8 Cars Like the Honda Pilot: Similar Rides Worth Checking Out
Honda Pilot by Kevauto — CC-BY-SA-4.0
The Honda Pilot is considered by many to be one of the premier midsize SUVs on the market currently. It has gained this reputation with its combination of a roomy interior, smooth ride, polished refinement, and reliability. With the third row down, and especially with the second row down, the Pilot has a cavernous cabin with tons of storage space.
Then with the seats up, you have room for up to seven or eight passengers, even if they’re adults. It is also very safe to drive, with an overall five-star rating and standard features such as frontal collision prevention, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control, plus available upgrades like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
But midsize SUVs are as popular as ever, and if you aren’t interested in the Pilot, there are plenty of other options out there for you. With that in mind, let’s take a look at 8 cars similar to the Honda Pilot.
1. Kia Telluride
Kia already offered the three-row Sorento, and they’ve even given it a facelift recently, but that didn’t make it big enough or strong enough to compete with the Telluride. If you want to focus more on efficiency, the Sorento is a smaller SUV with smaller engine choices, while the Telluride has a bigger cabin for three rows of adults and a bigger engine, capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds like the Honda Pilot.
The interior is refined and features plenty of premium materials in a style that looks sophisticated while still surprisingly rugged. With a good design inside and out, plenty of safety features standard, and an infotainment system to meet anyone’s needs, the Telluride has plenty to offer for those also looking at the Pilot.
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2. Mazda CX-9
The two words that Mazda aims for in all of its vehicles are dynamic and refined. That’s why all of their lineups feature their KODA design language, from their smallest sedans to their largest SUV, the CX-9. The lines flow smoothly from the large grille, along the top and bottom of the windows, and down to the rear windshield in a way that is fuel-efficient and conveys what it was made for: motion. For an SUV of its size, the CX-9 is remarkably nimble and fun to drive, offering snappy acceleration from its turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and responsive handling.
The engine is less impressive when it comes to towing, though, with a maximum rating of only 3,500 pounds. This is also one of the smaller cars in the class, so it won’t be your best option if you regularly need that third row or want to haul plenty of cargo in the trunk. But it is a great option for families who normally need five seats but want the versatility of a third row for your children’s friends or the occasional large group.
3. Subaru Ascent
The Subaru Ascent is one of the most similar cars to the Honda Pilot these days. While it won’t wow anybody with its performance, it is a reliable SUV with a spacious cabin for up to eight adults, tons of cargo space, and tons of standard safety features. While it isn’t designed to go off-roading like a Wrangler or Bronco, you can feel a little more comfortable off the beaten path in an Ascent with its standard all-wheel-drive and 8.7 inches of ground clearance.
If towing is a concern for you, the Ascent offers the same rating of 5,000 pounds that you’ll find on the Pilot. It also comes with a better infotainment system, including standard CarPlay and Android Auto with a touchscreen, features that the Pilot is surprisingly lacking.
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4. Hyundai Palisade
The Palisade is similar to the Pilot but with a bolder, sleeker design on the outside. That may be a turn-off to some, but many will find it refreshing next to the looks of competitors that play it safe.
This more modern sensibility also extends to the interior, where the sleek looks of the Palisade are complemented by a more modern infotainment system, complete with an 8-inch touchscreen standard with wireless Android Auto and CarPlay, as well as five USB ports for charging and connecting all of your devices on the road. But outside of those differences, they are very similar rides. They both offer excellent space for passengers or cargo, respectable V6 engines capable of towing 5,000 pounds, comfortable rides, and excellent safety enhancements.
5. Chevy Traverse
As another midsize SUV with seating for up to eight, the Traverse is an easy alternative to look to if you are interested in the Pilot. The engines are similar enough in efficiency and performance, though the Chevy squeezes an extra thirty horsepower out of its V6. The design of the car still limits the towing capacity to 5,000 pounds, but you’ll probably feel the extra power when you are towing.
The interior isn’t luxurious, but it is spacious enough for plenty of passengers or cargo and comes with impressive tech features standard, including CarPlay and Android Auto, plus three-zone automatic climate control on the base trim. With comparable specs all around and a lower starting price, the Traverse is a great alternative to the Pilot.
6. Dodge Durango
Have you ever thought to yourself, yeah, the Pilot is nice, but what if they made it ridiculously powerful? Well, probably not, but now you’ve read it about the Dodge Durango. At lower trims, the Durango is a roomy, well-equipped SUV with five or seven seats, convenient technology features, and an impressive 6,200 pounds of towing capacity.
But under the hood, the Durango is the same car as the Charger. That means you have one V6 or three V8 engines to choose from, including the 710-horsepower Hellcat engine that can tear down streets at impressive speed when it isn’t utilizing its 8,700 pounds of towing capacity. With prices ranging from a little over $32,000 to $80,000, the Durango can truly fetch some premium prices for its premium features. But even the basic trims and engines should satisfy most drivers.
7. Honda Passport
If you like the Pilot and trust Honda for their reliability but just really don’t need that third row, the Passport is a great option to consider. It offers sportier performance, a nicer ride, and a more upscale interior with improved tech features on the standard trim. Past that, as another Honda SUV, this option is very similar to the Pilot in safety, reliability, and overall look and feel.
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8. Toyota Highlander
When talking about Honda, it’s practically an obligation to mention Toyota. The Highlander is another great 3-row SUV with an excellent record of reliability, safety, and perfectly adequate performance for its class. The third row of the Highlander isn’t as spacious as the Pilot’s, but it is still useful and should be fine, especially for children.
The rest of the cabin has a modern design with quality materials and advanced technology features that make this a strong competitor to anyone considering a Honda Pilot. As is the case with most competitions between Toyota and Honda, you can’t go wrong with either option.
Honorable Mentions
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a long-time player in the midsize SUV segment, offering a mix of comfort, capability, and technology that compares well with the Honda Pilot. It can seat up to seven passengers, providing a roomy interior and sufficient cargo space. The Explorer offers various engine options, including a hybrid powertrain, giving drivers more choices than the Pilot. It also has a higher towing capacity, reaching up to 5,600 pounds when properly equipped.
While it’s not as reliable as the Pilot, the Explorer makes up for it with a more rugged design and better off-road abilities in certain trims.
Nissan Pathfinder
The recently redesigned Nissan Pathfinder has become a notable option in the three-row SUV market. Like the Pilot, it offers seating for up to eight passengers and a comfortable, well-equipped interior. The Pathfinder’s V6 engine delivers power comparable to the Pilot, which can tow up to 6,000 pounds – exceeding the Pilot’s capacity. Nissan’s ProPILOT Assist technology provides advanced driver assistance features, making it an interesting alternative for those prioritizing safety and semi-autonomous driving capabilities.
Though it may lack the Pilot’s established reputation, the Pathfinder’s new design and competitive features make it a worthy consideration for families looking for a versatile and capable SUV.
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