2025 Toyota Sienna 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 Black Edition, which was evaluated in the U.S., featured distinctive 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, creating a unique aesthetic. The Pilot's design aimed for a rugged look, especially with the TrailSport trim, but the Black Edition's custom appearance was more suited for suburban environments. Despite its thoughtful interior design and quality materials, the Pilot's digital displays and infotainment system seemed dated, lacking a significant "wow factor."

The 2025 Toyota Sienna, with its trapezoidal grille and upswept body lines, maintained the traditional minivan look but with some modern styling cues. The Platinum package introduced new flower-petal wheel designs. Despite its attempts at style, the Sienna remained a practical choice for those needing seating for up to eight. The top-of-the-line Limited with the Platinum package, tested in a new Magnetic Grey paint, offered a refreshed interior with a woodgrain finish, though not all passengers appreciated the aesthetic. The Sienna's design prioritized practicality, with easy access to seating and generous storage space, making it a reliable choice for families.

The 2025 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, producing 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. The Pilot's AWD system, standard in Canada, offered torque vectoring and hill descent control, with ground clearance up to 21 centimetres in the TrailSport trim. While the V6 provided good acceleration, the transmission occasionally felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was a concern, with city driving averaging 15.9 L/100 km, falling short of official ratings. The Pilot's handling was predictable, though an adaptive-damping suspension system could have improved ride quality on certain trims.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured a hybrid powertrain with a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine and a CVT, delivering a net horsepower of 245. It offered FWD as standard, with an optional AWD system. The Sienna could tow up to 1,587 kilograms. Despite its lower horsepower, the electric assist motor provided immediate torque, preventing the Sienna from feeling sluggish. The hybrid system prioritized fuel economy, with an official rating of 6.6 L/100 km in combined driving. However, during testing, it averaged 8.9 L/100 km. The Sienna's handling was secure but not particularly engaging, with a smooth ride quality. The XSE trim offered a sport-tuned suspension for a slightly more dynamic drive.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seating and practical storage solutions. However, the front passenger seat's limited adjustability was a drawback for long trips. The second-row seats were roomy, with a removable centre section for easy access to the third row. The Pilot offered 635 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 3,219 litres with both rear rows folded. Features like a hands-free power tailgate and a triple-zone climate control system added to its family-friendly appeal.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna offered unique seating and cargo solutions, with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats. The second-row captain's chairs with ottoman-style leg rests were popular with passengers, and the third row accommodated adults comfortably. The Sienna provided 949 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 2,860 litres. However, its maximum cargo capacity was less than rivals due to the non-removable second-row seats. The Sienna's design prioritized ease of use, with sliding side doors and a hands-free power liftgate.

The 2025 Honda Pilot featured a 10.2-inch digital gauge panel and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. However, the wireless CarPlay function was problematic, and the voice recognition system was inconsistent. The Pilot's CabinTalk feature allowed the driver to communicate with passengers over the stereo speakers, and a small head-up display was included.

The 2025 Toyota Sienna offered a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen for the Toyota Audio Multimedia system. The Limited trim included a four-zone climate control system, a 10-inch head-up display, and a digital rearview mirror. The TAM system provided access to connected services, with a digital assistant that responded well to commands. The Sienna's 12-speaker JBL audio system had excessive bass, but the four-zone climate control and digital rearview camera were appreciated features.

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

The 2025 Toyota Sienna featured TSS 2.0, with forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The system generally worked well, though the lane-centring assist could waver. The Sienna added a rear-seat reminder system for 2025. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but its frontal crash-test result was lower, with only three stars for driver protection.