Honda Pilot vs Land Rover Discovery: Specs Compared
Also searched as Land Rover Discovery vs Honda Pilot specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Honda Pilot and Land Rover Discovery are evenly matched on fuel economy — both peak at 23 mpg combined — so the decision comes down to engine choice, drivetrain, and class.
Across 4 measured categories, the Honda Pilot leads in 3. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Honda Pilot
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 43 configurations
2015–2026
Land Rover Discovery
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 34 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Honda Pilot | Land Rover Discovery |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 23 mpg | 23 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 20 mpg | 21 mpg ✓ |
| Best highway MPG | 27 mpg ✓ | 26 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,650 ✓ | $3,450 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 388 g/mi ✓ | 395 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI, 3.5 | SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, 3.0 |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S10), Automatic (S9), Automatic 6-spd | Automatic (S9), Automatic (S8) |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Premium, Diesel |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2015–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 43 | 34 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Honda Pilot vs Land Rover Discovery dimensions and size
The Honda Pilot is 4.7 inches longer than the Land Rover Discovery on a wheelbase 1.2 inches shorter, and 324.1 lbs lighter. Both clear the roughly 200 inches of usable length in a standard single garage bay.
| Dimension | Honda Pilot (2026) | Land Rover Discovery (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 200 in | 195.3 in | 4.7 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 78.3 in | 78.3 in | identical |
| Height | 70.9 in | 74.4 in | 3.5 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 in | 115 in | 1.2 in |
| Curb weight | 4,522 lbs | 4,846 lbs | 324 lbs |
Width excludes mirrors; add 8–12 inches for mirrors out. Figures are for the newest model year on record for each vehicle. See both drawn to scale.
Honda Pilot vs Land Rover Discovery: what the numbers mean
Running cost over five years: at the EPA's 15,000-mile-a-year assumption the Honda Pilot burns about $2,650 of fuel annually against $3,450 for the Land Rover Discovery. That $800 yearly gap compounds to roughly $4,000 over five years and $6,400 over eight — often more than the price difference between two trims of the same vehicle, and the single largest running-cost line item separating these two.
City versus highway split: the Land Rover Discovery is the stronger commuter at 21 mpg city, while the Honda Pilot pulls ahead on the interstate at 27 mpg highway. If most of your driving is stop-and-go traffic the city figure is the one to weigh; for long-distance highway mileage the reverse is true, and the two vehicles effectively swap places depending on how you drive.
Powertrain choice: the Honda Pilot is recorded with 2 distinct engine configurations (SIDI, 3.5), the Land Rover Discovery with 3 (SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, 3.0). Across 43 recorded Honda Pilot configurations and 34 for the Land Rover Discovery, the wider the engine spread the more the real-world fuel efficiency depends on which version you actually buy, so check the specific model year and drivetrain rather than the headline number.
Drivetrain and class: the Honda Pilot is offered with All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive, the Land Rover Discovery with All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive. All-wheel drive typically costs one to two mpg combined against the same vehicle in front- or rear-wheel drive, which is worth remembering when the gap between these two is small. The EPA classes them as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD respectively — the class drives the interior volume, cargo space and passenger space each one is measured against.
Tailpipe emissions: at their cleanest configurations the Honda Pilot emits 388 g/mile of CO2 versus 395 g/mile for the Land Rover Discovery. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Pilot vs Discovery: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Honda Pilot or the Land Rover Discovery?
The Honda Pilot and Land Rover Discovery are evenly matched on fuel economy — both peak at 23 mpg combined — so the decision comes down to engine choice, drivetrain, and class.
Which costs less to run per year?
By EPA estimates at 15,000 miles a year, the Honda Pilot runs about $2,650 a year in fuel at its most efficient configuration, versus about $3,450 for the Land Rover Discovery — a difference of roughly $800 per year.
What engines do the Pilot and Discovery offer?
Honda Pilot: SIDI, 3.5. Land Rover Discovery: SIDI, SIDI; Mild Hybrid, 3.0.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Honda Pilot as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and the Land Rover Discovery as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Pilot comparisons
More Discovery comparisons
Comparison id: honda-pilot-vs-land-rover-discovery