2025 Honda Pilot vs. Competition
It might seem difficult to determine exactly which midsize SUV is the best fit for your growing family. Due to rapid growth in popularity, more and more competitors have joined this crowded field of midsize SUVs in recent years. No matter if you’re searching for innovative technology, a spacious cabin, or capable performance – it’s hard to ignore the fact that midsize SUVs have become a huge hit with drivers all over the country.
To further illustrate why the Honda Pilot remains the benchmark for its class, our team at Germain Honda of College Hills has assembled this in-depth model comparison. You’ll discover exactly how the Pilot performs against two of its top competitors – the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Which one will earn the top spot on our list? Let’s find out!
Honda Pilot vs Kia Telluride
| 2025 Honda Pilot Sport FWD | VS | 2025 Kia Telluride EX FWD |
| $40,200 ✓ | MSRP* (excluding destination charges) | $42,090 |
| 27 ✓ | Highway MPG** | 26 |
| 10 ✓ | Transmission Speeds | 8 |
| 13.8 inches / 13 inches | Brake Rotor Size (front/rear) | 13.4 inches / 12 inches |
| Standard ✓ | Tire Fill Assistant | Not Available |
| 40-20-40 split folding ✓ | Rear Seat Folding | 60-40 split folding |
| 7 ✓ | Number of Speakers | 6 |
| Standard ✓ | Active Noise Cancellation | Not Available |
| 18.9 feet ✓ | Turning Radius | 19.4 feet |
| 38.9 / 31.9 inches ✓ | Third Row Headroom/Legroom | 38.1 / 31.4 inches |
First up to compete against the Honda Pilot is the Kia Telluride. For fairness, we’ve selected equivalent trim levels for both models. Right from the start, the Pilot boasts a significant $1,890 price advantage over the rival Telluride (excluding destination charges)*. The value only grows as we continue down the list of advantages that you’ll enjoy by driving a Honda Pilot.
Although they feature nearly identical performance specs, the Pilot has the edge in terms of highway fuel economy as compared to the Telluride. A large factor in this advantage is its more sophisticated 10-speed automatic transmission. Its standard Tire Fill Assistant, a Pilot-exclusive feature, takes the guesswork out of adding air to your tires by providing a helping hand as you achieve the correct tire pressure. And bigger brakes mean better stopping power, always good to have in a large SUV.
A more versatile 40-20-40 split rear seat means that you have more configuration options when loading cargo into the back of the Pilot. Greater third-row headroom and legroom allow your passengers to stretch out and get comfortable. Rounding out the list of advantages for the Pilot over the Telluride is the fact that its turning radius is half a foot shorter than the Telluride.
Honda Pilot vs Hyundai Palisade
| 2025 Honda Pilot Sport AWD | VS | 2025 Hyundai Palisade SEL AWD |
| $42,300* | MSRP* (excluding destination charges) | $43,850 |
| 10 ✓ | Transmission Speeds | 8 |
| 20 inches ✓ | Wheel Size | 18 inches |
| 8 ✓ | Seating Capacity | 7 |
| 40-20-40 ✓ | Rear Seat Folding | N/A |
| 48.5 cubic feet ✓ | Cargo Space Behind 2nd Row | 45.8 cubic feet |
| 7 ✓ | Number of Speakers | 6 |
| Standard ✓ | Keyfob-Activated Window Controls | Not Available |
| Standard, LED ✓ | Front Fog Lights | Requires Higher Trim |
| Standard ✓ | Active Noise Cancellation | Not Available |
Next up, let’s take a closer look at how the Hyundai Palisade fairs against the dynamic Honda Pilot. The price may be similar, but as we saw before, the more in-depth a look we take at these two, the more the Honda is shown to be a better deal.
Keyfob-activated window controls let you get some fresh air into your Pilot before you step in, a pleasant feature that you won’t find on the Palisade. Lager 20-inch alloy wheels add a handsome compliment to the exterior of the Pilot as well.
Shifting our attention towards the interiors of both models, the Honda Pilot continues to be the better option. Advantages include a greater number of speakers, a 40-20-40 split-folding rear seatback, and a larger seating capacity. More cargo space and standard Active Noise Cancellation are other perks that come from choosing the Pilot. Finally, we have standard LED front fog lights to provide better visibility in low-light conditions.
Winner – Honda Pilot
Now that we’ve counted the final results, the obvious winner of this thorough SUV model comparison is the Honda Pilot. Both the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade are simply unable to match the tremendous innovation, performance, value, and versatility included as standard across the entire Honda Pilot model range. Are you eager to experience all that the Pilot has to offer? Visit us at Germain Honda of College Hills and browse our extensive selection of the latest Pilot models today!
*MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, and $1,450 destination charge for 2025 models, and accessories. Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include $455 charge for premium colors.
**19 city/27 highway/22 combined mpg rating for 2WD trims. 19 city/25 highway/21 combined mpg rating for non-TrailSport AWD trims. 18 city/23 highway/20 combined mpg rating for TrailSport. Based on 2025 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.