2025 Honda Pilot vs 2025 Mazda CX-90

The 2025 Honda Pilot was available in several trims, including the Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The Sport trim was the most affordable, but it lacked many appealing amenities, making the leather-lined EX-L a recommended upgrade. Prices ranged from $40,200 to $54,580, plus a $1,395 destination charge. The Black Edition, based on the Pilot Elite, featured black wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, and black badges. Inside, it boasted black leather seats with red perforation accents, red contrast stitching, and red ambient lighting. The Pilot's rugged design, introduced in 2023, was more suited for suburban environments, with the TrailSport trim offering added off-roading capability. The interior was thoughtfully designed with quality materials, though the digital driver display and infotainment system appeared dated.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 was offered in three variants: the 3.3 Turbo, the 3.3 Turbo S, and the PHEV. Trim levels included Select, Preferred, Premium, Premium Sport, and Premium Plus, with prices ranging from $39,575 to $59,480, including the destination charge. The 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus test vehicle, with its Soul Red paint, had an MSRP of $51,450. The CX-90's design featured lustrous paint, polished chrome trim, and intricate 21-inch wheels, giving it a luxury SUV appearance. Its sculptural sheet metal and cabin placement contributed to a low, long, athletic look. Inside, the CX-90 offered an upscale feel with polished metallic trim and Nappa leather. However, the ergonomics were criticized, with a confusing electronic shifter and counterintuitive climate controls. Despite these issues, the CX-90 exuded sophistication compared to other midsize three-row crossover SUVs.

The 2025 Honda Pilot was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, generating 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This setup allowed most Pilot models to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Pilot offered various driving modes, including Normal, Econ, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand. Models with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD system featured hill descent control and up to 7.3 inches of ground clearance (8.3 inches for the TrailSport). The AWD system's torque vectoring allowed up to 70 percent of engine output to flow to a single rear wheel (75 percent in the TrailSport). While the V6 provided good acceleration, the transmission sometimes felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was unimpressive, with an observed 17.8 mpg in city-heavy driving and 20 mpg on an evaluation loop, falling short of the EPA rating of 21 mpg combined. The Pilot's handling was predictable and secure, though an adaptive-damping suspension system would have benefited the Elite and Black Edition models.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 3.3 Turbo's drivetrain was less refined than its design and materials suggested. The turbocharged 3.3-liter inline-six engine produced 280 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, with the 3.3 Turbo S delivering 319 hp and 369 lb-ft (340 hp with premium gas). Power flowed through an eight-speed automatic transmission and a standard AWD system, which biased power to the rear wheels for better dynamics. The CX-90 offered Normal, Sport, Off-Road, and Towing modes, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The i-Stop function aimed to improve fuel economy, with an EPA rating of 25 mpg combined. However, the observed fuel economy was 21.3 mpg on a mountainous testing loop. The CX-90's ride and handling were impressive, but drivetrain refinement was lacking, with unpredictable power delivery and transmission behavior. The CX-90's suspension was firm and communicative, providing a dynamic driving experience.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seats and thoughtful storage solutions. However, the Black Edition's front passenger seat had only a four-way adjustment, lacking height and tilt adjustments. The front seats were comfortable and supportive, with heating and ventilation, and the second-row seats were roomy but lacked leg support. The center section of the second row was removable, creating captain's chairs with a pass-through to the third row. The third row was habitable for adults if the second row slid forward. The Pilot featured a remote engine starting system, triple-zone automatic climate control, and a panoramic sunroof. Cargo space included 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 86.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's interior struggled with climate control, taking a long time to cool down. The 3.3 Turbo Premium Plus trim featured Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain's chairs. The front seats were comfortable on longer trips, and a panoramic sunroof provided natural light. The second-row seats were comfortable but had limited seat-track travel, making rear-facing child seat installation challenging. The third row was best for children, though two adults could fit if the second row slid forward. The CX-90's storage solutions were limited, with a smartphone charging tray, a shallow bin under the center armrest, and stingy door panel storage. Cargo space included 14.9 cubic feet behind the third row, 40 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 74.2 cubic feet with the second row flattened.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with smaller display screens compared to rivals. The Black Edition featured a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging. However, the wireless CarPlay function was problematic, and Honda's voice recognition system was hit-and-miss. The 12-speaker Bose audio system was adequate but not impressive. The Pilot's CabinTalk feature allowed the driver to communicate with passengers over the stereo speakers, and a small four-inch head-up display was included.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90's dashboard had a traditional look, with a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch infotainment screen. The infotainment screen was touch-sensitive only when using wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, with the native Mazda Connect platform requiring the use of a knob and buttons. Mazda's voice recognition system was unreliable, but a new Google Built-in infotainment system was expected in future models. The CX-90 featured a 12-speaker Bose audio system and a head-up display with helpful data. The blind-spot monitoring system added an extra layer of safety, though the audible warning systems were numerous.

The 2025 Honda Pilot came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The Black Edition test vehicle also had parking sensors and a multi-view camera system with TrailWatch technology. However, the adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist systems had issues, and the road sign recognition system was inaccurate. The Pilot earned high marks in crash tests, with a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Mazda CX-90 was one of only four midsize, three-row, gas-powered SUVs to receive a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. The CX-90 PHEV earned five-star ratings in all NHTSA crash tests, while gas-only models received four-star ratings in frontal-impact testing. Mazda provided a long list of standard safety features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and lane keeping assist. Higher trim levels added steering assist, emergency lane-keeping assist, front cross-traffic alert, parking sensors, and a surround-view camera system. The CX-90's driver aids met expectations, though the speed reduction feature was irritating, and the audible warning systems were numerous.