2027 GMC Acadia vs. 2027 Honda Pilot
GMC Acadia vs. Honda Pilot Comparison
Which is the Best Three-Row SUV for Families in South Carolina?
Three-row SUVs hold a special place in the American automotive landscape. They provide shoppers with a stylish and well-equipped alternative to a minivan, and with tons of room for both seating and storage, they give families the freedom to hit the road without worrying about having enough space.
The 2027 GMC Acadia and 2026 Honda Pilot are two ever-popular examples, but which one offers the best value for folks looking for a new car in Columbia? Check out our quick comparison to find out.
GMC Acadia vs. Honda Pilot: Spec Highlights
| 2027 GMC Acadia | 2026 Honda Pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $43,900 | $42,195 |
| Horsepower | 328 hp | 285 hp |
| Torque | 326 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft |
| Max towing | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs |
| Cargo space behind 1st row | 97.5 cu ft | 87.0 cu ft |
| Touch screen size | 15 in | 12.3 in |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™ | Standard | Standard |
| Wireless phone charging | Standard | Available |
| Wi-Fi capability | Yes | Yes |
| Hands-free driving | Available | Unavailable |
GMC Acadia vs. Honda Pilot: Engines and Performance
All GMC Acadia models are powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, which cranks out 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. It can be optioned with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, aside from the off-road AT4 trim, which comes standard with AWD. It also features up to six selectable drive modes: Normal, Sport, Snow/Ice, Off-Road, Tow/Haul, AWD, and the AT4-exclusive Terrain Mode, which replaces Snow/Ice.
The Pilot comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that creates 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, making it a bit underpowered compared to the Acadia. Lower-level trims can be optioned with either FWD or AWD, while the more expensive models come standard with AWD, and it features up to seven drive modes for Normal, Econ, Sport, Tow, Snow, Trail, and Sand.
GMC Acadia vs. Honda Pilot: Fuel Economy
The 2027 GMC Acadia is rated for up to 20 mpg city/26 mpg highway/22 mpg combined when equipped with front-wheel drive. Meanwhile, the 2026 Honda Pilot gets about 19 mpg city/27 mpg highway/22 mpg combined, which effectively puts them neck-and-neck in terms of gas mileage.
GMC Acadia vs. Honda Pilot: Size and Dimensions
The Acadia measures 204 inches long, while the Pilot comes in at about 200.1 inches. Both can also be optioned with either second row bench seating or captain’s chairs, allowing up to eight people to ride comfortably.
Here’s a side-by-side look at their interior dimensions:
| 2027 GMC Acadia | 2026 Honda Pilot | |
|---|---|---|
| Seating capacity | 7 to 8 | 7 to 8 |
| Head room (1st/2nd/3rd row) | 42.6 / 40.0 / 38.2 in | 40.5 / 40.2 / 39.3 in |
| Shoulder room (1st/2nd/3rd row) | 62.0 / 62.0 / 57.9 in | 61.9 / 61.7 / 59.5 in |
| Leg room (1st/2nd/3rd row) | 44.3 / 41.5 / 32.1 in | 41.0 / 40.8 / 32.5 in |
| Cargo capacity behind 3rd row | 23.0 cu ft | 18.6 cu ft |
| Cargo capacity behind 2nd row | 57.3 cu ft | 48.5 cu ft |
| Cargo capacity behind 1st row | 97.5 cu ft | 87.0 cu ft |
GMC Acadia vs. Honda Pilot: Interior
At the front and center of the Acadia’s interior, we find a massive vertically oriented 15-inch touch screen display, which comes complete with Google built-in, Bluetooth, and wireless Apple CarPlay®/Android Auto™. Other standard features include an 11-inch digital driver info center, a Bose® premium sound system, a wireless charging pad, six USB ports throughout the cabin, a 120-volt power outlet, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability, making it one of the most well-equipped SUVs in its segment. Available features include an upgraded Bose® sound system and head-up display.
The Pilot comes standard with a 12.3-inch center touch screen with Google built-in, Bluetooth, and wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, plus other features like a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, four USB ports, and Wi-Fi capability. It can also be upgraded with wireless device charging, the CabinTalk™ in-vehicle PA system, a 115-volt power outlet, a Bose® sound system, and head-up display, so while it’s impressively loaded and has plenty of available features, the Acadia comes with far more standard tech equipment.
GMC Acadia vs. Honda Pilot: Safety
Both SUVs are considered quite safe, with solid crash test ratings and a solid list of standard driver assistance features, including:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Forward collision alert
- Automatic emergency braking
- Pedestrian and bicyclist detection
- Blind zone alert
- Cross traffic monitoring
- Lane departure warning
- Lane keeping assistance
- Traffic sign recognition
However, the Acadia comes with a few extra driver assistance features, including HD Surround Vision, rear parking assistance, and Teen Driver. It also has the available Super Cruise package, which allows hands-free driving on highways and major roads, while the Pilot does not offer anything comparable.
GMC Acadia vs. Honda Pilot: Reliability
Both the Acadia and Pilot have above average reliability scores. According to JD Power, the 2026 models both have a score of 81/100 in the Reliability category, but they rate Honda slightly higher than GMC as an overall brand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GMC Acadia or Honda Pilot more expensive?
The 2027 GMC Acadia has a starting price of $43,900, while the 2026 Honda Pilot starts at $42,195, which puts them at the same price point. The Acadia also offers more standard technology and comfort features, but its upper-level trims can get significantly more expensive than the top-level Pilot trims.
Does the GMC Acadia or Honda Pilot tow more?
Both are rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
Is the GMC Acadia or Honda Pilot bigger?
The Acadia is slightly longer than the Pilot, and it has more total cargo space, with up to 97.5 cubic feet behind the first row compared to the Pilot’s 87.0 cubic feet.
Does the GMC Acadia or Honda Pilot have more seating?
Both can be optioned in either 7-seat or 8-seat configurations, depending on the trim level you choose.
Does the Honda Pilot have self-driving?
No, the Pilot does not have a hands-free level 2 self-driving feature like the GMC Acadia’s Super Cruise.
Shop GMC Acadia Models for Sale near Dentsville, SC
The Honda Pilot is a strong contender, but the GMC Acadia simply offers a better bang for your buck with more tech, more comfort features, more space, and more power. Don’t just take our word for it though—visit Jim Hudson Buick GMC to browse new Acadia models for sale and enjoy hard-to-beat deals like low APR financing and GMC lease specials.
Contact us online or call (803) 462-4475 to test drive the GMC Acadia today.