2025 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Lexus GX

Honda keeps it simple with the 2025 Pilot, offering a single powertrain with a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). Nearly all Pilots have eight-passenger seating, and with higher trims, the second-row center section is removable to create a seven-passenger configuration. The Black Edition returns to the top of the lineup for 2025, equipped with blacked-out exterior trim and red interior accents. Also, the Honda Service Pass program is cut to 12 months or 12,000 miles.

Verdict: With the 2025 Pilot, Honda hasn’t messed with success. It is a roomy and practical daily driver that makes life easy, has plenty of power to effortlessly get up to speed, and is safe for transporting the people you love the most. However, it is time for Honda to offer a hybrid version.

The Lexus GX midsize SUV seats up to seven people, tows just over 9,000 pounds when properly equipped, can hold more than 90 cubic feet of cargo, and easily travels where few vehicles dare to tread. The 2026 GX 550 comes in Premium, Premium+, Overtrail, Overtrail+, Luxury, and Luxury+ trim levels, each equipped with a twin-turbocharged V6 engine and standard four-wheel drive (4WD). Lexus reported no changes to this SUV for the 2026 model year.

Verdict: Poor fuel economy aside, the GX is a good luxury SUV designed for serious off-roading and towing. For those who require neither, the Lexus RX is a better pick.