2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the dynamic styling characteristic of the 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, giving it a more svelte appearance. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog fuel and engine-temperature gauges with a digital screen for other information. The cabin felt comfortable and spacious, though it used hard plastics in many areas, making it less upscale compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport, launched in 2005 and in its second generation since 2014, received an interior and exterior refresh in 2018 that carried over into 2021. This refresh introduced the dual-screen center console, a defining feature of recent Land Rover interiors. The 2021 model offered a plug-in hybrid variant and included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Trims ranged from the base SE with leather upholstery and dual-zone climate control to the high-end SVR Carbon Edition with a powerful V8 engine and carbon fiber accents. The interior was luxurious, with features like quad-zone climate control, a panoramic sunroof, and a 19-speaker Meridian sound system available in higher trims.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, available with either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX, EX, and EX-L trims featured a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims came with a 9-speed automatic transmission. The V6 provided strong acceleration, making it suitable for both city driving and highway passing. The Pilot's ride was tuned for comfort, ideal for commutes and road trips, though it lacked athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes for various conditions, enhancing its capability in different terrains.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered multiple powertrain options. The base P360 mild-hybrid powertrain combined a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with a 48-volt electrical system, producing 355 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. The HST model featured a more potent P400 powertrain with 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. The HSE Silver Edition offered plug-in hybrid and diesel options, with the P400e plug-in hybrid delivering 398 horsepower and 472 pound-feet of torque. The HSE Dynamic and Autobiography trims featured a supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 518 horsepower, while the SVR and SVR Carbon Edition had an even more powerful version with 575 horsepower. All models had an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time four-wheel drive (4WD), with height-adjustable air suspension and a Terrain Response system for various driving conditions. The Range Rover Sport excelled both on and off-road, with impressive towing capacities of up to 7,716 pounds.

The 2020 Honda Pilot provided a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The third row was adult-friendly, and EX trims and higher offered one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot provided 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Pilot had plenty of storage spaces for family needs, and higher trims included features like a power liftgate and a hands-free power tailgate.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport offered a maximum of 63.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 31.7 cubic feet with the second row in use. An optional third row increased seating capacity from five to seven, though it provided only 10.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row in use. The first and second rows offered ample headroom and legroom, with luxurious appointments, while the third row was tight and best suited for children.

The 2020 Honda Pilot's LX trim featured a 5-inch color LCD screen with a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. Higher trims included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system had a small volume knob but lacked a tuning knob, making radio interaction reliant on the touchscreen, which had a confusing layout. Higher trims also offered HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Cabin Control Remote Capability. 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, which also featured an upgraded 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system and mobile hotspot capability.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport's interior was dominated by a dual-screen center console, with the lower screen controlling climate and vehicle settings and the upper screen handling infotainment. The system had a learning curve and was not always intuitive, though it featured dials that controlled multiple functions. The upper touchscreen had reasonably sized icons for menu navigation and supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system included a real volume button, though it was located at the base of the lower screen.

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. It also featured front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety equipment 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the best crash test score of Good from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), along with a Superior rating in crash prevention technology.

The 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Sport came equipped with standard driver assistance features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and front-and-rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were available as options. Other available features included a surround-view parking camera, traffic sign recognition, driver drowsiness monitoring, and parallel and perpendicular park assist. A head-up display was also available.