
Hybrid Component Warranty	—	10 yr./ 100000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Honda Pilot and 2025 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid.

How much larger is the 2025 Honda Pilot compared to the 2025 Kia Niro PHEV?

The Honda Pilot is substantially larger, measuring 199.9 inches in length versus the Niro's 174.0 inches, resulting in a difference of nearly 26 inches externally. While their cargo capacities are surprisingly close (18.6 vs 19.4 cu ft), the Pilot's greater width and height offer a more spacious cabin feel.

Is the performance difference between these two crossovers significant?

Yes, the performance gap is vast; the Pilot generates 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, creating a 105 hp advantage over the Niro's 180 hp rating. This power difference translates directly into faster acceleration and more effortless highway merging for the Pilot.

Can the Kia Niro PHEV handle my daily 40-mile commute without using much gasoline?

The Niro PHEV is perfectly suited for this, as its 33 miles of electric range covers the bulk of the round trip. You would only rely on gasoline for the remaining 7 miles, maximizing the benefit of its superior fuel economy.

Which vehicle uses a more traditional transmission setup?

The Honda Pilot utilizes a conventional 10-speed shiftable automatic transmission, which often provides a smoother, more immediate shift feel. The Kia Niro employs a 6-speed automated manual, which behaves differently depending on whether the system prioritizes EV driving or gasoline combustion.

What is the initial cost savings when choosing the Niro over the Pilot?

Choosing the 2025 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid offers an immediate saving of $5,710 at the starting MSRP level ($34,490 vs $40,200). This upfront saving, combined with superior fuel economy, makes the Niro far more appealing financially.

Do both crossovers require premium fuel?

Fortunately, both the 2025 Honda Pilot and the 2025 Kia Niro Plug-In Hybrid are designed to run on regular unleaded fuel, reducing overall ownership costs for both models.