2025 Dodge Durango vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2025 Honda Pilot was available in several trims, including the Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The Black Edition, evaluated in Southern California, featured a Modern Steel paint and a price of $55,975, including destination. It showcased black wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, and black badges. Inside, it offered black leather seats with red perforation accents, red contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. The Pilot's rugged design, introduced in 2023, was more suited for suburban environments, with the TrailSport trim offering off-road capabilities. The interior was thoughtfully designed with quality materials, though the digital displays appeared dated.

The 2025 Dodge Durango ranged from $43,000 for the base GT to nearly $100,000 for the SRT Hellcat. The SRT Hellcat Premium with the Silver Bullet package, priced at $115,315, featured Triple Nickel paint, a satin black hood, and dark badges. Inside, it had dark red Nappa leather seats and a suede headliner. The Durango's interior was solidly constructed but had some plastic surfaces that detracted from its premium feel. The Silver Bullet edition added visual flair to the Hellcat, appealing to those seeking a more expressive look.

The 2025 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It offered various driving modes and could tow up to 5,000 pounds. The AWD system provided hill descent control and torque vectoring. The Pilot's V6 delivered good acceleration, though the transmission occasionally felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was a downside, with an average of 20 mpg during testing. The suspension provided a soft ride, but handling was predictable and secure. The Pilot was capable off-road, especially in the TrailSport trim.

The 2025 Dodge Durango offered a simplified lineup with a 295-horsepower V6 in the GT, a 360-hp V8 in the R/T, and a 710-hp supercharged V8 in the SRT Hellcat. The Hellcat's engine delivered 645 pound-feet of torque, accelerating to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds and towing up to 8,700 pounds. Fuel economy was poor, with 12.2 mpg observed during testing. The Durango featured a full-time AWD system, adaptive damping suspension, and Brembo brakes. It drove like a performance vehicle, with excellent grip and braking, making it feel track-ready.

The Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seats and thoughtful storage solutions. The Black Edition's front passenger seat lacked adjustability, which was a drawback. The second-row seats were roomy, and the third row was suitable for adults on short trips. The Pilot offered 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 86.5 cubic feet with seats folded. Features included a triple-zone climate control system and a panoramic sunroof.

The Dodge Durango provided a spacious and comfortable interior with heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain’s chairs offered good leg support, and the third row was accessible and comfortable for adults. The Durango had 17.2 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 85.1 cubic feet with seats folded. It featured rear climate controls, USB ports, and a household-style power outlet.

The Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The voice recognition system was inconsistent, and the wireless charging pad was not recessed. The CabinTalk feature allowed communication with rear passengers.

The Dodge Durango featured a Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Harman Kardon audio system. It supported dual-phone Bluetooth pairing and offered SRT Performance Pages for tracking performance metrics. The voice recognition system required specificity but worked well overall.

The Honda Pilot came with standard Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. However, some safety systems, like adaptive cruise control, had performance issues.

The Dodge Durango's safety features were limited, with forward-collision warning and blind-spot monitoring as standard. It earned a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and had concerns in the IIHS small overlap frontal-impact test. The adaptive cruise control was overly cautious in curves.