2025 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE

In Canada, the 2025 Honda Pilot was available 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 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE was available in nine versions in Canada, with prices ranging from $85,400 to $172,400 before fees. Assembled in Alabama, the GLE 450 model featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology. The GLE 450 had standard AWD and came with the Exclusive Trim Package, which included exclusive Manufaktur paint, 21-inch wheels, a Night Package, and a panoramic sunroof. The GLE's exterior design was considered bland, but the interior was elegantly detailed with quality materials, including matte-finish wood and metallic accents. The GLE's cabin was luxurious, with sophisticated digital displays and a classy steering wheel. The climate controls were separate from the centre touchscreen, and the touch-sensing controls on the steering wheel worked reasonably well.

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. It could tow up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) and offered various driving modes, including Normal, Econ, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand. The Pilot featured Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD system, providing hill descent control and up to 18.5 centimetres of ground clearance (21 centimetres for the TrailSport). The AWD system allowed up to 70 percent of engine output to flow to a single rear wheel (75 percent in the TrailSport). The V6 provided good acceleration, but the transmission sometimes felt slow to downshift. Fuel economy was unimpressive, with an average of 14.1 L/100 km during testing. The Pilot's handling was predictable and secure, with a compliant suspension that benefited typical driving situations.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE 450 featured a turbocharged 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid technology, producing 375 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque. It had a nine-speed automatic transmission and offered Eco, Comfort, Sport, Off-Road, and Individual driving modes. The GLE 450 had a towing capacity of 3,500 kilograms (7,700 pounds) and included features like Downhill Speed Regulation and a "transparent hood" camera view. The standard suspension allowed too much unwanted body motion, and the steering felt numb and overassisted in Comfort mode. The sport braking system resisted fade during enthusiastic driving, but the brakes felt grabby in typical situations. The GLE's fuel economy was decent, matching the Natural Resources Canada rating of 11.2 L/100 km in combined driving.

The 2025 Honda Pilot excelled in form and function, with three rows of comfortable seats and thoughtful storage solutions. The Black Edition's front row had a potential deal-breaker with the front passenger seat offering only four-way adjustment. 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 had 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 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE's front seats were firm but comfortable, with "energizing seat kinetics" to reduce fatigue. The back seat was roomy but had a low seating position relative to the windowsills. A third-row seat was an expensive option, adding two extra chairs with USB-C charging ports. The GLE offered 943 litres of cargo space behind the back seat and up to 2,120 litres with the back seat folded. The cargo area included a netted compartment, robust hooks, and a cargo cover.

The 2025 Honda Pilot's technology appeared dated, with smaller display screens compared to rivals. The Black Edition had 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 a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The wireless CarPlay function had issues, and the voice recognition system was hit-and-miss. The CabinTalk feature allowed the driver to communicate with passengers over the stereo speakers.

The 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE featured the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen. The Exclusive Package added a Burmester surround-sound audio system and augmented-reality video for navigation. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, along with SiriusXM satellite radio and Mercedes Digital Extras. The native digital voice assistant performed well, with only minor issues.

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. The Black Edition had parking sensors and a multi-view camera system. 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 2026 Mercedes-Benz GLE's standard safety tech included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind spot monitoring, and Pre-Safe Sound. The Driver Assistance Package added adaptive cruise control, lane keep and centring assist, and other features. The GLE's driver aids worked well, but the route-based speed-adjustment feature was a source of aggravation. The GLE earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, but the NHTSA had not rated it at the time of writing.