Compare the2025 Honda PilotVS 2024 Mazda CX-90

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Pilot deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Pilot’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The CX-90’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Pilot and the CX-90 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Pilot for 1 year or 12,000 miles. Honda will pay for oil changes, tire rotations, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mazda doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the CX-90.

There are almost 2 times as many Honda dealers as there are Mazda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than Mazda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 13 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mazda is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2024 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Mazda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda 2 places higher in reliability than Mazda.

The Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 5 more horsepower (285 vs. 280) than the CX-90’s standard 3.3 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Pilot’s fuel efficiency. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The CX-90 PHEV requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Pilot has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Pilot higher (7 out of 10) than the Mazda CX-90 (6). This means the Pilot produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the CX-90 every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Pilot, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the CX-90.

For better stopping power the Pilot’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the CX-90:

The Pilot has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The CX-90 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Pilot TrailSport has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the CX-90; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

The Pilot TrailSport handles at .85 G’s, while the CX-90 Premium Plus pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For greater off-road capability the Pilot TrailSport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the CX-90 PHEV Premium/Turbo S (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Pilot to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 400 to 550 pounds less than the Mazda CX-90.

The front grille of the Pilot uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The CX-90 doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Pilot uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The CX-90 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Pilot TrailSport is quieter than the CX-90 Premium Plus:

The Pilot has 16.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the CX-90 (158.4 vs. 141.6).

The Pilot has .8 inches more front headroom, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, .9 inches more rear headroom, 1.4 inches more rear legroom, 3.6 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.4 inches more third row headroom, 2.1 inches more third row legroom and 6.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the CX-90.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pilot’s middle and third row seats recline. The CX-90’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Pilot’s cargo area provides more volume than the CX-90.

The Pilot’s cargo area is larger than the CX-90’s in almost every dimension:

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Pilot. The CX-90 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The CX-90 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Pilot and the CX-90 have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Pilot is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The CX-90 prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

The Pilot’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The CX-90’s power window (except driver window) switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Pilot is available in both front-wheel drive and four-wheel drive configurations. The CX-90 doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Pilot, based on reliability, safety and performance.

Motor Trend performed a comparison test in its January 2024 issue and they ranked the Honda Pilot Elite higher than the Mazda CX-90 Premium Plus.

The Honda Pilot outsold the Mazda CX-90 by almost four to one during 2023.