2025 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid

$40,200 · Crossover

$40,075 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant performance discrepancy between the 2025 Honda Pilot and the 2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid lies in fuel economy, with the Tucson achieving 35 combined MPG versus the Pilot's 22 combined MPG—a 13 MPG advantage. Power delivery is slightly skewed toward the Pilot, boasting 285 horsepower against the Tucson's 268 hp, though the Tucson counters with higher torque at 271 lb-ft compared to the Pilot's 262 lb-ft. Pricing is nearly identical, with the Pilot starting at $40,200 and the Tucson at $40,075. However, utility heavily favors the larger Pilot, which measures 199.9 inches long and offers 18.6 cu ft of cargo space, substantially less than the Tucson's 31.9 cu ft available when factoring in its 32-mile electric range for short trips. The Pilot's larger dimensions result in a wider stance at 78.5 inches versus the Tucson's 73.4 inches.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid

The Tucson PHEV wins for commuters due to its superior 35 combined MPG and 32 miles of all-electric range.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Honda Pilot

The Pilot offers a significantly larger physical footprint at 199.9 inches long and a conventional FWD setup that many traditional families prefer.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Honda Pilot

The Pilot provides more peak horsepower at 285 hp, slightly edging out the Tucson's 268 hp.

💰 Best Value

2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid

The Tucson delivers significantly lower operating costs via its hybrid efficiency for a nearly identical MSRP of $40,075.

Choose the Honda Pilot if...

You require the 285 horsepower available from the Pilot's naturally aspirated engine.
Your daily driving necessitates the larger exterior dimensions of 199.9 inches in length for presence or perceived safety.
You prefer the standard FWD layout paired with a robust 10-speed automatic transmission.

Choose the Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid if...

Achieving 35 combined MPG is paramount to your long-term ownership cost strategy.
Your trips often fall under the 32-mile electric range to minimize gasoline consumption.
Maximizing usable interior space, exemplified by 31.9 cu ft of cargo capacity, is a priority.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Honda Pilot	Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid
Length	199.9"	182.7"
Width	78.5"	73.4"
Height	71.0"	66.3"
Wheelbase	113.8"	108.5"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Honda	Hyundai
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	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Honda	Hyundai
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	268 hp
Torque	262 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm	271 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	Hyundai
Transmission Type	10-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Honda	Hyundai
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	19/27 MPG	35/35 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	35 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	351.5/499.5 mi.	388.5/388.5 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.5 gal.	11.1 gal.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	—	80/73 MPGe
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	—	77 MPGe
EPA Electric Driving Range	—	32 mi.
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	—	44
Charging Time (240V)	—	2.0 hr.
DC Fast Charging Port Type	—	SAE J1772

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Honda	Hyundai
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	✓	—
Extended Cabin Cooling	—	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Honda	Hyundai
Infotainment Display	7.0 in	12.3 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Stereo Power	240W	—
Speaker System	7	6
Subwoofer Count	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	Hyundai
One-Touch Power Windows	4	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Honda	Hyundai
Front Head Room	40.5 in.	40.1 in.
Front Leg Room	41.0 in.	41.1 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.9 in.	57.6 in.
Front Hip Room	58.4 in.	54.5 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	—	6-way
Passenger Seat Height Adjustment	—	✓

Rearseats

Feature	Honda	Hyundai
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.8 in.	41.3 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	61.7 in.	56.0 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.4 in.	53.9 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	✓
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	—

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Honda	Hyundai
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	235/60R18
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	—
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	—

Suspension

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

Warranty

Feature	Honda	Hyundai
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.	7 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 24000 mi.	—
Hybrid Component Warranty	—	10 yr./ 100000 mi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Honda Pilot and 2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid.

What is the key performance advantage of the 2025 Honda Pilot over the 2026 Hyundai Tucson PHEV?

The primary performance advantage for the Pilot is its higher peak horsepower rating of 285 hp, compared to the Tucson PHEV's 268 hp. While both utilize shiftable automatics, the Pilot's 10-speed transmission offers more gear ratios than the Tucson's 6-speed unit.

How does the electric-only capability affect the Tucson's value proposition?

The Tucson PHEV offers 32 miles of pure electric range, which drastically reduces gasoline dependency for short commutes, leading to lower operating expenses. This is a fundamental difference as the Pilot offers no electric-only driving capability.

Which vehicle provides superior hauling capacity based strictly on cargo volume?

The 2026 Hyundai Tucson Plug-In Hybrid offers superior stated cargo capacity at 31.9 cu ft, significantly more than the 2025 Honda Pilot's 18.6 cu ft minimum measurement.

Considering fuel type and economy, which is cheaper to run daily?

The Tucson PHEV is demonstrably cheaper to run daily because it achieves 35 combined MPG, vastly outperforming the Pilot's 22 combined MPG rating. Both utilize regular unleaded fuel.

Are the exterior sizes significantly different for parking considerations?

Yes, the Pilot is substantially larger, measuring 199.9 inches long and 78.5 inches wide. The Tucson is more compact at 182.7 inches long and 73.4 inches wide, potentially making it easier to maneuver in tight urban spaces.

Is there a major price difference between these two models?

The MSRPs are virtually identical; the Honda Pilot starts at $40,200, while the Hyundai Tucson PHEV begins at $40,075. The difference in price is negligible compared to the differences in fuel economy and utility.