2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured subtle yet impactful aesthetic updates. Its sharper headlights and taillights, along with black fender flares, added a touch of modernity. The grille, enhanced with chrome inserts, contributed to its refined look. The optional AMG Line package provided a sportier appearance, complemented by standard 19-inch wheels, with an option for 21-inch ones. Inside, the cabin maintained a classic Mercedes-Benz feel, with leather and soft-touch surfaces. However, the combination of open-pore walnut trim and Bahia Brown seating gave it a dated look, which could be improved with lighter leather choices.

In contrast, the 2025 Honda Pilot Black Edition showcased a more rugged and custom appearance. It featured black wheels, blacked-out trim, and red accents in the interior, including perforation and stitching. The cabin, while thoughtfully designed, appeared dated due to its smaller digital displays. Despite this, it offered practical storage solutions and quality materials. The Pilot's exterior aimed for a rugged look, especially in the TrailSport trim, but the Black Edition was more suited for suburban environments.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of powertrains, including the GLE 350 with 255 horsepower, the GLE 450 with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, and the GLE 580 with a 4.0-liter V8. The 450e plug-in hybrid variant, tested here, combined a 2.0-liter turbo inline four-cylinder engine with an electric motor, producing 381 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. It could travel up to 55 miles on electric power alone. Despite its power, the 450e was slower to 60 mph than the GLE 450 due to its battery weight. The hybrid's driving dynamics were comfortable but lacked sportiness, with light steering and body roll. Charging was efficient, with an 11-kW onboard charger and 60-kW DC fast charge capability.

The 2025 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, generating 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It offered multiple driving modes, including Normal, Econ, and Sport. The Pilot's AWD system provided torque vectoring and hill descent control, enhancing its off-road capability. However, the transmission occasionally felt slow to downshift, and fuel economy was unimpressive, averaging 20 mpg. The Pilot's handling was predictable, but an adaptive-damping suspension could improve ride quality. The Black Edition's 20-inch wheels contributed to its secure handling.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE excelled in interior luxury, offering heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, along with heated and cooled cup holders. The cabin was quiet, with customizable ambient lighting and a panoramic sunroof. It could tow up to 7,700 pounds and featured Trailer Maneuvering Assist. Cargo space was ample, with 31.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 74.9 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2025 Honda Pilot prioritized family-friendly design, with three rows of comfortable seating and practical storage solutions. However, the front passenger seat lacked adjustability, which was a drawback for long trips. The second-row seats were roomy, with a removable center section for easy access to the third row. The Pilot offered 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 86.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. Features like a hands-free power tailgate and triple-zone climate control added convenience.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE came with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and MBUX infotainment system. While the screen was smaller than in other Mercedes models, it was user-friendly, with voice control and a touchpad. The augmented reality navigation system was a standout feature. However, wireless Apple CarPlay had connectivity issues. The GLE included off-road information and multiple USB-C ports for charging.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen. It offered wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. However, the wireless CarPlay function was unreliable, and the voice recognition system often misinterpreted commands. The Pilot included CabinTalk for communication with rear passengers and a small head-up display.

The 2024 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered advanced driver aids, with standard blind-spot monitoring and optional features like adaptive cruise control and lane-change assist. It received high safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, though some features required additional cost.

The 2025 Honda Pilot included standard Honda Sensing safety features, such as forward-collision warning and adaptive cruise control. However, the adaptive cruise control had performance issues in traffic. The Pilot earned a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.