Compare the2023 Honda PilotVS 2022 Lexus RXL

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Pilot are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The RXL doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Both the Pilot and the RXL have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Pilot for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RXL (2/24,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

On the EPA test cycle the Pilot gets better mileage than the RXL:

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Pilot’s fuel efficiency. The RXL doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Pilot uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 450hL requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Pilot has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the RXL Hybrid’s standard fuel tank (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Pilot has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The RXL doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Pilot, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RXL.

For better stopping power the Pilot’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the RXL:

For better traction, the Pilot has larger standard tires than the RXL (255/50R20 vs. 235/65R18). The Pilot TrailSport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RXL (265/60R18 vs. 235/65R18).

The Pilot EX-L’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 60 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RXL’s standard 65 series tires. The Pilot Sport/Touring/Elite’s tires have a lower 50 series profile than the RXL’s optional 55 series tires.

The Pilot has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The RXL doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Pilot TrailSport has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the RXL; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Pilot’s wheelbase is 4 inches longer than on the RXL (113.8 inches vs. 109.8 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Pilot is 2.9 inches wider in the front and 3.6 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RXL.

For better maneuverability, the Pilot’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the RXL’s (37.8 feet vs. 38.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Pilot TrailSport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the RXL (8.3 vs. 8.1 inches), allowing the Pilot to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The front grille of the Pilot uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The RXL doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Pilot uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RXL doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Pilot offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the RXL can only carry 7.

The Pilot has 41.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the RXL (158.4 vs. 117).

The Pilot has .7 inches more front headroom, 2.6 inches more front hip room, 3.6 inches more front shoulder room, 1.7 inches more rear headroom, 9.9 inches more rear legroom, 1.6 inches more rear hip room, 3.9 inches more rear shoulder room, 4.5 inches more third row headroom, 9 inches more third row legroom, .8 inches more third row hip room and 13.8 inches more third row shoulder room than the RXL.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Pilot’s middle and third row seats recline. The RXL’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Pilot’s cargo area provides more volume than the RXL.

The Pilot’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the RXL’s (3500 vs. 0 pounds).

A Trailer Stability Assist is standard on the Pilot, using the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. A trailer sway program costs extra on the RXL.

The Pilot’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The RXL’s cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Honda Pilot outsold the Lexus RX by 3526 units during 2022.