2009 Honda Pilot Competition

Table of Contents
2009 Honda Pilot Review
2009 Honda Pilot Prices
2009 Honda Pilot Road Test
2009 Honda Pilot Car Quote

2009 Honda Pilot competition
The GMC Acadia, Mazda CX-9, and Toyota Highlander are top rivals for the 2009 Honda Pilot. All are crossover SUVs with a V-6 engine and front- or all-wheel drive. Only the Highlander is available with a gas-electric hybrid engine.

The GMC Acadia has 275-horsepower, EPA-rated fuel economy of 16 mpg city/22 highway with AWD, and a base-price range of about $29,800-$36,500. Acadia seats eight and is built from a General Motors design also used for the Saturn Outlook, Buick Enclave, and Chevrolet Traverse. These are among GM’s best products, refined and roomy, but with significantly larger exterior dimensions than the Pilot so they’re less easy to maneuver in tight spaces.

The Mazda CX-9 is based on the Ford Edge SUV, but seats seven on three rows rather than five on two. It has 273 horsepower, EPA-rated at 15/21 mpg with AWD, and has a base-price range of about $29,700-$34,800. The CX-9 is perhaps the most stylish of this bunch, but trails the others by a nose in mechanical refinement. It, too, is larger than the 2009 Pilot, but has little more usable interior space.

The Toyota Highlander is the closest match for the 2009 Pilot in exterior size and quality feel, but it has a sleeker body. Being a Toyota, it also is the nearest match for Honda’s top-grade resale values and reliability reputation. Highlander seats seven and has a base-price range of about $27,500-$41,000. Its gasoline model has 270 horsepower and is EPA-rated at 18/24 mpg with AWD. The gas-electric Highlander Hybrid also has 270 horsepower, is EPA-rated at 31/27 mpg, and comes only with AWD.