2019 Honda Pilot vs 2019 GMC Acadia

The 2019 GMC Acadia presented a handsome appearance with its athletic stance attributed to a shorter wheelbase and an upscale upright grille. This vehicle managed to impress, standing toe-to-toe with the pricier Buick Envision. Despite not being marketed as an upscale SUV, the Acadia offered a refinement that might have had a broader appeal, transcending its segment more significantly than its GM siblings like the Chevrolet Equinox. Although labeled as a midsize SUV, the Acadia felt unexpectedly closer in size to compact competitors, akin to a Nissan Rogue.

The Acadia was offered in several trims: SL, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2, and the top-tier Denali. The entry-level SL came with 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, seating for seven, remote keyless entry, three-zone climate control, and heated power side mirrors. The SLE-1 trim added "C-shaped" signature LED headlights, carpeted floor mats, and Sirius XM satellite radio while unlocking various optional packages. The SLE-2 trim upgraded to 18-inch machined aluminum wheels, a power liftgate, fog lights, roof rails, a power driver's seat, heated front seats, and remote start.

The SLT-1 trim added luxury touches such as a Bose 8-speaker system, painted aluminum wheels, enhanced driver-assistance features, and lumbar support for front seats. An SLT-1 AWD with the Black Edition appearance package brought black accents, enhancing the Acadia's aesthetic appeal by diverging from the chromed-out Denali. CarGurus recommended the SLT-1 AWD trim for its balance of features and value. The SLT-2 trim enhanced the experience with bright aluminum wheels, additional driver aids, and heated rear seats.

The Denali trim represented the pinnacle of luxury, adding hands-free power tailgate, brightwork details, HID headlights, an exclusive grille design, and plush features like leather seating and a power-adjustable, heated steering wheel.

Switching gears to the 2019 Honda Pilot, it received subtle updates recognizable to the keen Honda enthusiast. Futuristic headlights and a cleaner lower front valence enhanced its look, while the grille resembled an enlarged Honda CR-V with a dominant “H” logo. Minor refinements to the rear bumper and taillights aimed to provide a sophisticated design.

Inside, the Pilot received an updated steering wheel, a new proprietary shifter design, and a revamped infotainment system. Trim-wise, the Pilot ranged from LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, up to the Elite. The base LX came with 18-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, USB ports, Bluetooth connectivity, and a 5-inch color display for the standard audio system. The EX trim added passive entry, auto-locking, LED fog lights, three-zone climate control, and a conversation mirror. The EX-L introduced upgraded leather upholstery, a power tailgate, a moonroof, and improved interior materials.

The Touring trim stacked on additional features such as navigation, a premium audio system, built-in streaming apps, and rear entertainment. Finally, the Elite trim topped the range with a panoramic moonroof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row captain’s chairs, and wireless charging.

In terms of performance, the 2019 GMC Acadia offered two engine choices: a base inline 4-cylinder and a more robust V6. The 4-cylinder engine produced 193 horsepower, fine for basic commuting needs. However, the real performance lay in the 3.6-liter V6 engine, making 310 horsepower and delivering impressive acceleration, even chirping the tires on a quick takeoff. The V6 was either standard or optional on higher trims depending on the drivetrain configuration, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The V6 equipped Acadia with AWD used GMC’s Active Twin Clutch system, operated via a center console dial to switch between FWD, AWD, Sport, and All-Terrain modes. When properly equipped, it could tow up to 4,000 pounds. The best fuel economy was observed in the base 4-cylinder FWD, at 21 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 combined. The V6 AWD configuration delivered 17 mpg city, 25 highway, and 20 combined, closely aligning with observed performance in mixed driving conditions.

The 2019 Honda Pilot, on the other hand, came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims. This engine produced 280 horsepower and 262 pounds-feet of torque, providing solid acceleration. It included fuel-saving features like cylinder deactivation and auto stop/start, although the latter could feel abrupt in practice. Most trims used a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring and Elite trims employed a 9-speed automatic designed for better power management and fuel economy.

The 9-speed version included paddle shifters and varied driving modes to engage Sport mode for an aggressive driving experience. The Pilot’s driving dynamics felt somewhat disconnected, with noticeable body roll and vague pedal feel. However, the steering was responsive, making it comfortable over rough surfaces. The Pilot offered both FWD and Honda’s i-VTM4 AWD system, including Intelligent Traction Management with multiple driving modes for different terrains.

Fuel economy in the Pilot also varied by configuration. The 6-speed trims achieved 19 mpg city, 27 highway, and 22 combined with FWD, and slightly less with AWD. The FWD Touring trim was the most efficient, at 20 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined, while the AWD Touring and Elite trims managed 19 mpg city, 26 highway, and 22 combined, with observed fuel economy of about 23.1 mpg in mixed driving.

The interior of the 2019 GMC Acadia provided a practical space for the front occupants with deep trays and functional bins in the doors. The SL, SLE-1, and SLE-2 trims featured a 7-passenger configuration with a middle bench seat. The SLT-1 AWD, however, opted for second-row captain’s chairs, reducing the seating capacity to six. Despite their thinness, the second-row seats were comfortable, offering decent head- and legroom. Access to the third row was easier from the passenger side due to limited movement in the driver’s side seat.

Cargo space in the Acadia was on the smaller side for the midsize SUV class. It provided 12.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 41.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and maxing out at 79 cubic feet with both the second and third rows down. Although sufficient for many needs, this was less than some compact crossovers, such as the VW Tiguan, which boasted 75 cubic feet.

The 2019 Honda Pilot, catering to a family-centric audience, excelled with plenty of storage options and adult-friendly third-row seating. Known for accommodating adults over longer trips, the Pilot stood out among midsize 3-row SUVs. The plentiful storage included double-level in-door spaces and 15 cupholders strategically placed throughout.

Cargo capacity in the Pilot varied by trim but generally outmatched the Acadia. It offered 16.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats (slightly less in the Elite), which expanded to 46.8 cubic feet with the third row folded down. With all seats collapsed, it provided up to 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, depending on trim level—superior to the Acadia in this regard. Compared to the competition, it held its own against the Toyota Highlander and Subaru Ascent, though it fell short of the Volkswagen Atlas and Chevrolet Traverse, both offering above 95 cubic feet.

Tech-wise, the base 2019 GMC Acadia SL came with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC’s IntelliLink infotainment system, featuring smartphone-like icons, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, multiple USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. Higher trims like the SLT-1 upgraded to an 8-inch screen, with the Denali adding navigation. These trims also included a 4.2-inch color information display in the gauge cluster for additional driver functions, with the Denali offering a larger 8-inch display, transforming it into a semi-digital instrument panel.

The 2019 Honda Pilot introduced a new infotainment system with the much-appreciated return of the Volume knob. This system, standard on trims above the base LX, featured clear graphics and efficient menu navigation. The Touring and Elite trims included a rear entertainment system with a flip-down screen and headphones, keeping kids occupied on journeys. The system boasted a couple of rear USB ports and mobile hotspot capability in higher trims. Parent-friendly tools like a wide-angle cabin mirror and the CabinTalk PA system on the Elite trim spoke to Honda's family-centric design philosophy.

Safety features for the 2019 GMC Acadia included standard front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. Our SLT-1 model came with the Driver Alert Package 1, which included a blind-spot warning system, lane-change alert, and rear park assist. The SLT-2 added Driver Alert Package 2, offering more comprehensive driver-assistance features like low-speed automatic braking, lane-departure warning, pedestrian detection, forward-collision alert, and adaptive high beams among other features, showcasing a strong safety suite.

The 2019 Honda Pilot came out strong with safety, providing a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, vehicle stability control, a reversing camera, and tire pressure monitoring with fill assist. For 2019, all trims of the Pilot included the Honda Sensing suite featuring forward-collision warning and avoidance, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams. However, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert required an upgrade above the LX trim, ensuring even the base model came with robust safety features.