Execs: Distinctive storage and cargo house; distinctive second-row performance; refined trip; versatile and succesful TrailSport; superior AWD
Cons: Subpar acceleration with lackadaisical transmission and engine response; so-so driver help tech
Now in its third mannequin yr since a whole redesign, the Honda Pilot has settled into its ordinary place within the three-row SUV phase as a secure, strong selection that does nearly the whole lot properly. It’s undoubtedly not essentially the most trendy choose, however in contrast to the previous era, it’s not painfully boring. Its design is chiseled, unfussy and will age properly, identical to one of the best Hondas of outdated. That mentioned, the 2025 Honda Pilot spruces issues up as a brand new/resurrected range-topping mannequin with black-out trim and red-accented leather-based. There’s additionally our choose of the litter, the off-road-oriented TrailSport that boasts cooler seems and larger functionality with minimal tradeoff.
Actually, in the event you had been searching for one phrase to summarize the Pilot it could be “versatile.” That applies to its ample storage up entrance, copious cupholders all through and a cargo space that swallows extra stuff than you’d count on. Most of all, although, it boasts a singular, detachable second-row center seat that permits the Pilot to be each a seven- and eight-passenger car. No want to decide on between a bench or captain’s chairs on the dealership. The seat may even be stowed below the cargo ground, though not within the TrailSport (its spare tire is just too massive), which is why it’s seven-passenger solely. True, the seat is a bit cumbersome to take away and also you in all probability received’t routinely take away or add it, however we assure you there can be moments once you’ll be pleased about it – particularly in the event you’re leaning towards captain’s chairs in a competitor.
Selecting a Pilot shouldn’t be a slam dunk – there are lots of nice selections to contemplate. Some are extra luxurious or cheaper, others extra highly effective or partaking to drive, however we expect the Pilot’s well-rounded excellence makes it an important selection for lots of people.
Inside & Expertise | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gas Economic system
What it is prefer to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Scores & Security Options
What’s new for 2025?
The bottom LX trim degree is not any extra, which means the bottom worth has gone up significantly for the reason that $41,295 Sport turns into the de facto ground. On the opposite finish of the trim degree ladder, the Pilot Black Version (pictured above) makes its return as the brand new range-topping mannequin. It builds upon the loaded Elite trim degree with gloss-black 20-inch wheels, a gloss-black grille bar and mirror housings, and extra non-gloss black trim within the bumpers, doorways and home windows. It additionally will get “Black Version” badging due to course it does. Just like the previous-generation Pilot Black Version, the inside sees particular red-accented black leather-based together with emblem’d ground mats and seats.
What are the Pilot inside and in-car expertise like?
After sitting in a Hyundai Palisade, the Pilot could come throughout as a bit plain. There’s no showy trim or fanciful lighting. However, there’s an class to its minimal adornment and crisp horizontal traces. It’s harking back to Land Rover interiors – clear, practical, timeless. It’s additionally a lot better than what was there within the final Pilot (and what survives within the Passport).
The Pilot inside is finally all about intelligent packaging and considerate design. When it comes to storage, the entrance middle console options a big, grippy flat house for telephones or no matter, the doorways have bins in addition to bottle holders, there’s a bit shelf within the sprint, and the entrance seatbacks have sleeves constructed into them to carry your telephone. There’s additionally intelligent storage within the cargo space, together with a double-sided ground with carpet on one aspect and washable plastic on the opposite, however we’ll handle the remainder of the cargo space within the subsequent part.
When it comes to expertise, the Pilot gives two touchscreen choices. The Sport has a 7-inch unit that’s moderately rudimentary when it comes to its performance and look. We like its bodily buttons/knobs, although, and it runs each Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. These get upgraded to wi-fi connectivity in all different trims, which additionally get a 9-inch touchscreen with enhanced graphics and performance. It actually isn’t as spectacular as what you’d discover in a Palisade, Kia Telluride and Jeep Grand Cherokee L, however it’s practical and usually vice free. Mother and father also needs to recognize the CabinTalk in-car P.A. system that permits you to broadcast your voice via the rear audio system. Complementing it’s a convex rear seat spy mirror to regulate their reactions.
How massive is the Pilot?
Exterior, the Pilot just about defines the phase common. It’s nearly 5 inches longer than the Toyota Highlander and 5 inches shorter than the Chevy Traverse, matching up nearly identically with the Nissan Pathfinder.
There’s nothing common in regards to the rear seating rows, nevertheless. Pictured above, the Pilot’s novel second row is a bench seat, however as within the Honda Odyssey and the Pilot’s Acura MDX cousin, the center seat folds to create a console-like armrest. It will also be eliminated fully from the automobile or, uniquely, stowed in a cubby constructed into the Pilot’s rear cargo ground. Not like the Pilot’s rivals, there’s no want to decide on between eight-passenger bench seat or seven-passenger captain’s chairs on the vendor. Keep in mind that this function isn’t supplied on the TrailSport. Its full-sized spare tire shrinks the requisite cubby sufficient to make stowage not possible. It successfully has captain’s chairs in consequence.
The massive Honda has one of many roomer cabins within the phase. Its 40 inches of legroom within the second row tops nearly each one among its rivals. Third-row legroom could be a max of 32.5 inches, making it pleasant for larger teenagers and adults, even within the 6-foot-plus class. This places it forward of the Toyota Highlander and Nissan Pathfinder (each provide 28 inches) and simply behind the Chevy Traverse (33.5 inches).
On paper, the Pilot has 18.6 cubic toes of house behind the again seat, however take away the double-sided ground piece (proven under with its washable plastic floor going through up) and also you’re left with both 22.4 cubic toes or, within the TrailSport, 21.8. Theoretically, solely the Chevy Traverse/Buick Enclave have extra room again there. In our testing, we have discovered that is not likely the case, however it’s nonetheless spectacular. We discovered that the Toyota Grand Highlander and Kia Telluride can maintain only a bit extra stuff, however the Pilot is certainly higher than the whole lot else within the phase. We additionally like that the TrailSport comes commonplace with raised roof rails and a trailer hitch, which opens up cargo potentialities even additional.
What are the Pilot gas economic system and efficiency specs?
There is just one engine supplied: a 3.5-liter V6 good for 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A ten-speed automated is commonplace.
The Pilot may be had in commonplace front-wheel drive, or with an all-wheel-drive setup dubbed i-VTM4 (commonplace on TrailSport and Elite, non-obligatory all different trims). It’s arguably essentially the most superior AWD system within the phase because it offers so-called “torque vectoring”: As a lot as 70% of the engine’s energy may be despatched to the rear axle, with 100% of that transferred to at least one wheel. This isn’t solely helpful for poor-weather traction, however advantages dry-pavement dealing with as properly. It’s augmented on TrailSport fashions with a particular Path Torque Logic system and corresponding “Path” possibility within the Pilot’s drive mode choice system.
Gas economic system stands at 19 miles per gallon metropolis, 27 mpg freeway and 22 mpg mixed with front-wheel drive, and 19/25/21 with all-wheel drive. The TrailSport is decrease nonetheless at 18/23/20.
The Pilot may be outfitted for towing in each 2WD and AWD configurations. 2WD towing capability is an inexpensive 3,500 kilos; choosing AWD raises that cap to five,000. That’s on par with the phase, however shy of the Kia Telluride (5,500), 2024 Ford Explorer (5,600), Nissan Pathfinder (6,000) and Jeep Grand Cherokee L (6,200).
Pilot Elite and Pilot TrailSport
What is the Pilot prefer to drive?
Three-row crossovers aren’t identified for being enjoyable to drive, and the Pilot isn’t an exception. Nonetheless, it holds its personal for a gussied-up minivan, particularly in the event you go for the torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. Steering precision is healthier than most, the trip consists and comfy and, generally, we take pleasure in driving it greater than the whole lot within the phase apart from the sporty Mazda CX-90 and maybe a fully-loaded Jeep Grand Cherokee L.
Sadly, the Pilot’s powertrain may use some work. Its output appears aggressive sufficient, however the ensuing acceleration is on the sluggish aspect for the phase, and making issues worse are transmission and throttle programming that aren’t adaptable sufficient to totally different conditions. For example, we needed to have interaction the Sport driving mode when driving up a sequence of freeway grades as a result of the transmission was in any other case hesitant to drop down and keep in a decrease gear. Many drivers received’t even know they’ve a Sport mode, not to mention suppose to interact it when desirous to go sooner than 55 up a hill.
As for the TrailSport, it will get a singular suspension with a 1-inch elevate (for a complete floor clearance of 8.3 inches) and improved strategy and departure angles. The stabilizer bars, spring charges and damper valve tuning are unique to the TrailSport, as are a full-size spare and the 18-inch wheels (stamped with TrailSport) wrapped in Continental TerrainContact all-terrain tires. Skid plates shield the oil pan, transmission and fuel tank, and Honda says they will every assist your entire weight of the Pilot crashing down on a rock. The result’s a car that’s remarkably succesful for what’s essentially little greater than a minivan, although just like the Pathfinder Rock Creek or Explorer Timberline, it’s not a very sturdy off-roader. It’s the form of SUV that may carry you all the way in which to the trailhead, however it received’t allow you to blaze your individual.
On the highway, the TrailSport’s off-road tires do cut back steering precision, leading to extra steering corrections being wanted on the freeway (by you and the lane-centering steering help system). Highway-holding additionally degrades, however that’s much less more likely to be seen in a household hauler. Pleasantly, the trip high quality stays completely snug (in contrast to the Kia Telluride X-Professional that has the very same tires) as does highway noise. Because of this, there’s minimal draw back with going with the enjoyable off-road mannequin.
What different Honda Pilot evaluations can I learn?
Honda Pilot TrailSport Highway Check: Outside journey highway journey to Oregon
The TrailSport is the Pilot particularly meant for outside adventures with its rugged tires and suspension, commonplace hitch and extra practical roof racks. We put all of it to the take a look at on an outside journey highway journey from Southern California to central Oregon.
2023 Honda Pilot First Drive: Broad strokes and broader shoulders
Our first drive of the Pilot, together with an off-road drive within the TrailSport and broader particulars about its design and engineering.
Honda Pilot TrailSport Baggage Check: How a lot matches behind the third row?
In our real-world testing, we learn how a lot matches behind the raised third row of the Pilot TrailSport. Regardless of having just a bit much less house than different trim ranges, it manages to swallow extra luggage than most autos within the phase.
What’s the 2025 Pilot worth?
The Pilot’s base worth went up by practically $4,000 for 2025, however that’s nearly fully the results of the LX trim degree being discontinued. It wasn’t common. The brand new base trim degree turns into the Sport, which means tools like a heated energy entrance seats, a leather-wrapped wheel, blind-spot warning and roof rails at the moment are commonplace. It additionally has 20-inch wheels and blacked out trim, which disappears for the following rung up the trim ladder. In order that’s odd.
The EX-L, Touring and Elite principally observe the everyday development of extra tools with every degree, whereas the Black Version is principally simply an Elite with black-out trim, distinctive wheels and red-accented leather-based. The TrailSport is the true outlier. W suppose it’s the choose of the litter for its practical and aesthetic upgrades that don’t include important downsides. You may learn extra about its extras within the above driving part.
All costs under embrace the $1,395 vacation spot cost.
Sport 2WD: $41,295
Sport AWD: $43,395
EX-L 2WD: $44,595
EX-L AWD: $46,695
Touring 2WD: $48,595
Touring AWD: $50,695
TrailSport (AWD solely): $50,495
Elite (AWD solely): $54,175
Black Version (AWD solely): $55,675
Pilot Black Version and Pilot TrailSport
What are the Pilot security scores and driver help options?
Customary security tools contains ahead collision warning with automated emergency braking, a highway departure mitigation system, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping help, adaptive cruise management with speed-adaptive following distance, visitors signal recognition, a driver inattention monitor and automated excessive beams. Collectively, these options comprise the fundamental “Honda Sensing” security suite. Low velocity braking management, cross-traffic monitoring and a parking sensor system are all accessible on larger trims. Importantly, these are drastically improved over the identical methods discovered within the previous-generation Pilot (particularly adaptive cruise management), and though not the strongest within the phase (look to Kia and Hyundai for that) they’re now at the least common.
The NHTSA gave the Pilot 5 out of 5 stars for total and aspect crash safety, plus 4 stars for frontal and rollover safety. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security named it a Prime Security Decide for sufficiently excessive marks in all pertinent classes (it received a “Marginal” rating within the up to date IIHS “reasonable overlap: entrance” take a look at that few different autos have been subjected to).
