
Starting at

Starting at
| 228-310 | Horsepower (hp) | 280 |
| 258-271 | Torque (lb-ft) | 262 |
| 22/29 | Fuel Economy (city/hwy mpg) | 20/27 |
You’re looking for the perfect three-row SUV and, for now, have settled on the 2022 Honda Pilot. The Pilot is a remarkable full-size SUV that carries the reliability of the Honda name along with a host of cutting-edge technology, features, and conveniences that make its starting price of $37,580 seem like a great deal. But what if there was something better? That’s exactly what you’ll find when you compare the 2022 GMC Acadia vs 2022 Honda Pilot.
Honda and GMC have exceptional reputations in the automotive industry, and that lays the foundation for what you’ll find in models like the Pilot and the Acadia. While Honda is known for building practical and functional vehicles, GMC manages to do this with an extraordinary balance of opulence and affordability. This is easily seen in the 2022 Acadia’s starting price of $34,800,* which is significantly less than its Honda counterpart. The Acadia’s value skyrockets when you discover everything you’re getting for less than $35,000.
While your search for a three-row SUV may have started with the 2022 Honda Pilot, it will likely end with the 2022 GMC Acadia. Why? The Acadia means getting behind the wheel of a better equipped SUV that’s also a more powerful and more capable road warrior that can effortlessly meet the demands of your life and the road ahead. Add in the Acadia’s distinct style in contrast to the Pilot’s resemblance to the Odyssey minivan, and there’s no question which SUV is the better, more sophisticated, more affordable, more capable, and more innovative option.

After getting its start building motorcycles, Honda has established a phenomenal reputation around its ability to design vehicles and engines that can log hundreds of thousands of miles without breaking a sweat. Any venture to a local dealership, and you’ll easily find a pre-owned sedan like the Civic or Accord with over 150,000 miles and plenty of life left to give. If you’re like so many others, this is likely one of the many reasons that attracted you to the Pilot.
For 2022, the Pilot continues Honda’s reputation and comes standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. This pairing delivers 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque to make the Pilot quick to accelerate and easy to maneuver both in town and on the highway. Surprisingly, this power doesn’t come at the cost of efficiency, with Honda’s three-row SUV averaging 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway with FW). AWD models average 19 MPG and 26 MPG, respectively.
While Honda doesn’t give you any say in what’s under the hood of the 2022 Pilot, GMC gives you more control to ensure the Acadia delivers the power you need exactly when you need it. The standard 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission and delivers 228 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. Standard on the SLE and SLT trims, the 2.0-liter engine on a FWD model averages 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway, while AWD models average 22 MPG and 27 MPG, respectively.
The real power comes from GMC’s 3.6-liter V6 engine that comes standard on the adventure-ready AT4 and the opulent Denali. Mated to the same 9-speed automatic transmission, the V6 churns out 310 horsepower and 271 lb-ft of torque for exceptional power and capability. The biggest surprise, however, is that this power doesn’t dramatically decrease the Acadia’s fuel economy, with FWD models averaging 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. Opting for the AWD Acadia gets you more power than the 2022 Pilot and comparable efficiency, with the model averaging 19 MPG in the city and 26 MPG on the highway to make the Acadia the clear winner.

As more and more people discover ways to escape the hustle and bustle of life, automakers like GMC and Honda are determined to make that escape easier with trims like the Acadia AT4 and the Pilot TrailSport. The models are attractive options if you’re looking for a vehicle that can satisfy the demands of your workweek and your need for adventure on the weekend. So, how do the models compare?
The 2022 Pilot TrailSport rolls off the production line ready for the trail with a suspension lift, all-wheel-drive, and Honda’s Intelligent Traction Management system with Snow, Sand, and Mud modes that give you more control over how the SUV performs based on the terrain or condition at hand. The exterior is immediately recognizable with its black trim, fender flares, and orange-on-black TrailSport badging, while the interior offers several exclusive features of its own, like leather seating with contrasting orange stitching and TrailSport badging. Honda also equips the SUV with an array of connectivity and safety features, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, the Honda Sensing suite, and Honda Satellite-linked Navigation.
While the TrailSport looks the part of a light off-road rig, the 2022 Acadia actually delivers. Just as GMC’s Denali trim signifies opulence, the AT4 trim signifies rugged capability, and that’s exactly what you’ll find on the 2022 Acadia AT4. Ready for the trail the moment you drive it off the lot, the Acadia AT4 is designed for adventure from its Active Torque Control AWD system that maximizes traction in every condition to its all-terrain tires and tools like Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control.
The Acadia AT4’s suite of state-of-the-art technology further distinguishes the SUV from its Honda rival, as does its beefy V6 engine. The AT4 not only offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration but also features cutting-edge technology like an expansive head-up display that puts vital information in a clear display on the windshield in front of you. The AT4’s high-definition surround vision camera is even more impressive and, by using multiple cameras, gives you a clear view around the entire SUV whether you’re backing out of a busy parking lot or moving down the trail at low speeds. It’s like having a virtual spotter with you at all times and, undeniably, makes the Acadia AT4 more than capable of getting a little mud on the tires.

GMC and Honda both make your safety a priority when you’re behind the wheel, and it shows on models like the 2022 Acadia and the 2022 Pilot. The SUVs come with an extensive suite of passive safety features that are designed to protect you when the unthinkable occurs. These features extend from the design of the SUVs themselves to the seat belts and airbags that minimize impact and the risk of injury in a collision. So, where do the models differ? Active safety and driver-assist technology further distinguish the Acadia from the Pilot.
How Safe Is the Pilot?
Every trim in the Pilot’s 2022 lineup comes standard with the Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assist features. This suite includes Honda’s Collision Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation System, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Lane Keeping Assist System. These tools alert you to potential collisions ahead of you, help you keep the Pilot centered in its lane, and make cruising at highway speeds easier by constantly monitoring the flow of traffic ahead and adjusting the Pilot’s speed as needed.
How Safe Is the Acadia?
You’ll find more safety and driver-assist tools on the 2022 Acadia that prove GMC’s efforts to constantly raise the standards in the industry and give you confidence when you’re behind the wheel. Known as the GMC Pro Safety Plus package, the suite comes standard across the 2022 Acadia lineup. This means that every trim from the entry-level Acadia to the Denali is equipped with Automatic Emergency Braking, a Following Distance Indicator, Forward Collision Alert, Front Park Assist, Front Pedestrian Braking, IntelliBeam headlamps, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Rear Park Assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Alert.
GMC’s Pro Safety Plus package is noticeably more advanced than the Honda Sensing suite, especially when you look at the differences. The Acadia’s IntelliBeam headlamps automatically brighten and dim to optimize your visibility, while tools like Front Park and Rear Park Assist make it easier to navigate the Acadia in and out of parking spaces. GMC’s Lane Change Alert comes with Side Blind Zone Alert that makes changing lanes less stressful by extending your visibility around the SUV. All of these features easily push the Acadia past the Pilot in terms of desirability.