2025 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

$40,200 · Crossover

$40,490 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The most significant difference between the 2025 Honda Pilot and the 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid is fuel economy, with the Kia achieving a 36 MPG combined rating versus the Honda's 22 MPG combined, a 14 MPG disparity. Power output shows the Pilot leading in raw horsepower at 285 hp compared to the Kia's 268 hp, although the Kia generates more torque at 271 lb-ft versus the Pilot's 262 lb-ft. The Pilot offers a significantly larger footprint (199.9 inches long) than the Sportage (184.4 inches long), correlating directly to cargo space where the Kia dramatically wins, offering 34.5 cu ft compared to the Pilot's 18.6 cu ft in standard configuration. Pricing is comparable, with the Pilot starting at $40,200 and the Sportage PHEV at $40,490. The AWD Sportage also provides a 33-mile electric range advantage for short urban trips.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV wins for commuters due to its superior 36 MPG combined rating and 33 miles of all-electric range.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Honda Pilot

The 2025 Honda Pilot is superior for families due to its substantially larger overall dimensions (199.9 inches long) which typically translates to superior passenger and cargo volume flexibility.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Honda Pilot

The 2025 Honda Pilot appeals more to driving enthusiasts with its higher peak output of 285 hp and standard 10-speed automatic transmission.

💰 Best Value

2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid

The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV offers better operational value with a 14 MPG advantage and electric driving capability for a nearly identical MSRP of $40,490.

Choose the Honda Pilot if...

Maximum interior space and overall vehicle size (199.9 inches in length) are the primary purchase drivers.
A preference exists for the higher gasoline-only horsepower figure of 285 hp.
A conventional, FWD-biased setup with a 10-speed automatic transmission is desired over a hybrid powertrain.

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

Superior fuel efficiency is paramount, evidenced by the 36 MPG combined rating.
Short daily trips can be covered using the vehicle's 33 miles of pure electric range.
More practical standard cargo space (34.5 cu ft) is needed despite the smaller exterior length.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Honda Pilot	Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid
Length	199.9"	184.4"
Width	78.5"	73.4"
Height	71.0"	66.9"
Wheelbase	113.8"	108.5"

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	✓	✓
Dual Rear Side-Mounted Airbags	—	✓
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	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	Kia
Transmission Type	10-speed shiftable automatic	6-speed shiftable automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓
Center Differential Type	—	Locking

Fuel

Feature	Honda	Kia
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	19/27 MPG	35/36 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	36 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	351.5/499.5 mi.	388.5/399.6 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.5 gal.	11.1 gal.
EPA Efficiency (City/Highway MPGe)	—	87/78 MPGe
EPA Efficiency (Combined MPGe)	—	83 MPGe
EPA Electric Driving Range	—	33 mi.
EPA Energy Consumption (kWh/100 mi)	—	43
Charging Time (240V)	—	2.0 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	✓	—
Front Parking Sensors	—	✓
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Wireless Charging Pad	—	✓
Extended Cabin Heating/Cooling	—	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Honda	Kia
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	Kia
One-Touch Power Windows	4	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓
Moonroof Type	—	1st Row Power Glass Extended

Frontseats

Feature	Honda	Kia
Front Head Room	40.5 in.	39.6 in.
Front Leg Room	41.0 in.	41.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.9 in.	57.5 in.
Front Hip Room	58.4 in.	54.8 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	—	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Honda	Kia
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	39.1 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.8 in.	39.5 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	61.7 in.	55.6 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.4 in.	53.4 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	19 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	255/50R	235/55R19
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	—
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	—

Suspension

Feature	Honda	Kia
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear 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 2026 Kia Sportage Plug-In Hybrid.

How much does the Pilot's larger size translate to in terms of practical cargo space?

The 2025 Honda Pilot measures 199.9 inches in length but only provides 18.6 cu ft of measured cargo capacity. Conversely, the shorter 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV (184.4 inches) manages a significantly higher 34.5 cu ft.

Which vehicle offers better acceleration characteristics based on torque figures?

The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV technically offers superior peak torque at 271 lb-ft compared to the Honda Pilot’s 262 lb-ft. However, the Pilot has higher horsepower (285 hp vs. 268 hp), suggesting stronger top-end performance.

What is the difference in required fuel type between these two crossovers?

Both vehicles are specified to run on regular unleaded gasoline. The critical difference lies in utilization: the Kia PHEV uses electricity first, returning 36 MPG combined, while the Pilot relies solely on gasoline, achieving 22 MPG combined.

Comparing the base drivetrains, does the Kia offer superior traction from the factory?

Yes, the 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV comes standard with All-Wheel Drive (AWD). The 2025 Honda Pilot base model listed utilizes Front Wheel Drive (FWD).

Is the lower starting MSRP of the Honda Pilot a significant advantage?

The Honda Pilot starts at $40,200, which is $290 less than the Sportage PHEV's $40,490 MSRP. This small difference is largely offset by the significant annual fuel savings potential offered by the Kia’s hybrid system.

How do the transmission types differ between the two vehicles?

The 2025 Honda Pilot utilizes a more complex 10-speed shiftable automatic transmission. The 2026 Kia Sportage PHEV employs a 6-speed shiftable automatic transmission, aligned with its hybrid powertrain configuration.