2025 Honda Pilot vs 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE

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 interior was thoughtfully designed with quality materials, though the digital driver display and infotainment system appeared dated.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE, last redesigned in 2020 and facelifted in 2024, was not a carbon copy of other Mercedes SUVs. It had a rounded profile reminiscent of previous generations, with squared-off wheel arches and a horizontal grille and headlights giving it a wide stance. The GLE Coupe models exaggerated these proportions with a bulky lower body and a tapered fastback-style roofline. The interior offered a variety of colours beyond the usual black, grey, and tan, with features like chunky air vents, mesh speaker grilles for the optional Burmester audio system, and 64-colour ambient lighting. The GLE's interior felt upscale and special, with a Yacht Blue interior available in the U.S. but not in Canada.

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 setup 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 the Intelligent Variable Torque Management AWD system, offering hill descent control and up to 18.5 centimetres of ground clearance. The AWD system's torque vectoring allowed 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 less impressive, with city driving averaging 15.9 litres per 100 kilometres. The Pilot's handling was predictable and secure, with a compliant suspension benefiting typical driving situations.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered five powertrain options, including a plug-in hybrid and two AMG options. The GLE 350 featured a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a mild hybrid system, producing 255 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The GLE 450 4Matic had a 3.0-litre turbocharged inline-six with 375 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque. The GLE 450e 4Matic combined a turbo-four with electric assist for 381 hp and 479 lb-ft, plus 80 kilometres of electric range. The AMG GLE 53 4Matic+ used an uprated inline-six for 429 hp and 413 lb-ft, achieving 0-100 km/h in 5.0 seconds. The AMG GLE 63 S 4Matic+ featured a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 with 603 hp and 627 lb-ft, reaching 0-100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. The GLE's refinement impressed, though it felt larger than it was, making maneuvering in tight spaces challenging.

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 trips. The second-row seats were roomy, with a removable centre section for captain's chairs. The third row was habitable for adults if the second row slid forward. The Pilot offered 635 litres of cargo space behind the third row, with a maximum of 3,219 litres when both rear rows were folded. The hands-free power tailgate and remote engine starting system added convenience.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE was available in two-row and three-row configurations, though third-row space specs were not published. The front seats offered a high seating position, but visibility was limited. Second-row passengers enjoyed slightly more space than in most competitor SUVs. The GLE provided 894 litres of cargo space behind the second row, with a maximum of 1,790 litres when all seats were folded. The centre console offered reasonable storage for small items. The GLE's towing capacity was 3,500 kilograms, matching the Audi Q7.

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 the voice recognition system was hit-and-miss. The 12-speaker Bose audio system was adequate but not exceptional. The CabinTalk feature allowed the driver to communicate with passengers over the stereo speakers.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured a pair of 12.3-inch screens for the digital instrument cluster and infotainment system, creating a continuous horizontal display. The MBUX system included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in navigation, and multiple access methods. The voice recognition system was effective, and the AMG GLE 63 S Coupe offered additional drive modes and settings. Some GLE models had an off-road display and a "transparent hood" function for the 360-degree camera system, enhancing off-road capability.

The 2025 Honda Pilot came with standard Honda Sensing safety features, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. However, the adaptive cruise control had issues in traffic, and the lane-centring assist system affected steering feel. The Pilot earned high marks in crash tests, with the IIHS naming it a Top Safety Pick+ and the NHTSA giving it a five-star overall rating.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz GLE offered a range of driver-assist features, though some were optional. Standard features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and blind spot monitoring. The optional Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control and other advanced features. The IIHS named the GLE a Top Safety Pick+, though its front-crash prevention tech received mixed ratings. The NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the 2025 model year at the time of writing.