The Honda Pilot and the Hyundai Tucson are both popular in the SUV segment. Family cars are a huge decision, and you want to get the low down on a few of the models out there. The Honda Pilot is an obvious family choice that can compete with even epic minivan competition like the Honda Odyssey. But the Hyundai Tucson –– though it lacks a third row –– has a lot to offer, too.

We love the Pilot. But that doesn’t mean the Hyundai Tucson doesn’t have anything on Honda’s family sized SUV. We’ll go through a little run down of something the things that the 2020 Hyundai Tucson does better that the 2020 Honda Pilot.

Better fuel economy

The Hyundai Tucson has undeniably better gas mileage, even equipped with AWD. A base model Honda Pilot gets 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The Hyundai Tucson, on the other hand, gets 23 mpg city and 28 mpg highway in its base model.

Especially for city driving, the 2020 Hyundai Tucson has the 2020 Honda Pilot beat. If you don’t mind sacrificing the Pilot’s power in exchange for improved fuel economy, the Tucson may rise above the Pilot on your list. Especially if you don’ need the third row seating.

Hyundai Assurance

The Hyundai factory warranty, which includes extras like Hyundai Assurance, is an industry leader. The Hyundai warranty is one of the best around and few other warranties can compete. A Hyundai Tucson is covered for about twice the years/distance as the Honda Pilot. Hondas may have a reputation for reliability, but their warranty definitely isn’t winning over Hyundai’s.

More color options

Sure, the color of a car isn’t supposed to have much to do with your choice when it comes to find a practical family car. But colors are fun. Color choices can be the difference between walking out to the practical vehicle that you bought in “whatever color they had” and feeling that pitter patter feeling when you walk out to your new Tucson in aqua blue or gemstone red.

The 2020 Honda Pilot is offered in just four colors that are all some variant of white, black, or gray. The Hyundai Tucson on the other hand, sports nine color options. These include similar colors to Honda’s grays, black, and white for the Pilot, but also more unique colors like sage brown.

Infotainment connectivity

On the base model, the Hyundai offers what Car and Driver calls a “full-fledged infotainment system with a 7.0-inch touchscreen.” The 2020 Tucson offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as a standard feature. The 2020 Honda Pilot can’t say the same.

If you buy a base model Honda Pilot you are looking at a serious downgrade. A 5.0-inch display comes equipped with raw minimum basics. Connectivity features such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay come only as added features on the LX trim.

The price

The 2020 Honda Pilot has so much to offer in its higher trims levels. But its starting prices range from $32,645 – $50,715. The Hyundai Tucson, while it differs from the Pilot in many ways, is offered starting between $24,670 – $33,020. You pay dearly for that third row and the performance associated with the Honda name.

The takeaway

The Honda Pilot is a great SUV for families, but it comes with a way higher price tag than the Hyundai Tucson. If you don’t need a third row and you’re just looking for a reasonably fun and reliable family vehicle, the Tucson could be a huge contender. The price difference alone could sway buyers looking for a family SUV with a great warranty. If you need a third row and still don’t want to pay the Honda price, the Hyundai Palisade or Kia Telluride are great SUVs to check out.