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Starting at
Starting at
| 8 | Standard Touchscreen (in) | 7 |
| Standard | Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto | Available |
| 22/29 | Fuel Economy (city/hwy MPG) | 19/27 |
Each time a customer comes our way looking for the perfect family vehicle, one not only safe for your loved ones but built durably enough to withstand an adventurous lifestyle, we point them toward the direction of our midsize SUV selection. Midsize SUVs are the perfect vehicle class for the type of driver that doesn’t want something compact, like a smaller SUV and sedan, but still wants notable passenger and cargo space. Sedans are fantastic for a variety of drivers, but a midsize SUV can do more, and three-row vehicles also significantly differ from any other type of vehicle class, with one exception, and those are minivans.
Midsize SUVs don’t always have three rows of seating, but some of the best examples on the market tend to be of the three-row variety, leading to things like the 2023 GMC Acadia vs 2023 Honda Pilot competing with each other. The 2023 GMC Acadia and the 2023 Honda Pilot are an interesting duo because they’re the same class of vehicle, but their manufacturers go about a few different ways in how they choose to present these features, amenities, and more to their customers.
Comparing the 2023 GMC Acadia with the 2023 Honda Pilot reveals some interesting information. Although the 2023 GMC Acadia starts at a slightly higher price than the 2023 Pilot, the latter greatly exceeds the maximum price of the Acadia when comparing the top-tier trims for both SUVs. The shopping experience is simplified in many ways when shopping for a Pilot because you have fewer trims to choose from, which can at least cut down on the time it takes to research a model, but that doesn't necessarily mean it is better. The Acadia starts with an immediate edge over the Pilot by its abundance of trim options.
With the 2023 GMC Acadia, you’ll get the best of both worlds; your choice between a V6 engine and a turbocharged four-cylinder. With the 2023 Pilot, you’re restricted to a singular powertrain: a V6 engine. What does this ultimately mean? This means that having a choice between two engines gives you another choice: better fuel efficiency or better performance. It’s worth noting that the Pilot manages to tow a bit more than the Acadia, but not by too much when the Acadia is fitted with the V6 engine.
The base turbocharged engine in the 2023 Acadia is a 2.0L I-4 linked with a 9-speed automatic transmission. Installed with this engine, the base-level 2023 Acadia outputs 228 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. This amount of torque output is similar to the 3.5L V6 engine that comes with every Pilot model; the Pilot’s engine outputs 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque.
When adding fuel economy to the equation, the standard 2.0L engine on the Acadia gets 22 MPG in the city and 29 MPG on the highway with FWD, giving it a slight edge over the Pilot, with its sole engine getting 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway in FWD. Those numbers are reinforced again when factoring in AWD, with the Acadia getting 22 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway, while the Pilot gets 19 MPG in the city and 25 MPG on the highway.
While these differences are not huge, they are worth considering if fuel economy is crucial when choosing an SUV. It's also worth noting that the additional 3.6L V6 option on the Acadia adds some increased performance giving you 310 hp and 271 lb-ft. This bump comes at a cost, though, as the fuel economy takes a slight dip, offering you 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway while in FWD.
Looking inside the Acadia and Pilot’s cabins reveals two SUVs that go about different ways in presenting their interiors; however, both vehicles are similar in many ways too. For example, you’ll fit nearly identically when driving both SUVs with a matching 41-inches of front legroom and 40-inches of front headroom on the Acadia, the latter of which is increased only by 1% on the Pilot, a non-distinguishable difference.
Both the 2023 Acadia and Pilot come with cloth seating, but moving up to higher-tier trim levels can instead include genuine leather. Both midsize SUVs have large sun and moonroofs, but the Acadia’s is separated into two separate mechanisms, meaning people in the back can add extra light or shade as they see fit without interfering with the driver.
Honda seems to have missed the memo regarding what people have come to expect from vehicles released for the 2023 model year. By comparison, the 2023 Acadia makes most of this tech available at a far lower price. Many people are looking for their vehicles to have enough tech to keep them running smoothly with relevant software for years to come.
The base-level Pilot models still feel rather last-generation by comparison. Although not considered a game-changer, the 8-inch infotainment center in the Acadia allows for slightly more screen real estate than the 7-inch infotainment center that comes with the Pilot. Honda does offer an available 9-inch screen with higher-end Pilot models, but at that point, you may be looking at a price point you’re not all too comfortable with.
It’s not screen size that makes the largest difference between the base Acadia and Pilot infotainment centers; it’s the software inside. The Pilot includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as you’d expect. However, the more popular and arguably more useful wireless variants of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are instead reserved for the EX-L trim and upwards.
The 2023 Acadia, on the other hand, doesn’t shy away from giving drivers these features at no extra price. The base model Acadia is simply more customizable in many ways, especially on the base configuration. Not only does the 2023 Acadia come standard with a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot, but it also can be equipped with a wireless charging pad. How does the Pilot fare? The 2023 Honda Pilot not only doesn’t have an available hotspot of any kind, but the wireless charging pad is again restricted to the EX-L trim and up.
To many SUV drivers, safety is of the utmost importance. Many purchase midsize SUVs to comfortably and reliably drive around town and beyond with their family, or even those who use their midsize SUVs for commuting with co-workers. Both the 2023 GMC Acadia and the 2023 Honda Pilot have safety suites deserving of praise amongst their competition. However, the GMC Acadia has some advantages, not only in the form of standard features that are pricier on Honda’s offering but certain features that GM has been implementing in its various brands, some of which Honda hasn’t fully caught up on yet.
Real-world owners of both vehicles have also unanimously concluded via J.D. Power that the 2023 GMC Acadia both exceeds the Pilot in Quality and Reliability, along with their overall rating. The 2023 GMC Acadia gets an overall 84% on J.D. Power’s consumer-verified rating against 81% for the Pilot. The Quality and Reliability rating sees the 2023 Acadia with 85% over the Pilot’s 81%.
Both the GMC Acadia and Pilot have safety suites, as mentioned. These safety suites are in the form of the GMC Pro Safety and Honda Sensing. There are many similarities between the two safety suites, including the Forward Collision Warning and Collision Mitigation Braking System being matched with the Forward Collision Alert, Automatic Emergency Braking, and Front Pedestrian Braking on the Acadia.
Other features include Lane Keep Assist and Lane Departure Warning are also met with similar features on Honda’s SUV, but only the Acadia comes standard with a blind-spot monitor. The Blind Spot Information System with Cross Traffic Monitor is instead relegated to any trim but the base Pilot. Another feature that separates the Acadia from the Pilot is the Teen Driver safety package that comes with each SUV. This set of features is the perfect set of tools to teach any newly-licensed drivers proper road etiquette, even when you, the parent, aren’t in the vehicle with them, thanks to the ability to control things like speed limit and radio volume.
Finding the right vehicle is made far easier when you visit a dealership you can trust, matching you with the perfect automobile that speaks to everything you want in your next car. Welcome to Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Atlanta, where your next vehicle is one trip away, but if you’re unsure what you want and are interested in window shopping our lot or taking a test drive, we welcome it and encourage it too. Our friendly and knowledgeable team will be more than happy to walk you through our extensive selection of GMC models, including the exciting 2023 GMC Acadia.
Finding the right dealership is equally as important as the right vehicle, and many may find it trivial; how can a dealership ruin your overall car-buying experience? Nobody ever forgets about getting a bad deal, so we supply our customers with the best prices so that you always associate your vehicle with a great bargain, maybe even one that you may find too good to be true.
But our dedicated customer service continues even after the keys are put in your hand; Rick Hendrick Buick GMC Duluth is also proud to support drivers in the greater area of Atlanta with high-quality maintenance by our on-site certified technicians. Thanks to our dedicated service center, we have you covered with anything you may need, whether it's a simple oil change or a more complex repair. That's our commitment to all of our customers, and we look forward to getting you behind the wheel of a great vehicle like the exceptional 2023 GMC Acadia!
*Images, fuel economy, and other stats, may reflect higher trim levels, options, or features that may result in a higher cost from the starting MSRP.
MSRP excludes tax, license, registration, additional options, and possible destination charges. Dealers set own prices.