2024 Mazda CX-90 vs. Honda Pilot

When it comes to mid-size SUVs with three rows, two of the biggest players in the game are the Mazda CX-90 and the Honda Pilot. Both vehicles are incredibly popular, but they have earned positive reputations for entirely different reasons. Let’s take a look at why you might choose the 2024 Mazda CX-90 vs. the Honda Pilot. 

Performance and Efficiency: CX-90 vs. Pilot 

When it comes to the driving experience, Mazda’s commitment to the Japanese concept of Jinba Ittai, loosely translated as the unity between driver and vehicle, sets up the CX-90’s performance to be driver-centric. Honda and the Pilot specifically are known for offering a more predictable driving experience.  

Engine Power and Driving Experience 

The engine sizes and raw power of the 2024 Mazda CX-90 vs. the Honda Pilot are similar. The CX-90 boasts a 3.3-liter, six-cylinder turbo engine with 280 horsepower (hp) with standard all-wheel drive. Similarly, the 2024 Honda Pilot offers a 3.5-liter V6 with 285 hp with standard front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive (AWD) available as an enhancement.  

The real difference is in the torque, which affects the handling and driving experience. While the Honda offers 262 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque at 5,000 rotations per minute (rpm), the CX-90 offers 332 lb-ft at only 2,000 rpm. The result is a clear difference in the feel and control that you experience when driving the CX-90. Motor Trend, for example, says the CX-90 has a “heavy, hewn-from-granite feel…as it goes down the road, much in the manner of the best German sport sedans.” They describe Honda, on the other hand, as much lighter and less aggressive, despite its potential power. 

Fuel Economy and Environmental Impact 

In terms of both fuel economy and environmental impact, the CX-90 stands out, even with its standard AWD feature. Depending on the engine, regular or turbocharged, the CX-90 offers drivers 24/23 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. The CX-90 is also available in a plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) style. 

As for the Honda Pilot, its fuel economy ranges depending on the drivetrain. The front-wheel drive option gets 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The AWD Honda Pilot offers a comparable 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. Finally, the Trail Sport model offers the lowest fuel economy at 18 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway. 

Interior Comfort and Technology 

When it comes to style, the interior designs of Mazda vehicles are known to be a class above the competition, and this trend continues with the 2024 CX-90. However, the Honda Pilot also has appealing interiors to offer, particularly for larger families and those looking for function over style. 

Spaciousness and Seating Comfort 

Staying true to Mazda’s commitment to focus on interior luxury that comes in far beyond its class, even the lowest model of the CX-90 offers premium interior features, such as a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob; tri-zone automatic climate control, including heated and cooling seats through the second row; proximity keyless entry; four USB ports; and various other impressive details, such as higher quality fabric that produces a more comfortable, luxurious feel to the seats, as well as stitching details that make the whole experience of sitting inside a Mazda feel just a little more classy. 

The Honda, on the other hand, has a far more utilitarian look to it, instead focusing on space, storage, and cargo capacity, which is larger than in the CX-90. The Pilot also offers up to eight seats for most of its trim levels — there are only six seats in the highest trims of the CX-90 — and more interior cargo space, coming in at 18.6 cubic feet of cargo volume (with all seats up) compared to 14.9 cubic feet in the CX-90. With all seats down, the Honda boasts up to 87 cubic feet compared to 74.2 cubic feet for the Mazda. 

Infotainment and Connectivity Features 

Both the CX-90 and the Honda Pilot offer a full slate of modern electronic and infotainment features. The CX-90’s 10.25-inch digital display and seven-inch instrument display are easy to use, thanks to its rotary controller and hard button controls. Honda uses a similar setup with its seven-inch digital cluster along with a seven-inch touchscreen digital display. Both vehicles offer full integration with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well. 

Safety Features and Ratings 

The safety and technology sectors are also a critical space where both vehicles stand tall above the rest. This is particularly important due to each vehicle’s positioning as family-friendly vehicle choice.  

Advanced Safety Technologies in the CX-90 

The Mazda CX-90 is a brand new option for model year 2024, which means it has yet to go through the rigorous testing of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). However, its direct predecessor, the CX-9, attained a five-star overall rating. In addition, the CX-90 has already attained the status of being an International Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+. 

Several top-rated technologies offered by Mazda have carried over into the CX-90 and contribute to its overall safety and reliability. This includes an extensive list of driver safety features that come standard on all models, such as front-crossing and cross-traffic smart brake support, road-keep assist, blind spot assist, and head-on traffic avoidance assist. 

Honda Pilot’s Safety Credentials 

As a reliable standard on the market, the Pilot has already received NHTSA ratings for 2024, which position it as a five-star overall vehicle. The IIHS gave the 2024 Honda Pilot a Top Safety Pick rating as well. Similar to the CX-90, the Honda Pilot offers a menu of cutting-edge safety features that include a multi-view camera system, blind spot information system, cross-traffic monitoring, low-speed braking control, and parking sensors. 

Mazda vs. Honda Comparison: Pricing and Value for the Money 

Finally, as with many large purchases, whether you choose the 2024 Mazda CX-90 vs. the Honda Pilot may come down to value and overall cost. First, both vehicles have a variety of trim levels that range in price and can accommodate many different budget levels. In fact, the entry-level CX-90, the 3.3 Turbo Select, starts as low as $37,845. Similarly, the lowest level of the 2024 Pilot, the LX, starts at $37,090. 

As the trim levels increase so does the price. Mazda offers a total of eight different trim packages, not including its PHEV models. Honda offers only six trim packages for the Pilot. The top-level cost of both options is similar, with the top-level Honda, the Elite model, starting at $52,480. The top-level CX-90, the 3.3 Turbo S Premium Plus, starts at $55,950, and the other two high-level models, the Turbo S and Turbo S Premium, comes in much closer to the Honda’s price at $49,850 and $52,450, respectively. 

Find Your 2024 Mazda CX-90 at DePaula Mazda 

Of course, when it all comes down to it, the best way to figure out which vehicle is best for your needs, the Mazda CX-90 or the Honda Pilot, is to take both vehicles for a test drive. At DePaula Mazda, in Albany, NY, we have you covered on both fronts. We offer a large selection of new CX-90 models in several trims alongside a collection of used Hondas that are great to drive as a basis for comparison. Contact us or visit DePaula Mazda today to learn more and see these amazing three-row SUVs for yourself.