2020 Honda Pilot vs 2019 GMC Acadia

The 2019 GMC Acadia was a handsome SUV with a shorter wheelbase that provided a more athletic stance. Its upright grille gave it an upscale appearance, making it as nice as, if not nicer than, the more expensive Buick Envision. The Acadia had broader appeal than other GM vehicles like the Chevrolet Equinox and Buick Envision. Despite being considered a midsize SUV, it felt closer in size to compact competitors like the Nissan Rogue.

The Acadia came in several trims: SL, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT-1, SLT-2, and Denali. The base SL trim featured 17-inch wheels, 7-passenger seating, remote keyless entry, 3-zone climate control, and heated power side mirrors. Higher trims added features like LED headlights, power liftgate, fog lights, premium stereo systems, and various driver-assistance features. The range-topping Denali trim added luxury features such as a hands-free power tailgate, unique 20-inch wheels, HID headlights, and leather-appointed seating.

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the dynamic styling of the current Honda lineup, featuring thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. The subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows masked the size of the Pilot, making it look more svelte than it really was. The Pilot's cabin was modern, with a semi-digital instrument panel and a comfortable, spacious interior. However, it used hard plastics in many areas, making it less upscale compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Mazda CX-9.

The Pilot came in several trims: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The base LX trim featured 18-inch alloy wheels, remote keyless entry, push-button start, power locks, and power windows. The EX trim added remote start, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, LED fog lights, and Smart Entry. The EX-L trim included leather upholstery, a power liftgate, and a power moonroof. Higher trims like the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition added features such as 20-inch wheels, integrated roof rails, blue ambient interior lighting, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2019 GMC Acadia offered two engines: an inline 4-cylinder and a V6. The V6 was not available in the base SL or SLE-1 trims but was optional in the SLE-2 and SLE-1 with FWD. The SLT-1 AWD, SLT-2, and Denali trims came standard with the V6. The base 4-cylinder engine produced 193 horsepower, while the 3.6-liter V6 engine made 310 hp, delivering fantastic acceleration. Power was sent through a 6-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels or available AWD. The AWD system featured GMC’s Active Twin Clutch system, allowing drivers to switch between FWD, AWD, Sport mode, and All-Terrain mode. The V6 Acadia could tow up to 4,000 pounds when properly equipped. The best fuel economy came from the base SL with the 4-cylinder engine and FWD, returning 21 mpg city, 26 highway, and 23 combined. The SLT-1 AWD with the V6 returned 17/25/20, and in a week of combined driving, it observed 19.8 mpg.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine sent power to the front wheels or available AWD. The LX, EX, and EX-L trims featured a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims received a 9-speed automatic transmission. The 9-speed provided more refined acceleration and better fuel economy. The Pilot’s ride was tuned for a refined, comfortable driving experience, ideal for easy commutes and relaxing road trips. The Intelligent Traction Management System allowed drivers to cycle through Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand modes, each with its own drivetrain and traction control tuning.

The 2019 GMC Acadia provided a solid amount of space for the driver and front passenger, with deep trays for small items and functional in-door bins. The SL, SLE-1, and SLE-2 trims featured 7-passenger seating with a middle bench seat, while the SLT-1 AWD had second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to 6. The second-row seats were comfortable and provided decent head- and legroom, but the third-row seats were not very roomy and suitable only for kids. The Acadia offered 12.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, 41.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and up to 79 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. This was small for the midsize SUV class, barely more than the biggest compact crossovers.

The 2020 Honda Pilot provided a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating. The Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to 7. The Pilot’s third row was adult-friendly, unlike some rivals. EX trims and higher provided one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access to the third row. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot offered 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to rivals like the Highlander, Telluride, Palisade, and Ascent. The Volkswagen Atlas exceeded them all with 96.8 cubic feet of space. The Pilot had more cargo capacity than the Mazda CX-9, which provided just 71.2 cubic feet. EX-L and higher trims featured a power liftgate, while Touring and up had a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2019 GMC Acadia’s base SL trim came with a 7-inch touchscreen running GMC’s IntelliLink infotainment system, which included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth connectivity, five USB ports, and a WiFi hotspot. The SLT-1 trim upgraded to an 8-inch screen, and the Denali trim added standard navigation. The SLT-1 and SLT-2 trims featured a 4.2-inch color information display within the gauge cluster, while the Denali trim had an 8-inch display, turning it into a semi-digital instrument panel. The Acadia was also available with a color head-up display providing information such as vehicle speed, engine rpm, and safety alerts.

The 2020 Honda Pilot’s LX trim featured a 5-inch color LCD screen operating a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo with a subwoofer, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. All other trims had Honda’s Display Audio 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system lacked a tuning knob, relying on the touchscreen for radio interaction, which had a confusing layout. All but the LX trim included HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Cabin Control Remote Capability, allowing back seat passengers to control the stereo using a smartphone app. Navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a wall-style power outlet were optional on the EX-L and standard on the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. These higher trims also featured a 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system and mobile hotspot capability. The Elite and Black Edition came with a wireless charging pad.

The 2019 GMC Acadia came standard with front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, and traction control. The Driver Alert Package 1, standard on the SLT-1 and optional on the SLE-2, added a blind-spot warning system, lane-change alert, and rear park assist. The SLT-2 trim added the Driver Alert Package 2, which included low-speed forward automatic braking, lane-departure warning, pedestrian detection, forward-collision alert, adaptive headlights, and high beams, as well as rear cross-traffic alert and front and rear parking sensors.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Standard safety equipment also included front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety features included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and the best crash test score of Good from the IIHS. It also earned the best score of Superior in IIHS crash prevention technology evaluation.