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Professionals: Distinctive storage and cargo area; 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 protected, strong selection that does virtually every part effectively. It’s undoubtedly not essentially the most trendy decide, however not like the previous era, it’s not painfully uninteresting. Its design is chiseled, unfussy and may age effectively, similar to the perfect Hondas of outdated.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 decide of the litter, the off-road-oriented TrailSport that boasts cooler appears to be like and larger functionality with minimal tradeoff.
Actually, for those who have 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 enables 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 simply too large), which is why it’s seven-passenger solely. True, the seat is a bit cumbersome to take away and also you in all probability gained’t routinely take away or add it, however we assure you there can be moments once you’ll be pleased about it – particularly for those who’re leaning towards captain’s chairs in a competitor.
Selecting a Pilot shouldn’t be a slam dunk – there are quite a lot of nice decisions to think about. Some are extra luxurious or cheaper, others extra highly effective or participating to drive, however we predict the Pilot’s well-rounded excellence makes it an ideal selection for lots of people.
Inside & Know-how | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gasoline Economic system
What it is wish to drive | Pricing & Trim Ranges | Crash Rankings & Security Options
What’s new for 2025?
The bottom LX trim stage is not any extra, that means the bottom worth has gone up significantly because the $41,295 Sport turns into the de facto ground. On the opposite finish of the trim stage ladder, the Pilot Black Version (pictured above) makes its return as the brand new range-topping mannequin. It builds upon the loaded Elite trim stage 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 know-how 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 may be an magnificence to its minimal adornment and crisp horizontal strains. It’s harking back to Land Rover interiors – clear, purposeful, 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 in the end all about intelligent packaging and considerate design. By way of storage, the entrance heart console options a big, grippy flat area for telephones or no matter, the doorways have bins in addition to bottle holders, there’s a little bit shelf within the sprint, and the entrance seatbacks have sleeves constructed into them to carry your cellphone. There’s additionally intelligent storage within the cargo space, together with a double-sided ground with carpet on one facet and washable plastic on the opposite, however we’ll handle the remainder of the cargo space within the subsequent part.
By way of know-how, the Pilot provides two touchscreen choices. The Sport has a 7-inch unit that’s reasonably rudimentary by way of 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 definitely isn’t as spectacular as what you’d discover in a Palisade, Kia Telluride and Jeep Grand Cherokee L, nevertheless it’s purposeful and customarily vice free. Dad and mom must also respect the CabinTalk in-car P.A. system that allows you to broadcast your voice by way of the rear audio system. Complementing it’s a convex rear seat spy mirror to regulate their reactions.
How large is the Pilot?
Exterior, the Pilot just about defines the phase common. It’s virtually 5 inches longer than the Toyota Highlander and 5 inches shorter than the Chevy Traverse, matching up virtually identically with the Nissan Pathfinder.
There’s nothing common concerning the rear seating rows, nonetheless. 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 can be eliminated utterly from the automotive or, uniquely, stowed in a cubby constructed into the Pilot’s rear cargo ground. In contrast to the Pilot’s opponents, there’s no want to decide on between eight-passenger bench seat or seven-passenger captain’s chairs on the supplier. Keep in mind that this characteristic isn’t provided on the TrailSport. Its full-sized spare tire shrinks the requisite cubby sufficient to make stowage inconceivable. It successfully has captain’s chairs consequently.
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 in all its opponents. Third-row legroom could be a max of 32.5 inches, making it pleasant for greater 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 area behind the again seat, however take away the double-sided ground piece (proven under with its washable plastic floor dealing with 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, nevertheless 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 every part else within the phase. We additionally like that the TrailSport comes commonplace with raised roof rails and a trailer hitch, which opens up cargo prospects even additional.
What are the Pilot gas economic system and efficiency specs?
There is just one engine provided: a 3.5-liter V6 good for 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A ten-speed automated is commonplace.
The Pilot might be had in commonplace front-wheel drive, or with an all-wheel-drive setup dubbed i-VTM4 (commonplace on TrailSport and Elite, non-compulsory 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 might be despatched to the rear axle, with 100% of that transferred to at least one wheel. This isn’t solely useful for poor-weather traction, however advantages dry-pavement dealing with as effectively. 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.
Gasoline 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 might 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 wish 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 for those who go for the torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. Steering precision is healthier than most, the trip consists and comfy and, usually, we get pleasure from driving it greater than every part within the phase aside 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 facet 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 collection 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 gained’t even know they’ve a Sport mode, not to mention assume to interact it when eager to go quicker than 55 up a hill.
As for the TrailSport, it will get a singular suspension with a 1-inch raise (for a complete floor clearance of 8.3 inches) and improved method 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 gasoline tank, and Honda says they will every assist the whole weight of the Pilot crashing down on a rock. The result’s a car that’s remarkably succesful for what’s basically little greater than a minivan, although just like the Pathfinder Rock Creek or Explorer Timberline, it’s not a very strong off-roader. It’s the kind of SUV that may deliver you all the way in which to the trailhead, nevertheless it gained’t allow you to blaze your personal.
On the street, the TrailSport’s off-road tires do scale 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 prone to be observed in a household hauler. Pleasantly, the trip high quality stays completely snug (not like the Kia Telluride X-Professional that has the very same tires) as does street noise. In consequence, 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 Take a look at: Out of doors journey street journey to Oregon
The TrailSport is the Pilot particularly supposed for out of doors adventures with its rugged tires and suspension, commonplace hitch and extra purposeful roof racks. We put all of it to the take a look at on an out of doors journey street 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 Take a look at: How a lot suits behind the third row?
In our real-world testing, we learn how a lot suits behind the raised third row of the Pilot TrailSport. Regardless of having just a bit much less area 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 almost $4,000 for 2025, however that’s virtually completely the results of the LX trim stage being discontinued. It wasn’t standard. The brand new base trim stage turns into the Sport, that means tools like a heated energy entrance seats, a leather-wrapped wheel, blind-spot warning and roof rails are actually commonplace. It additionally has 20-inch wheels and blacked out trim, which disappears for the subsequent rung up the trim ladder. In order that’s odd.
The EX-L, Touring and Elite mainly observe the standard development of extra tools with every stage, whereas the Black Version is mainly simply an Elite with black-out trim, distinctive wheels and red-accented leather-based. The TrailSport is the true outlier. W assume it’s the decide of the litter for its purposeful and aesthetic upgrades that don’t include important downsides. You possibly can learn extra about its extras within the above driving part.
All costs under embody 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 rankings and driver help options?
Commonplace security tools contains ahead collision warning with automated emergency braking, a street 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 essential “Honda Sensing” security suite. Low velocity braking management, cross-traffic monitoring and a parking sensor system are all obtainable on increased trims. Importantly, these are significantly improved over the identical programs 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 very least common.
The NHTSA gave the Pilot 5 out of 5 stars for general and facet 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 obtained a “Marginal” rating within the up to date IIHS “reasonable overlap: entrance” take a look at that few different autos have been subjected to).