Honda Pilot

One of the things we love most about the modern Honda lineup is that it has something for pretty much every driver, including impressive sedans, stylish crossovers, and a spacious minivan. Within this remarkable selection of vehicles, it says a lot that the Honda Pilot shines bright as a stunning example of everything we look for in a midsize crossover SUV. With three rows of seating, the Pilot is a terrific SUV that works well for a wide range of drivers—and it's been available since the 2003 model year, which tells you just how much of a crowd favorite it must be. This is the largest SUV in Honda’s lineup, followed by the midsize Passport, which has only two rows of seating and leans toward a sportier design.

Since its debut more than 20 years ago, the Pilot has been through numerous generations and changes, becoming more innovative and remarkable with each passing year. This model is largely focused on the needs of American drivers (although it had been available in Japan in some previous years) with a grand design and a spacious interior for numerous passengers. After its introduction in 2003, Honda gave the Pilot a facelift and update for the 2006 model year, followed by the launch of an all-new second-generation Pilot in 2009. With its second generation, the Pilot received a truck-inspired redesign, grew in size to provide passengers with more room, and gained a powerful new engine.

Following this launch of a second generation, Honda gave the Pilot a facelift for the 2012 model year that included a bold new look with numerous updates inside and out. A third generation of the Honda Pilot kicked off with the 2016 model year; this got a facelift for the 2019 model year, and a third-generation Pilot was launched in 2023. It's clearly been through a fair number of changes and updates since it first hit the road, which has kept the Pilot fresh and contemporary across all these years of improvements. Today, the Honda Pilot remains a stunning and sophisticated example of what a midsize three-row SUV can be, delivering robust power, a gorgeous interior, and remarkable safety technology.

MSRP: $39,900 ^[a]

Max. Cargo (cu.ft.): 111.8

Max. Occupancy (seats): 8

Fuel Economy (city/hwy MPG): 19/27 ^[b]

For the 2012 model year, Honda gives the second-generation Pilot a facelift and major update that includes a bold and sporty new look plus plenty of other great features inside and out. This update does not include a full redesign, but the changes are substantial and immediately obvious, starting with the refreshed exterior. The new look for the Honda Pilot includes a reinvigorated front fascia with an updated front grille that complements its overall truck-inspired feel with a stronger front end. This is joined by new alloy wheels that look stunning and hold up well throughout many miles of driving, plus bumper changes that complete its appearance and help keep you safe in case of a collision. Revised tuning has improved fuel economy for the 2012 Pilot, making it one of the top options in its class with better gas mileage than the previous year’s model.

The interior of the Honda Pilot also enjoys some updates and improvements for the 2012 model year, including a beautifully reorganized control scheme for the central entertainment system. You will find plenty of physical buttons and controls, which have been arranged in a way that makes them logical and easy to use, addressing some concerns about previous model years in this generation. The interior is also incredibly spacious and comfortable—as you would expect from a three-row SUV—and rear-seat legroom is ideal for smaller passengers. There is plenty of storage, comfortable seating options (including leather upholstery), and expanded Bluetooth functionality for audio streaming from devices to the Pilot’s entertainment system.

With the 2016 model, Honda launched a third generation for the Pilot with a full redesign that includes a sleeker, sportier exterior meant to address the complaints of those drivers who were not fans of the truck-like, boxier look of the second generation. In terms of exterior dimensions, the 2016 Honda Pilot is shorter than its predecessor but also longer, creating more room inside due to smart design choices and styling inspired by the incredibly spacious Honda Odyssey minivan. Honda’s designers have also made the Pilot lighter with this model by utilizing ultra-high-strength steel and similar materials while also reducing noise and vibrations to create a more enjoyable driving experience day after day. The exterior is beautiful and refined, reducing drag while also drawing envious looks from everyone you drive past.

This nicer driving experience is punctuated beautifully by a new 3.5L V6 engine that delivers 280 hp and comes paired with one of two transmissions: a standard six-speed automatic or an all-new nine-speed automatic for improved acceleration smoothness. With cylinder deactivation and stop/start technology, the third-generation Pilot is also incredibly efficient and designed to keep your gas costs down. Newly available second-row captain’s chairs cut maximum seating from the standard eight passengers to seven, but the two people in your second row will likely appreciate the change. Available leather seating, soft-touch materials throughout the interior, and an 8.0-inch infotainment system all bring the Pilot into the modern era of automotive interiors, creating a midsize SUV that you will look forward to driving every day.

For the 2019 model year, Honda has given the midsize Pilot a makeover with a facelift and major refresh; it's not the start of a new generation, but it's a substantial update nevertheless. The first thing you will likely notice about the updated 2019 model is its exterior restyling that includes new bumpers, a new grille inspired by the design of the popular Odyssey minivan, and new wheels. We are particularly impressed by the new LED headlights and revised tail lights that are standard on all models, ensuring excellent visibility even when driving on dark roads. An available hands-free tailgate is a nice new touch, making it easier to load and unload items from the rear cargo area with your hands full.

In terms of performance, the engine and transmission options remain largely the same, though Honda has made adjustments to the available nine-speed automatic to provide smoother shifting and a more refined driving experience. The engine stop/start technology has also been updated to provide quicker starting so the system is less noticeable, along with greater A/C capacity to keep your cabin cool longer even when at a stop light with the engine off. Honda has updated the entertainment system, too, providing more physical controls and buttons (including a volume knob), with an 8.0-inch infotainment display standard in most models. Other tech features that are now available include a bigger screen for the rear entertainment system and Honda’s CabinTalk system that makes it easy to talk to people in the rear seats without shouting.

Although the 2022 Honda Pilot is neither the launch of a new generation nor a major facelift for this impressive model, there are a number of changes well worth exploring. For one thing, it carries over the improved nine-speed automatic transmission introduced with the 2019 model, which was made standard in all Pilots starting with the 2021 model year, so you get a fantastic driving experience that is smooth and responsive. Improved LED headlights are now standard on all Honda Pilot models, along with a number of upgrades for one simple reason: Honda has eliminated the two lowest trims—the LX and EX—for 2022; these have been replaced by a new Sport trim that brings better starting features to ensure you have a great driving experience no matter what your budget looks like.

One of these noteworthy improvements is that the 2022 Honda Pilot comes with an 8.0-inch infotainment display standard in all trims, while it was not a starting feature previously; this system includes support for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, ensuring that every Pilot has fantastic technology throughout its interior, making it fun and rewarding to drive. For 2022, Honda also introduces a new TrailSport trim for the Pilot, which includes black 18-inch wheels, standard all-wheel drive, and more than half an inch of improved ground clearance, making it the perfect option for reaching your favorite camping spot. The Honda Sensing suite of innovative safety technology is now standard in all Pilot trims, which includes a Forward Collision Warning with Automatic Emergency Braking, a Lane Departure Warning with a Lane Keeping Assist system, and Adaptive Cruise Control to keep you and your family safe.

More than 20 years after it first hit the road, the 2024 Honda Pilot embraces the second year of its fourth generation as a celebration of everything we have come to expect from this gorgeous midsize crossover SUV. In most ways, you will find everything that Honda introduced with its updated model last year; this means you get to enjoy the all-new, full redesign of the Pilot that includes an improved 3.5L V6 engine that delivers 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, which comes paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission. You get to enjoy an incredibly smooth and responsive driving experience, with available all-wheel drive designed to let you maintain control in slippery conditions when traction becomes precarious.

The TrailSport trim—first introduced in 2022—remains a fantastic option if you want something for doing some light off-roading; it is better than ever thanks to a one-inch factory lift and steel skid plates designed to protect the underside of the Pilot against obstacles on the trail. With numerous drive modes available, you can easily adjust different driving characteristics to adapt to changing conditions thanks to modes such as Sport, Snow, and Sand. Inside, you will find three rows and remarkable spaciousness, with comfortable seating for seven or eight passengers and lots of cargo room. While a 7.0-inch infotainment display and similar digital gauge cluster are standard, you can get a stunning 10.2-inch gauge cluster screen and a 9.0-inch infotainment display that lets you get the most from your Honda Pilot, particularly when paired with the available 12-speaker Bose Premium sound system.

The Honda Pilot keeps getting better than ever. For the 2025 model year, Honda has switched up the trim levels for the Pilot a bit and delivered some gorgeous new options. At its heart, the Pilot remains much the same, which is fine by us because it was already amazing; it features a standard 285-hp engine that makes it incredibly fun to drive, paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission to ensure you have a smooth and responsive driving experience. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, while all-wheel drive (AWD) is available; since we are huge fans of Honda’s AWD engineering, we would definitely pick a model with this drivetrain.

In previous years, the LX was the starting trim, and it set the stage for its standard features; the LX has been discontinued this year, so now the improved Sport trim is the new starting point, which ensures you get even better features in every Honda Pilot. If you are interested in heading off-road in your SUV or you expect to often encounter rugged terrain, then the TrailSport trim remains your best choice; you get the same great engine as the other Pilot trims, along with Honda’s second-gen Intelligent Variable Torque Management AWD system. Not only that, but standard Trail Torque Logic helps improve performance and traction in off-road conditions. This trim also has special drive modes (Trail and Sand), 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, front and rear recovery points, underbody skid plates for the engine and fuel tank, and an integrated Class III trailer hitch to further enhance its functionality on the trail.

The biggest addition for the 2025 model year is a new Black Edition, which not only enhances the Pilot but it is the new pinnacle trim. It has fantastic features on the outside, including rain-sensing windshield wipers; heated, gloss-black, power-folding, and auto-dimming side mirrors with integrated turn indicators; and a one-touch power panoramic moonroof. Inside, you will find a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated and ventilated leather seating, and a twelve-speaker Bose Premium sound system. What really sets this trim apart, however, is how it lives up to its name: it features gloss-black wheels, special Black Edition badging, and similar details on the exterior; inside, it has exclusive Black Edition logos, and the gorgeous upholstery has red stitching and similar accents to truly make it pop. All of this together creates a remarkable new peak trim for the Pilot that will have you excited to hit the road every day.

Finding the perfect vehicle is about more than choosing the right brand and picking a model and trim with all that you need; it's about working with a dealership that always puts your needs first. This makes it easy to consider a wide range of options that you might otherwise miss and drive away in a vehicle you love—and that is exactly what you will find here at Ralph Honda.

With one of our knowledgeable and friendly salespeople working alongside you, it'll be easy to consider everything the Honda lineup has to offer and choose the vehicle that perfectly meets your needs, whether that is the three-row Pilot, the midsize Passport, or any other option. Best of all, with our certified service center and Honda parts department here for you, you will always know where to go any time your vehicle needs routine maintenance or any other repairs for as long as you own it. Call or come visit us at Ralph Honda to enjoy a better way to shop for your next vehicle, and we will make sure you drive away satisfied.

__________

^[a] MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $1,395 destination charge, and accessories. Dealer prices may vary. MSRP does not include $455 charge for premium colors.
^[b] 19 city/27 highway/22 combined mpg rating for 2WD trims. 19 city/25 highway/21 combined mpg rating for non-TrailSport AWD trims. 18 city/23 highway/20 combined mpg rating for TrailSport. Based on 2025 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.