Honda Pilot Vs. Acura MDX: 5 Key Differences

Practicality and value, or performance and luxury?

There’s a price difference of over $10,000 between the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX, yet these are both midsize, three-row crossovers that share a platform. Of course, the MDX is the more upscale version of the two, but can it justify a much higher starting price over the Pilot, which entered a new generation for the 2023 model year?

Here, we’ll look at five major differences between the 2025 Pilot and 2026 MDX, helping you decide whether the Acura option is worth the extra money or not.

Related: 2026 Honda Passport Vs. 2025 Honda Pilot: 5 Major Differences

1. Pilot Leads in Seating and Cargo Capacity

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Longer by over an inch and up to 4.2 inches taller, the Honda Pilot is a larger vehicle, and that shows inside. It’s possible to seat up to eight people in the Pilot, whereas the MDX can only seat up to seven. Passengers will generally be happier in the Pilot, at least in terms of space, as it has 32.5 inches of third-row legroom to the MDX’s tight 29.1 inches. There’s also more second-row legroom in the Pilot, and it has more headroom than the MDX across all rows.

Cargo space tells a similar story. When their seats are in the optimal position, the Pilot has more space. The figures below represent the maximum space available, which may differ by trim level.

If your family doesn’t know how to pack lightly for road trips, the Pilot is easily a better option. 

2. MDX is More Powerful

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The advantage shifts to the MDX if you want an SUV with some performance and driving excitement. Both models have a 3.5-liter V6 engine equipped as standard, but whereas the Pilot produces 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, the MDX beats that with figures of 290 hp/267 lb-ft. This, combined with the fact that the MDX is a bit lighter, makes the Acura a few tenths quicker to 60 mph.

Both have standard front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive, and both also get a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

The MDX is also available in Type S form. This model has a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 with 355 hp and 354 lb-ft, which takes the 0-60 sprint down to around 5.5 seconds. With rev-matching downshifts and Brembo brakes, this particular MDX is more fun to drive than the average crossover, and there is no equivalent Pilot that can match it.

Related: Honda’s Next-Generation V6 Is Coming — And This Time, It’s a Hybrid

3. Different Suspension Designs

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It’s not just in the power stakes where the MDX leads—it’s also been engineered to ride and handle better than the more utilitarian Pilot.

The Honda uses MacPherson struts in front and has a multi-link setup at the back, but the Acura uses a more sophisticated double-wishbone front suspension, and all MDXs have amplitude reactive dampers. Go for the MDX Type S, and you get an adaptive air suspension with auto leveling. This particular model feels a lot more agile than any Honda Pilot, easily emerging as the most enjoyable of the two crossovers to drive.

Furthermore, AWD MDXs use the brand’s Super-Handling AWD system, which uses torque vectoring, dynamically apportioning power to the wheels that need it. It’s a more performance-tuned setup than the Pilot’s AWD system.

4. Pilot Has an Off-Road-Focused Trim

Whereas the MDX prioritizes on-road performance, the Pilot is available in rugged TrailSport guise, the only off-road trim between the two models. Along with driving modes for Snow, Tow, Trail & Sand, the Pilot TrailSport also gets Honda’s Trail Torque Logic that optimizes grip levels on looser surfaces. All-terrain tires, an extra inch of ground clearance, and a better approach angle than other Pilots are other features of the TrailSport.

The MDX doesn’t have an equivalent trim so is less capable as a mild off-roader.

Related: Honda Plans Bigger, Tougher TrailSport Models With Real Off-Road Upgrades

5. Acura is Much More Luxurious

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If it’s luxury you’re after, the Acura MDX easily steals the spotlight. It’s not that the Honda isn’t built well or that top trims aren’t very comfortable, but the MDX has more premium finishes throughout, and it’s available with more features.

The top Honda Pilots come with features like a heated steering wheel, a four-inch color head-up display, a 10-way power driver’s seat, perforated leather upholstery, and first-/second-row heated seats. That’s all welcome, but the MDX can be specified with 16-way power front seats with massaging, quilted and perforated Milano leather and Ultrasuede upholstery, and a more advanced 27-color ambient lighting system. Authentic open-pore wood on the MDX with the Advance Package looks beautiful, too.

In terms of tech, the Pilot can be optioned with a 12-speaker Bose sound system, but that’s no match for the MDX’s available Bang & Olufsen setups, with either 19 or 31 speakers. Every MDX gets a 12.3-inch touchscreen and 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, while the top three models have a 10.5-inch head-up display. That’s a far cry from the standard seven-inch touchscreen and seven-inch driver’s display in the Pilot.

The MDX is simply a more advanced and luxurious ride.

Final Thoughts

The 2025 Honda Pilot (2026 models aren’t available yet) starts at $40,200 and goes up to $54,580, while the 2026 Acura MDX’s price ranges between $51,800 and a whopping $75,850. 

That’s a huge price differential, but the MDX is also a lot more car. From the sporty design to the plush interior and plentiful amenities, the MDX is much more than a Honda with a fancier badge. The Pilot’s major advantage besides price is a bigger, more practical cabin, but if you don’t need that much space, the MDX will be a more pleasing family vehicle to own.