2025 Honda Pilot vs 2025 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2025 Honda Pilot was available in several trims, including the Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The Black Edition, tested in Southern California, featured a striking Modern Steel paint and blacked-out exterior elements. Inside, it boasted black leather seats with red perforation accents, red contrast stitching, and ambient lighting. Despite its rugged redesign in 2023, the Pilot maintained a suburban-friendly appearance. The interior was thoughtfully designed with quality materials, though the digital displays seemed dated compared to competitors.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, tested near Mount Rainier, showcased its Rock Creek trim during a snowstorm. Equipped with 3-Peak Mud-and-Snow-rated tires and standard AWD, it handled the conditions well. Redesigned in 2022, the Pathfinder featured an assertive front end and protective cladding. The Rock Creek trim added a V-Motion grille, stacked LED lights, and a metal roof rack. Inside, it offered leatherette-and-cloth upholstery with bright orange logos. Despite its rugged look, it remained a unibody crossover with limited off-road enhancements.

The 2025 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It offered multiple driving modes and a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. The AWD system provided torque vectoring and hill descent control. While the V6 delivered good acceleration, the transmission occasionally lagged. Fuel economy was underwhelming, averaging 20 mpg. The suspension provided a soft ride, but handling remained predictable.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 284 horsepower in most trims, while the Rock Creek trim offered 295 horsepower. A nine-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous CVT, enhancing performance. The Rock Creek trim had a towing capacity of 6,000 pounds, thanks to a transmission oil cooler. The suspension was soft, suitable for light off-roading but less composed on roads. Fuel economy was slightly better than rivals, averaging 20.8 mpg. The Pathfinder offered seven drive modes and hill-descent control, performing well in snowy conditions.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seating and practical storage solutions. The Black Edition featured a 10-way power driver’s seat but only a four-way passenger seat. The second row was spacious, with removable center sections for easy access to the third row. The third row accommodated adults for 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.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder, though smaller on paper, provided ample interior space. During a ski trip, it comfortably accommodated four adults and their gear. It offered 16.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 80.5 cubic feet with seats folded. The Rock Creek trim featured captain’s chairs and a removable center console. The EZ Flex Seating System allowed easy access to the third row without removing car seats.

The 2025 Honda Pilot’s technology appeared dated, with smaller display screens. The Black Edition had 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. However, wireless CarPlay had connectivity issues, and voice recognition was inconsistent. The CabinTalk feature allowed communication with rear passengers, but the head-up display was small.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder’s tech lagged behind competitors and even some other Nissans. It featured an older interface with an 8-inch screen in lower trims and a 9-inch screen in higher trims. The SL and Platinum trims offered a 13-speaker Bose system. NissanConnect supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but wireless projection was limited. Voice recognition and Bluetooth were standard, with navigation available only on higher trims.

The 2025 Honda Pilot came with standard Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The Black Edition added parking sensors and a multi-view camera system. However, adaptive cruise control and lane-centering assist had performance issues. The Pilot earned a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA.

The 2025 Nissan Pathfinder also received a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS and a five-star rating from NHTSA. It included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control and ProPilot Assist were standard on most trims. Traffic sign recognition was available on higher trims.