The Pilot is the largest SUV in Honda’s current lineup. It offers three rows of seating and enough room for up to eight. When the third generation premiered in 2016, the Pilot was considered the midsize SUV to beat.
However, many of its competitors have undergone complete redesigns in the last few years. So does the Honda Pilot manage to keep up with its rivals? Or are its shortcomings too much for drivers to overlook?
A roomy and versatile cabin
It is immediately clear once you sit down inside the Pilot that it was designed with families in mind. Most models come with seating for up to eight, although select trims have second-row captain’s chairs, which reduce the capacity to seven. Honda has scattered fifteen cup holders throughout the cabin, and the upper trims include USB ports for all three rows of seating. Unlike many rivals, the Pilot also provides enough space for adults to sit comfortably in the third row.
Competitive Fuel Economy
Fuel economy is often a concern when drivers are looking at an SUV of this size. Luckily, the pilot does a decent job of staying efficient. With front-wheel drive, it provides drivers with 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. Deciding to go with all-wheel drive means both of those numbers are reduced by one. The similarly sized Volkswagen Atlas gets just 24 mpg on the highway with front-wheel drive.
Storage Spots for All Your Gear
One big part of the appeal of the Pilot involves all of the little storage nooks and crannies. There is a special spot for your laptop, phone, etc. The Pilot also has a larger-than-average amount of cargo space, with 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 83.9 cubic feet with the second and third rows down. Most models come with a power liftgate, with the SE and up adding the hands-free feature.
Strong standard engine
Honda sticks with a hearty V6 for the Pilot. The 3.5-litre engine has the ability to create 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. As a result, drivers will find that they are never left hanging when they hit the gas. The pilot has plenty of get-up-and-go for merging onto the highway. Plus, the Pilot does an impressive job of staying smooth on most surfaces, further adding to the enjoyment of driving it.
Smooth Nine-Speed Automatic Transmission
In the past, the nine-speed automatic transmission was reserved for the top trims. It also attracted a lot of negative attention from drivers with its lack of responsiveness in certain situations. Luckily, Honda has ironed out any kinks in the last couple of years. The newly standard nine-speed transmission helps keep all models of the 2021 Pilot moving along smoothly.
Available in Black Edition
For the most part, the Honda Pilot is not going to turn any heads. The one exception would be the top-of-the-line Black Edition. This model shows off things like 20-inch black alloy wheels and black exterior trim on the outside. Moving inside the cabin will reveal unique red ambient lighting as well as special Black Edition leather seat trim. This trim may be pricey, but it is sure to appeal to those who are after a sleek and sophisticated version of the Pilot.
Standard Honda Sensing
Having standard driver assistance features is not as impressive as it once was. Still, the Pilot does have more than the average midsize SUV. Included in the comprehensive Honda Sensing bundle are features like forward collision warning, road departure warning, and collision mitigation braking. Both lane-keeping assist and lane departure warning are standard as well. What is really nice about this suite of features is that it includes adaptive cruise control, something that is typically reserved for higher trim levels. A rearview camera and automatic high beams are also part of the standard equipment list.
Well-equipped entry-level LX trim
Although it is missing some of the bells and whistles found on higher trims, the entry-level Pilot LX is actually quite nice. In addition to the long list of standard safety equipment, it comes with automatic LED headlights, push-button start, and dual-zone automatic climate control. Tech-wise, it has a 5-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and a seven-speaker sound system. Drivers who are not interested in having all the newest technology features may find that the LX has all that they need without breaking the bank.
Intelligent Traction Management
With the exception of the LX, all models of the 2021 Pilot come with Intelligent Traction Management. Models with front-wheel drive have two modes: normal and snow. All-wheel-drive models have those, plus both mud and sand. Although the Pilot is not necessarily designed for off-road adventures, this traction management system does give it some extra capability. It is easy to switch between modes using the touchscreen. All-wheel drive is available on all models and standard on both the Elite and Black Edition trims.
Conclusion
The Honda Pilot is no longer the clear favourite when it comes to three-row midsize SUVs. That said, it would not take much to reclaim that title. Honda needs to give in and offer smartphone integration on all models.
A refresh of the exterior appearance would also go a long way toward appealing to more drivers. With these tweaks, the already practical and powerful Honda Pilot could be close to perfect.
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