2025 Honda Pilot vs 2026 GMC Acadia
Comparison Overview
The most significant numerical divergence between the 2025 Honda Pilot (car1) and the 2026 GMC Acadia (car2) is the 43 horsepower advantage held by the Acadia, producing 328 hp to the Pilot's 285 hp. This performance gap is reflected in the $43,700 MSRP of the Acadia versus the Pilot's $40,200, a $3,500 entry-level price distinction. While the Acadia offers superior performance metrics, the Pilot maintains a slight edge in efficiency, achieving 22 combined MPG compared to the Acadia's 23 combined MPG, though the Acadia is the one-mpg winner in city driving (20 vs 19 MPG). Furthermore, the Acadia boasts significantly more cargo volume at 23 cu ft versus the Pilot's 18.6 cu ft. Both vehicles feature FWD drivetrains, but the Pilot uses a 10-speed automatic transmission, contrasting with the Acadia's 8-speed unit, despite the Acadia being 4.1 inches longer overall.
Size Comparison
Performance
Fuel Efficiency
Full Specifications
Our Verdicts
2025 Honda Pilot
The 2025 Honda Pilot achieves a marginally better overall fuel economy rating of 22 combined MPG, which translates to lower running costs for daily commuting.
2026 GMC Acadia
The 2026 GMC Acadia provides 23 cu ft of cargo capacity, substantially exceeding the Pilot's 18.6 cu ft, offering more practical space for family gear.
2026 GMC Acadia
The 2026 GMC Acadia delivers 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, offering significantly greater performance output compared to the Pilot's 285 hp and 262 lb-ft.
2025 Honda Pilot
The 2025 Honda Pilot has a $3,500 lower MSRP ($40,200 vs $43,700) while still using regular unleaded fuel, making it the cheaper entry point.
Choose the Honda Pilot if...
- Your priority is minimizing the initial purchase price, as the MSRP is $40,200.
- You prefer the smoother shifting characteristics of a 10-speed automatic transmission.
- You want the slight advantage in highway fuel economy, rated at 27 MPG.
Choose the GMC Acadia if...
- You require maximum utility, demonstrated by its superior 23 cu ft of cargo capacity.
- You prioritize engine power, benefiting from 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque.
- You prefer the stability of a slightly longer vehicle platform, measuring 204.0 inches in length.
Key Dimensions
| Dimension | Honda Pilot | GMC Acadia |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 199.9" | 204.0" |
| Width | 78.5" | 79.6" |
| Height | 71.0" | 71.0" |
| Wheelbase | 113.8" | 120.9" |
Features Comparison
Safety
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 2 |
| Rear Height Adjustable Headrests | ✓ | — |
| Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote) | ✓ | — |
| Engine Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes | — | ✓ |
| Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors | — | ✓ |
| Rear Fixed Headrests | — | ✓ |
Engine
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| Base Engine Displacement | 3.5 L | 2.5 L |
| Number of Cylinders | V6 | inline 4 |
| Base Engine Type | gas | gas |
| Horsepower | 285 hp @ 6100 rpm | 328 hp @ 5500 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm | 326 lb-ft @ 3500 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 | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission Type | 10-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic |
| Drivetrain Type | front wheel drive | front wheel drive |
| Hill Descent Control | ✓ | — |
Fuel
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway) | 19/27 MPG | 20/27 MPG |
| EPA Fuel Economy (Combined) | 22 MPG | 23 MPG |
| EPA Driving Range (City/Highway) | 351.5/499.5 mi. | 0/0 mi. |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 18.5 gal. | — |
Comfort & Convenience
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | ✓ | — |
| Front View Camera | — | ✓ |
| Side View Camera | — | ✓ |
| Rear Parking Sensors | — | ✓ |
| Wireless Charging Pad | — | ✓ |
| Heated Steering Wheel | — | ✓ |
| Three Zone Climate Control | — | ✓ |
| Sun Sensor | — | ✓ |
| Dual Vanity Mirrors | — | ✓ |
| Digital Rearview Mirror | — | ✓ |
| Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors | — | ✓ |
In Car Entertainment
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment Display | 7.0 in | 15.0 in |
| AM/FM Stereo | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stereo Power | 240W | — |
| Speaker System | 7 | 12 |
| Subwoofer Count | 1 | 1 |
| Android Auto (Wired) | ✓ | — |
| Apple CarPlay (Wired) | ✓ | — |
| USB Port | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB Port with External Media Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Speed Sensitive Volume Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Premium Speaker Brand | — | Bose |
| Android Auto (Wireless) | — | ✓ |
| Apple CarPlay (Wireless) | — | ✓ |
| Auxiliary Audio Input | — | ✓ |
| Satellite Radio | — | ✓ |
| Satellite Radio Trial Period | — | 3 months |
Power Feature
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| One-Touch Power Windows | 4 | 4 |
| Keyless Entry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Heated Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
Frontseats
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| Front Head Room | 40.5 in. | 42.6 in. |
| Front Leg Room | 41.0 in. | 44.3 in. |
| Front Shoulder Room | 61.9 in. | 62.0 in. |
| Front Hip Room | 58.4 in. | 59.2 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 |
| Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments | — | 4-way |
Rearseats
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Head Room | 40.2 in. | 40.0 in. |
| Rear Leg Room | 40.8 in. | 41.5 in. |
| Rear Shoulder Room | 61.7 in. | 62.0 in. |
| Rear Hip Room | 57.4 in. | 58.4 in. |
| Split-Folding Rear Seatback | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reclining Rear Seats | ✓ | ✓ |
| Folding Center Armrest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Manual Folding Third Row Seat | ✓ | ✓ |
Tires and Wheels
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel Finish | Painted Alloy | Painted Alloy |
| Wheel Size | 20 x 8.0 in | 18 x 7.5 in |
| Tire Type | All Season | All Season |
| Tire Size | 255/50R | 255/65R18 |
| Spare Tire Type | Temporary | Temporary |
| Spare Tire Location | Underbody Mounted | Underbody Mounted |
Suspension
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| Four-Wheel Independent Suspension | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Stabilizer Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Stabilizer Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
Warranty
| Feature | Honda | GMC |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Warranty | 3 yr./ 36000 mi. | 3 yr./ 36000 mi. |
| Drivetrain Warranty | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
| Corrosion/Rust Warranty | 5 yr./ unlimited mi. | 6 yr./ 100000 mi. |
| Roadside Assistance | 3 yr./ 36000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
| Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance | 2 yr./ 24000 mi. | 1 yr./ unlimited mi. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about comparing the 2025 Honda Pilot and 2026 GMC Acadia.
What is the primary difference in powertrain between the 2025 Pilot and the 2026 Acadia?
The 2026 Acadia features a more powerful engine producing 328 horsepower and utilizes an 8-speed automatic transmission. Conversely, the 2025 Pilot offers 285 horsepower paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
How does the cargo space compare for these two crossovers?
The GMC Acadia leads significantly in storage, offering 23 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Honda Pilot's 18.6 cu ft. This difference equates to over 4 additional cubic feet for gear.
Is one vehicle significantly more fuel-efficient than the other based on official ratings?
The fuel economy figures are closely matched; the Acadia technically wins combined MPG at 23 versus the Pilot's 22. However, both achieve 27 MPG on the highway, while the Acadia gains a 1 MPG advantage in city driving (20 vs 19 MPG).
What is the price gap between the base models of the Pilot and Acadia?
There is a $3,500 difference between the listed MSRPs, with the 2025 Honda Pilot starting at $40,200 and the 2026 GMC Acadia starting at $43,700.
Are the dimensions vastly different between these two FWD crossovers?
Yes, the Acadia is noticeably longer, measuring 204.0 inches compared to the Pilot's 199.9 inches, making it 4.1 inches longer overall. Their heights are identical at 71.0 inches.
Do either of these models require premium fuel?
No, both the 2025 Honda Pilot and the 2026 GMC Acadia are specified to run on regular unleaded fuel, which is beneficial for ongoing operational costs.
More Mid-Range SUVs ($30k-$50k)
View allVehicle Details
Compare More Vehicles
Use our interactive comparison tool to compare up to 4 vehicles at once
Open Comparison Tool