Honda Pilot vs Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class: Specs Compared
Also searched as Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class vs Honda Pilot specs — both orientations show this same side-by-side comparison.
The Honda Pilot is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 23 mpg combined versus 21 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $950 less per year to fuel.
Across 4 measured categories, the Honda Pilot leads in 4. Figures are EPA test data, not manufacturer claims.
2015–2026
Honda Pilot
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD · 43 configurations
2017–2026
Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 35 configurations
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | Honda Pilot | Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class |
|---|---|---|
| Best combined MPG | 23 mpg ✓ | 21 mpg |
| Best city MPG | 20 mpg | 20 mpg |
| Best highway MPG | 27 mpg ✓ | 24 mpg |
| Lowest annual fuel costEPA estimate at 15,000 miles per year | $2,650 ✓ | $3,600 |
| Lowest CO2 output | 388 g/mi ✓ | 414 g/mi |
| Engines offered | SIDI, 3.5 | SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI |
| Transmissions | Automatic (S10), Automatic (S9), Automatic 6-spd | Automatic 9-spd, Automatic 7-spd |
| Drivetrains | All-Wheel Drive, Front-Wheel Drive | All-Wheel Drive, 4-Wheel Drive |
| Fuel types | Regular | Premium |
| EPA class | Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
| Years covered | 2015–2026 | 2017–2026 |
| Configurations on record | 43 | 35 |
Source: EPA fuel economy records via fueleconomy.gov. Best-case values across all recorded configurations for each model.
Honda Pilot vs Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class dimensions and size
The Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is 5.9 inches longer than the Honda Pilot on a wheelbase 9.4 inches longer, and 1,552 lbs heavier. At over 200 inches, the larger of the two is past the comfortable limit of a standard 192-inch single garage bay once you allow walking room.
| Dimension | Honda Pilot (2026) | Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class (2026) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 200 in | 205.9 in | 5.9 in |
| Width (excl. mirrors) | 78.3 in | 79.9 in | 1.6 in |
| Height | 70.9 in | 71.7 in | 0.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 113.8 in | 123.2 in | 9.4 in |
| Curb weight | 4,522 lbs | 6,074 lbs | 1,552 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 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class: 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 $3,600 for the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. That $950 yearly gap compounds to roughly $4,750 over five years and $7,600 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 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class is the stronger commuter at 20 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 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class with 2 (SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI). Across 43 recorded Honda Pilot configurations and 35 for the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, 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 Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class 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 414 g/mile for the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class. Emissions track fuel consumption almost exactly, so the cleaner vehicle here is also the cheaper one to fuel.
Pilot vs GLS-Class: common questions
Which is better on gas, the Honda Pilot or the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class?
The Honda Pilot is the more efficient of the two: it reaches 23 mpg combined versus 21 mpg for the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class, a 2 mpg advantage and costs about $950 less per year to fuel.
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 $3,600 for the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class — a difference of roughly $950 per year.
What engines do the Pilot and GLS-Class offer?
Honda Pilot: SIDI, 3.5. Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class: SIDI; Mild Hybrid, SIDI.
Are they in the same vehicle class?
The EPA classifies the Honda Pilot as Small Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class as Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, so they aren't a like-for-like match on size.
More Pilot comparisons
More GLS-Class comparisons
Comparison id: honda-pilot-vs-mercedes-benz-gls-class