2025 Jeep Wrangler vs 2025 Honda Pilot

The 2025 Honda Pilot was available in Canada in several trims, including Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Black Edition. The Sport trim was the most affordable, but it lacked many appealing amenities, making the leather-lined EX-L a recommended upgrade. Prices ranged from $55,486 to $67,236, including destination charges and dealer fees. The U.S. version of the Pilot Black Edition was evaluated, featuring black wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, and black badges. Inside, it offered black leather seats with red perforation accents, red contrast stitching, and red ambient lighting. The Black Edition's custom look was more suited for suburban environments, while the TrailSport trim offered added off-roading capability. The Pilot's interior was thoughtfully designed with quality materials, though the digital driver display and infotainment system appeared dated.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S hardtop, evaluated in a black-on-black-on-black colour scheme, was not ideal for a tropical climate. In Canada, the Wrangler was offered in Sport, Sport S, Willys, Sahara, Rubicon, and Rubicon X trims, with prices ranging from $42,995 to $80,085. The Sport S four-door model had a few options, including a black hardtop and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with an automatic transmission, bringing the MSRP to $66,070. Despite its price, the Wrangler's interior focused on function over form, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system and a design rooted in a World War II military vehicle. The Wrangler was known for its capability to go almost anywhere, though it lacked sophistication compared to most new cars.

The 2025 Honda Pilot was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, generating 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This drivetrain allowed the Pilot to tow up to 2,268 kilograms. It featured multiple driving modes, including Normal, Econ, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand. In Canada, all Pilots came with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD system, offering hill descent control and up to 18.5 centimetres of ground clearance. The AWD system included torque vectoring, allowing up to 70 percent of engine output to flow to a single rear wheel. The Pilot's V6 provided good acceleration, though the transmission sometimes felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was not impressive, with an average of 14.1 L/100 km during evaluation. The Pilot's handling was predictable and secure, with a compliant suspension that benefited typical driving situations.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a standard 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission or an optional turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The four-cylinder engine produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with a Natural Resources Canada rating of 11.0 L/100 km in combined driving. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it capable in various terrains. However, it had a three-star rollover resistance rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Wrangler's ride was rough, with a disconnected on-centre steering feel. Despite these traits, the Wrangler remained popular for its off-road capabilities.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seats and thoughtful storage solutions. However, the Black Edition's front passenger seat had limited adjustment options, which could be a deal-breaker for long road trips. The second-row seats were roomy, with a removable centre section for creating captain's chairs. The third row was habitable for adults, though not particularly comfortable. The Pilot offered a triple-zone automatic climate control system and a panoramic sunroof on top trims. Cargo space was generous, with 635 litres behind the third row and up to 3,219 litres with both rear rows folded.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler posed challenges for entry and exit due to its high ground clearance and narrow door openings. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was comfortable, and the Convenience Group option added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small bins and flimsy nets. Cargo access was cumbersome, requiring the tailgate and rear window to be opened separately. The four-door model offered 897 litres of cargo space, expandable to 2,050 litres with the back seat folded.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with smaller display screens compared to rivals. The Black Edition featured a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and wireless smartphone charging. However, the wireless CarPlay function had issues, and Honda's voice recognition system was inconsistent. The 12-speaker Bose audio system was adequate but not exceptional. The Pilot included a CabinTalk feature for driver-passenger communication and a small four-inch head-up display.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was a highlight, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Sport S trim came with a standard eight-speaker stereo, with an optional nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system. Jeep Connect offered adventure guides and GPS trail logs for off-road navigation. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, and a remote engine starting system. Rear parking sensors were available in the Safety Group option pack.

The 2025 Honda Pilot came with a comprehensive suite of standard Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. However, the adaptive cruise control had issues in thick traffic, and the lane-centring assist system affected steering feel. The Pilot earned high marks in crash tests, with a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler introduced side curtain airbags as standard equipment for the front and rear seats. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was only available on the Sahara trim. The Wrangler had a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the Wrangler Good for side-impact protection but Marginal in the small overlap frontal-impact test.