SUV Showdown: The 2025 GMC Acadia vs The 2025 Honda Pilot

SUVs are the most popular vehicles among drivers everywhere. They offer comfortable seating, spacious cargo, and plentiful safety features that many families enjoy. Among the many makes and models available to drivers everywhere, the GMC Acadia and Honda Pilot are favored by many. But which is the better buy? A GMC Acadia for sale offers luxury, performance, and practicality. Likewise, the Honda Pilot is pragmatic and versatile.

Today, we’re examining both vehicles to determine the better option. We will look at topics such as performance, infotainment, the interior, and even go over some practical features that all SUV owners seek in what they drive. The Acadia and Pilot both offer three rows of seating and are highly capable on and off the road.

SUV owners are a broad demographic. Some prefer performance and capability, while others enjoy practicality and safety. We hope that once you’ve read this, you’ll better understand the vehicle that best suits your needs.

Performance

Any SUV with three rows of seating requires a capable powertrain to get it around town and facilitate weekend getaways. Older three-row models were known for having engines that offered a lot of performance, but were less than ideal for fuel economy. The 2025 Acadia and 2025 Pilot both have engines that offer economical performance. Both SUVs also have one powertrain that’s standard across all trims.

The Honda Pilot has a 3.5L V6 that produces 286 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The V6 is paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. These specs are decent, but the Acadia does more with less. GMC’s SUV has a turbocharged 2.5L four-cylinder that pairs with an eight-speed automatic. The four-cylinder overpowers Honda’s V6 by producing 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque. Both SUVs have trims with standard FWD and available AWD, with off-road-ready options with AWD as the sole drivetrain. Both SUVs can also pull 5,000 lbs when properly equipped.

Both SUVs offer remarkable fuel economy for their size. FWD versions of the Honda Pilot can achieve 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway for a combined 22 MPG. The GMC Acadia is more efficient with its consumption, with FWD versions achieving 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway for a combined 23 MPG. The difference might seem minimal, but every mile counts regarding fuel economy.

The Acadia and Pilot both offer favorable fuel economy and towing capability in the segment. However, GMC’s powertrain outperforms Honda’s.

Connectivity

When choosing a vehicle, the modern SUV driver looks for much more than a capable powertrain. In a world that’s growing increasingly digital, having connectivity to apps and other technologies is just as important. These features are accessed through a vehicle’s infotainment screen. The 2025 Acadia and 2025 Pilot have setups that keep drivers connected, but their qualities and capabilities differ.

The 2025 Honda Pilot’s base trim has a seven-inch infotainment screen, while all other trims have a nine-inch setup. All versions except the base feature wireless connectivity with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, and the ability to stream audio via Bluetooth. Features such as navigation are restricted to the upper trims.

GMC’s long-standing reputation for refinement and sophistication is fully displayed with its infotainment system. All trims of the 2025 Acadia have a 15-inch screen and feature wireless connectivity with Apple and Android, an advanced voice recognition system, and wireless charging. The biggest advantage of the Acadia’s screen is the inclusion of Google. Drivers can access music, maps, and personal profiles through the world’s most advanced search engine.

Some drivers consider having a proper stereo system as important as staying connected. The 2025 Honda Pilot has multiple systems available, but they’re based on trim. The systems range from a 240-watt seven-speaker setup to a nine-speaker stereo on upper trim levels, and finally, a Bose system includes 12 speakers. The high-end Bose system is limited to the top trims. GMC also offers a 12-speaker setup complete with a subwoofer, which can be found standard across all versions of the Acadia. For drivers who are also serious audiophiles, the Denali trim of the Acadia has an available 16-speaker setup that’s far more advanced than anything Honda offers.

Both the 2025 Pilot and 2025 Acadia offer drivers a means to stay connected. However, the Acadia offers a more immersive and advanced infotainment experience that’s standard across all versions. With better accessibility to connectivity and entertainment, the Acadia outshines the Pilot.

Interior and Practicality

Many things have changed about the SUV class since its inception. One thing that’s remained consistent is the practical seating and storage items that many SUV owners look for. The 2025 GMC Acadia and 2025 Honda Pilot offer seating arrangements for seven to eight passengers and ample cargo room when storage becomes necessary. Practicality and comfort are important, and we’ll focus on them next.

Many three-row SUVs feature second-row captain’s chairs for heightened luxury. All Honda Pilot trims, except the TrailSport, have a second-row bench seat that allows eight people to sit comfortably. The 2025 Acadia has the opposite design, with the Elevation being the only trim that offers captain’s chairs as an available feature rather than standard. The Acadia and Pilot have heated front seats and tri-zone climate control to ensure comfort for passengers and drivers.

Sure, the Acadia’s seating arrangements are far more sophisticated than the Pilot’s, but what about the cargo room? When all three rows are occupied, the 2025 Pilot has up to 18.6 cu.ft. of storage, considerably less than the Acadia’s 23 cu.ft. of space behind the third row. Removing the third row increases the Pilot’s space to 48.5, which is still less than the Acadia’s 57.3 cu.ft of cargo volume. If storage is a priority, the Pilot can still hold 87 cu.ft. of cargo behind the front row. However, this is still dwarfed by the 2025 GMC Acadia’s maximum available room of 97.5 cu.ft.

In addition to providing a more refined experience with captain’s chairs across more trims, the Acadia’s interior is far more practical. Storage space has always been a hallmark of the SUV. Whether you’re going to the grocery store or moving furniture, the 2025 Acadia is a far more capable vehicle than the 2025 Honda Pilot.

Our Final Verdict: The 2025 GMC Acadia is the Ideal SUV

The SUV class is the most competitive in the industry. The contest between the 2025 GMC Acadia and the 2025 Honda Pilot was certainly close. However, it’s easy to see why GMC’s vehicles stand out from all the others. Its dedication to performance and sophistication can be seen in every aspect of the Acadia.

The 2025 Acadia offers more performance than the 2025 Pilot, making it ideal for adventurers, families, and commuters. Better fuel economy means going further between fill-ups. A more immersive infotainment screen with access to better technologies ensures connectivity wherever your travels might take you. The Acadia also provides better access to a stereo system that all audiophiles can enjoy.

Behind the wheel, the Acadia offers a more luxurious feeling, thanks to more trims offering second-row captain’s chairs. The SUV class has always been popular among pragmatic drivers, but the increased storage space of the Acadia makes it a far more practical choice. Across the board, the 2025 GMC Acadia outdoes the 2025 Honda Pilot in every category. You can test drive one at Vermilion GMC today and experience its greatness firsthand.