2025 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Acura RDX

$40,200 · Crossover

$45,100 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The 2025 Honda Pilot bursts onto the scene as the powerhouse utility vehicle, flexing 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque from its naturally aspirated engine, offering accessible fun with a starting MSRP of $40,200. Contrast this with the sophisticated 2026 Acura RDX, which sacrifices some peak power (272 hp) for a torque advantage (280 lb-ft) and standard all-wheel drive, wrapped in a more premium package costing $4,900 more. Pilot’s greater footprint—nearly 199.9 inches long—translates to a somewhat compromised 22 MPG combined, whereas the smaller, nimbler RDX achieves 23 MPG combined despite needing premium fuel. While the Pilot offers a cavernous 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, the RDX’s 29.5 cubic feet suggests superior hauling capacity in its class segment, making these two machines cater to distinctly different priorities.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Honda Pilot

The Pilot's lower starting price of $40,200 and use of regular unleaded fuel make the daily grind significantly cheaper.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Honda Pilot

The Pilot’s substantial dimensions (71.0 inches high) likely accommodate larger families needing more overall passenger volume than the RDX.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Honda Pilot

For raw pulling power, the Pilot delivers 13 more peak horsepower (285 hp vs. 272 hp).

💰 Best Value

2025 Honda Pilot

Pilot provides significantly more sheer metal and power output for $4,900 less than the Acura RDX.

Choose the Honda Pilot if...

Maximizing utility and sheer passenger capacity is the absolute priority.
Desiring the highest horsepower figure (285 hp) without stepping into a luxury tier.
Prioritizing lower running costs by sticking to regular unleaded gasoline.

Choose the Acura RDX if...

Valuing standard all-wheel drive capability for varying road conditions.
Preferring a more dynamic, compact chassis that is 12.5 inches shorter than the Pilot.
Seeking the premium driving ambiance and handling reputation associated with Acura.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Honda Pilot	Acura RDX
Length	199.9"	187.4"
Width	78.5"	74.8"
Height	71.0"	65.7"
Wheelbase	113.8"	108.3"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Honda	Acura
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	Acura
Base Engine Displacement	3.5 L	2.0 L
Number of Cylinders	V6	inline 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	285 hp @ 6100 rpm	272 hp @ 6500 rpm
Torque	262 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm	280 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
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	Acura
Transmission Type	10-speed shiftable automatic	10-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	—
[object Object]	—	✓
[object Object]	—	✓

Fuel

Feature	Honda	Acura
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	premium unleaded (recommended)
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	19/27 MPG	21/27 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	23 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	351.5/499.5 mi.	359.1/461.7 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.5 gal.	17.1 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Honda	Acura
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	✓	—
Universal Remote Transmitter	—	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Honda	Acura
Infotainment Display	7.0 in	10.2 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Stereo Power	240W	—
Speaker System	7	9
Subwoofer Count	1	1
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	✓
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Period	—	3 months

Power Feature

Feature	Honda	Acura
One-Touch Power Windows	4	4
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Moonroof Type	—	1st Row Power Glass
Reverse Tilt Passenger Mirror	—	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Honda	Acura
Front Head Room	40.5 in.	40.0 in.
Front Leg Room	41.0 in.	42.0 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.9 in.	60.0 in.
Front Hip Room	58.4 in.	55.0 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	8-way
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓
Passenger Seat Lumbar Support	—	Power

Rearseats

Feature	Honda	Acura
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.8 in.	38.0 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	61.7 in.	57.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.4 in.	50.0 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Honda	Acura
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	Painted Alloy
Wheel Size	20 x 8.0 in	19 x 8.0 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	255/50R	235/55R19
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Inside Mounted

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Honda	Acura
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	6 yr./ 70000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	4 yr./ 50000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 24000 mi.	1 yr./ 12000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Honda Pilot and 2026 Acura RDX.

How does the Pilot's FWD bias compare to the RDX's standard AWD system?

The 2025 Honda Pilot operates primarily with front-wheel drive, focusing on efficient road manners. Conversely, the 2026 Acura RDX includes all-wheel drive as standard, offering better traction and handling dynamics, especially when accelerating or in inclement weather.

Is the extra torque in the RDX noticeable against the Pilot's higher horsepower?

The 2026 Acura RDX boasts 280 lb-ft of torque versus the Pilot's 262 lb-ft, meaning the RDX might feel punchier during initial launches or when carrying heavy loads, even though the Pilot has 285 hp.

What trade-off exists between the Pilot's size and the RDX's cargo capability?

Despite the 2025 Honda Pilot being nearly 200 inches long, the 2026 Acura RDX surprisingly offers significantly more cargo space at 29.5 cu ft compared to the Pilot's 18.6 cu ft, suggesting smarter interior packaging in the smaller Acura.

Why does the RDX recommend premium fuel when its horsepower is lower than the Pilot's?

The RDX's engine calibration, likely involving forced induction to generate its 280 lb-ft of torque, often requires premium unleaded to achieve peak performance and maintain efficiency metrics like 23 MPG combined.