Compare the2025 Honda PilotVS 2025 Kia EV9

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Recommendations

Safety

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The Honda Pilot has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The EV9 doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Pilot deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Pilot’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The EV9’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

The Honda Pilot’s Multi-View Camera System offers available integrated front and rear camera washers, ensuring clear, all-weather visibility without the need for manual cleaning. In contrast, the Kia EV9 lacks camera washers, requiring you to manually clean the cameras for optimal performance.

Both the Pilot and the EV9 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Pilot is safer than the Kia EV9:

	Pilot	EV9
	Driver
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	28.9%	31.9%
Leg Forces (l/r)	178/233 lbs.	273/407 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.5 inches	.8 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	396/388 lbs.	462/471 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Pilot is safer than the Kia EV9:

	Pilot	EV9
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	59 lbs.	87 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	43 G’s
Hip Force	444 lbs.	728 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Pilot’s 5 year corrosion warranty has no mileage limitations, but the corrosion warranty on the EV9 runs out after 100,000 miles.

There are over 34 percent more Honda dealers than there are Kia dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Pilot’s warranty.

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Pilot’s reliability 17 points higher than the EV9.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than Kia vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda fourth in overall reliability. Kia is ranked 9th.

Engine

The Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 84 more horsepower (285 vs. 201) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the EV9 Light Long Range’s standard electric motor. The Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 70 more horsepower (285 vs. 215) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the EV9 Light’s standard electric motor.

Tires and Wheels

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 EV9 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 EV9; it requires you to depend on roadside assistance and your vehicle will have to be towed.

Suspension and Handling

The Pilot TrailSport handles at .85 G’s, while the EV9 Land AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Pilot TrailSport’s turning circle is 2.9 feet tighter than the EV9’s (37.7 feet vs. 40.6 feet). The Pilot’s turning circle is 2.8 feet tighter than the EV9’s (37.8 feet vs. 40.6 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Pilot TrailSport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the EV9 (8.3 vs. 7.8 inches), allowing the Pilot to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Honda Pilot may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 800 to 1150 pounds less than the Kia EV9.

The Pilot uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The EV9 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver while cruising at 70 MPH, the interior of the Pilot TrailSport is quieter than the EV9 GT-Line AWD (66 vs. 67 dB).

Passenger Space

The Pilot offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the EV9 can only carry up to 7.

The Pilot has .3 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear shoulder room, 1.7 inches more third row legroom, 2.7 inches more third row hip room and 4.5 inches more third row shoulder room than the EV9.

Cargo Capacity

The Pilot’s cargo area provides more volume than the EV9.

	Pilot	EV9
Behind Third Seat	21.8 cubic feet	20.2 cubic feet
Third Seat Folded	59.5 cubic feet	n/a
Third Seat Removed	n/a	43.5 cubic feet
Max Cargo Volume	111.8 cubic feet	81.7 cubic feet

The Pilot’s cargo area is larger than the EV9’s in almost every dimension:

	Pilot	EV9
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	19.4”/51.3”/84.2”	22”/51.1”/84”
Max Width	57.6”	52.3”
Min Width	44.7”	41.7”
Height	33.9”	32.3”

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Pilot. The EV9 doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Towing

The Pilot’s minimum standard towing capacity is much higher than the EV9’s (3500 vs. 2000 pounds).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Honda service is better than Kia. J.D. Power ranks Honda 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 41% lower rating, Kia is ranked 27th.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Pilot and the Kia EV9, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Honda Pilot outsold the Kia EV9 by over six to one during 2024.

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