2025 Honda Pilot: Off-Road Capable Full-Size Family SUV Review

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2025 Honda Pilot is one of the midsize SUV models that many people love. The Honda Pilot 2025 can also bring comfort and perform its duties as a family SUV very well, all of which are safe, smooth, roomy, reliable, and capable. The Honda Pilot 3-row SUV is the ideal transportation for large families.

This generation debuts in 2023, so everything is fresh, including the technology. This is the kind of vehicle that Honda delivers very well and has solid performance in almost all aspects. We have no hesitation in recommending the Pilot.

With its presence at the top of the lineup for 2025, the new Black Edition trim comes with 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels, a Black Edition badge, and other dark-colored exterior trim elements.

2025 Honda Pilot Review

As a family SUV model, the 2025 Pilot is an excellent car with a functional yet forgettable driving character like most competitors. Unlike the platform-sharing Ridgeline, it cannot compete with its truck-based body-on-frame competitors, so it does not automatically excel in ride comfort and driving dynamics.

Instead, the competition is fierce in the American three-row SUV market. There are lots and lots of very, very good ones, which makes the Pilot average in terms of dynamics and comfort. However, we like its practical cabin, plentiful trim and drive configurations, and overall utility.

Powered by a V6 engine, it sounds loud when you step on the gas, but the acceleration is average. Our Pilot TrailSport test vehicle managed 0-60 mph on the Edmunds test track in 7.8 seconds. The transmission could be more relaxed, especially around town. It can also make the Pilot feel overly eager and sensitive to gas pedal input when accelerating from a stop. The braking is smooth, but the pedal is soft and numb, and we found the Pilot’s emergency stopping distance to be longer than average.

For families who enjoy traveling and adventure, the Pilot TrailSport is one of the more capable three-row crossovers for light off-road duties, thanks to the extra ground clearance. The all-wheel-drive system is another advantage. Besides the expected increase in traction for ice- or snow-covered roads, it can also redistribute the V6’s power to make the Pilot more agile in turns. However, the steering light lacks feel and doesn’t give a real sense of what’s happening on the highway.

  • Roomy first and second-row seating
  • Plenty of cargo space and interior storage
  • User-friendly controls
  • High-end Black Edition trim additions

2025 Honda Pilot

2025 Honda Pilot Changes

Honda’s latest styling concept sprinkles red accents throughout the interior, including deep red stitching on the steering wheel, seats, and door panels. The cabin also gets a tuxedo look, including embossed leather front seats and door mats with the Black Edition logo. This trim comes standard with all-wheel drive. The base LX trim has been discontinued, making the Sport model the new entry-level Pilot.

2025 Honda Pilot Interior

This is one of the roomiest interiors in the 3-row midsize SUV class. Most versions of the Pilot have seating for eight. However, the optional second-row captain’s chairs are available in the ex-l, and TrailSport models make it seven while increasing the comfort level for two lucky people.

The Pilot has 14 cup holders, eight of which can accommodate 32-ounce bottles. And the storage space in the center console can hold an iPad or other types of tablets. Of course, the top two trims have excellent materials like perforated leather seating surfaces and plenty of technology. However, the TrailSport model is also well-designed. The new Black Edition adds contrasting red stitching around the cabin.

The front seats feel nicely shaped and supportive, undoubtedly comfortable enough for long trips. Generous legroom in the second row measures 40.8 inches, slightly more than the similarly spacious Kia Telluride. We’ve found that kids can be good at finding reasons to complain, but they can’t complain about the 32.5 inches of legroom in the third row.

From a cargo space perspective, the Pilot has 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row, increasing to 87 cubic feet with rows two and three folded down. That’s undoubtedly roomy and similar to rivals.

Comfort

The front seats and optional second-row captain’s chairs feel cushioned without removing the bolster. The front seats don’t have the level of adjustability that some rivals offer, so not everyone can get the most comfort out of them. The Pilot’s suspension easily smooths most bumps, but certain types of uneven pavement can feel sharp and a little harsh inside the cabin.

Overall, wind, road, and engine noise are low, but the cabin is not as quiet as higher-end competitors like the Kia Telluride. The climate system is easy to adjust and powerful enough for a large cabin. All three rows are ventilated, but the placement of the vents on the second and third rows could be more optimal. The third-row vents, in particular, are placed near the armrest so that adults can get airflow to their hands.

Tech

The Pilot offers many usable tech features, but it is still half a step behind the curve overall. With wireless phone connectivity, the infotainment works quickly and is easy to navigate. However, the standard 7-inch screen and upgraded 9-inch screen look dwarfed by the large cabin. It’s a pity the Accord’s 12.3-inch screen isn’t available here. There are plenty of places to charge, including a wireless charging pad. But there is only one USB-C port available. The rest are the less powerful USB-A type, which limits the options for phones, tablets, and laptops that support fast charging.

Honda equips the Pilot with many standard driver assistance features. Lane-keeping assists in keeping the car well-centered even at very low speeds. But while the adaptive cruise control follows smoothly at freeway speeds, it lacks confidence in heavy traffic. Our tests found it too slow to react to sudden braking, prompting the driver to intervene. It also requires commands via the steering wheel buttons or accelerator pedal to restart even after a short stop, which does not save much effort.

Storage

Competitors like the Buick Enclave, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade offer more cargo space. Still, the Pilot features enough flexible cargo and small item storage to make it a helpful family hauler. The 50/50 split third-row seat is easy to remove (which is good since no foldable third row is available) and opens up a large, if not class-leading space. Loading and unloading are made easy with the floor in its highest position so bulky items can slide in and out.

Regarding small item storage, the Pilot is one of the best. Front passengers get an extra-large center console tray, box, and space for small items. The front and rear doors offer plenty of trays, pockets, and even cup holders for each seat that can fit a 40-ounce water bottle.

Our test TrailSport Pilot had a second-row bench seat with a removable center seat that could be stored under the cargo floor in the trunk. This neat feature makes it easy to reconfigure the seating based on your day’s needs. The Pilot is among the few SUVs with LATCH anchors on all three second-row seats.

2025 Honda Pilot

2025 Honda Pilot Exterior

We were impressed with Honda’s current design approach. There’s a blend of boldness and maturity in this generation of Pilot. And, of course, its overall shape makes it an efficient and roomy midsize SUV.

TrailSport adds an off-road feel with increased height and special all-terrain tires. Meanwhile, the new Pilot Black Edition for 2025 adds 20-inch alloy wheels and various exterior elements with a Gloss Black finish.

2025 Honda Pilot Features

  1. Finger Rest

    The problem with touchscreens is that you have to touch them. You can jump through hoops and suddenly end up with Beethoven when you wanted Beyonce (or vice versa). The touchscreen in the Pilot (7-inch in the Sport, 9-inch in other variants) is recessed almost an inch into the dashboard, giving users a place to secure their hands while inputting.

  2. Traffic Jam Assist

    Operating at speeds below 75 mph, Traffic Jam Assist adds small steering movements to keep the Pilot in its lane. This is a standard feature across the Pilot range, and we found it worked well.

  3. Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

    Only the Sport trim requires a cable; the rest of the Pilot range has wireless integration as standard. We like the convenience.

  4. Wireless phone charging

    Fitted as standard on top trims. It’s great to see a feature like this starting to be applied to expensive vehicles and now to more affordable cars.

  5. Removable/storable seat

    The Touring and Elite models have a removable center seat in the second row. The resulting gap makes access to the third row easier. The seat can then fit under the cargo bay floor in readiness for when the Pilot needs eight more seats. We lifted it, which wasn’t too heavy, about 35 pounds.

  6. Walk Away Close

    Electrically powered rear doors and an automatic lock function are standard equipment. However, the top three trims also feature Walk Away Close for the rear doors.

2025 Honda Pilot Engine

The Pilot 3-row midsize SUV uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine, just like its predecessor. However, this one produces more power than any Pilot has ever enjoyed while maintaining the smoothness and refinement that characterizes Honda’s V6 engines. Output is 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.

A 10-speed automatic transmission channels power to the front wheels in base form or to an all-wheel drive system that comes standard on TrailSport, Elite, and Black Edition models, optional on the lower three trims. Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, enough for a trailer with an ATV or several dirt bikes.

Performance

An enhanced 3.5-liter V6 engine powers the Honda Pilot with a very muscular 285 horsepower. Progress is smooth and quiet, with plenty of power to easily reach freeway speeds while still hauling the family and their gear.

The standard adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping function is accurate and responsive, one of the best in its class, and perfect for long trips and stop-and-go traffic.

Around town, we liked the compact turning circle (one of the narrowest among midsize SUVs). This makes maneuvering easy, especially with the light yet precise steering and ideal brake feel. The Pilot’s ride quality is also designed to provide comfort on bumpy city streets while maintaining its composure on the freeway.

The TrailSport can tackle rather challenging terrains. While riding one inch higher, it has a unique suspension setup for more excellent axle articulation and wheel movement than the regular asphalt-spec Pilot. This results in a comfortable ride even on rough surfaces.

2025 Honda Pilot MPG

The Honda Pilot 2025 achieves 22 mpg in mixed city/highway driving, which aligns with most competitors. The smaller Toyota Highlander Hybrid and the larger Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid are efficiency experts in this segment, each delivering a combined 36 mpg.

2025 Honda Pilot Payload

The maximum towing capacity of the Honda Pilot 2024 is 5,000 pounds, but that’s limited to all-wheel drive models. The front-wheel drive Pilot manages 3,500 pounds of towing. This matches the towing capabilities of its closest competitors, such as the Telluride and GrandHighlander, but it’s far behind the Dodge Durango’s 8700-pound might.

2025 Honda Pilot Models

The Honda Pilot 2025 is a three-row SUV that can accommodate up to eight passengers. It is available in six trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, TrailSport, Elite, and Black Edition. All are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (285 horsepower, 262 lb-ft) mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is optional – except on the TrailSport, Elite, and Black Edition trims, which get all-wheel drive standard. Highlighted features include:

Sport

This trim level starts the Pilot range with:

  • 20-inch alloy wheels
  • LED headlights
  • Keyless entry (front doors only) and keyless ignition
  • Second-row bench seat (seats eight passengers)
  • 7-inch touchscreen
  • Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration
  • Seven-speaker audio system
  • Three-zone climate control
  • Heated and power-adjustable front seats
  • Leather-wrapped steering wheel
  • LED fog lights
  • Remote engine ignition
  • Ambient interior lighting

All Pilots come with advanced safety features known as Honda Sensing. These include:

  • Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking (warns if a front impact is imminent and brakes if you don’t respond in time).
  • Lane departure mitigation (warns you of lane departure when the turn signal is not used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)
  • Driver attention warning (issues a warning if sensors determine you are tired)
  • Adaptive cruise control (maintains a driver-specified distance between the Honda and the car ahead)
  • Lane centering system (makes slight steering corrections to help keep the vehicle in the center of its lane)
  • Blind spot warning with rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if the car is in a blind spot while changing lanes or while backing up)

EX-L

Adds to the LX with:

  • 9-inch infotainment touchscreen
  • 12-volt power outlet in the cargo area
  • Leather upholstery
  • Wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto
  • Nine-speaker audio system
  • Wireless device charger
  • Satellite Radio
  • USB outlet in the third row
  • In-cabin intercom system (known as CabinTalk)
  • Two-position memory settings for the driver’s seat and rearview mirror
  • Rear door sunshade
  • Acoustic glass windshield
  • Electric trunk door
  • Heated rearview mirror

TrailSport

Equip the Pilot for additional adventure with:

  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • 18-inch alloy wheels with all-terrain tires
  • Full-size spare tire
  • Off-road tuned suspension with increased ground clearance
  • Gloss black front grille
  • Synthetic leather seats with orange stitching
  • Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Pilot and its surroundings for tight parking and off-road situations)
  • Off-road stability management system
  • Underbody skid plate
  • Class III trailer hitch
  • Panoramic sunroof
  • Off-road recovery hook
  • Heated windshield
  • Household-style power outlet in the second row
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Second-row captain’s chairs (seating seven passengers)

Touring

Builds on the EX-L and TrailSport, adding luxury features such as:

  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • 20-inch wheels
  • Hands-free electric rear door
  • Keyless entry for all doors
  • Sound-absorbing front windows
  • Second-row bench seat with removable/stowable center seat
  • Navigation system
  • 12-speaker Bose audio system
  • Wi-Fi hotspot
  • Hands-free rear door with automatic closing

2025 Honda Pilot Elite

Adds to the Tour with the following (shares some features with TrailSport):

  • 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
  • Surround-view camera system (gives you a top-down view of the Pilot and its surroundings for tight parking and off-road situations)
  • Head-up display (displays essential information in your line of sight on the windshield)
  • Heated windshield
  • Heated steering wheel
  • Heated outboard second-row seats
  • Household-style power outlet
  • Ventilated front seats
  • Rain-sensing windshield wipers

Black Edition

Top-level trim adds:

  • 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels
  • Exclusive interior and exterior trim

3-Year/36,000 Mile Warranty

Honda’s new vehicle warranty is valid for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The powertrain is covered for five years or 60,000 miles. This arrangement is typical in the class, although Hyundai and Kia have better terms. Honda also includes free scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 24,000 miles.

2025 Honda Pilot Safety

The Pilot has a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and earned the maximum 5-star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Standard safety equipment includes forward collision warning – enhanced with camera and radar systems to detect pedestrians, cyclists, lane markings, curbs, and road signs.

2025 Honda Pilot Price

We expect the Honda Pilot 2025 to be priced from $41,295, with the top-end Pilot Black Edition starting at $55,675. However, the current Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price suggests paying $1,026 to $1,313 less than MSRP, depending on trim and equipment. These prices are updated weekly.

The 2025 Honda Pilot starts at $41,295 and goes up to $55,675, depending on the trim and options.

ModelsPrice
Sport$41,295
EX-L$44,595
Touring$48,595
TrailSport$50,495
Elite$54,175
Black Edition$55,675

2025 Honda Pilot Trims

The previous base LX trim was discontinued this year, making the Sport the most affordable model for the new Pilot. On the other hand, a new Black Edition version is here, based on the Elite trim and enhanced with various cosmetic treatments.

We recommend the Pilot EX-L for its price balance and features. The EX-L trim adds leather upholstery, a larger 9.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a power tailgate. Whether you need all-wheel drive or not is a matter of personal preference. The increased towing capacity that comes with it is worth the money.

2025 Honda Pilot Release Date

We expect the 2025 Honda Pilot to arrive in early 2025.

2025 Honda Pilot Competitors

One of our favorite three-row SUVs is the Kia Telluride, which offers a comfortable cabin, a third row that adults can swallow, a myriad of technologies, and a warranty that exceeds the Pilot’s. The related Hyundai Palisade is also an excellent choice. If you want something bigger, there’s the Toyota Grand Highlander or Volkswagen Atlas. If driving enjoyment is essential, take a look at the Mazda CX-90.

Verdict

The Honda Pilot is comfortable and spacious for front and middle-row passengers. But it lags behind the class leader in third-row space and cargo room, and its technology is half a step behind the curve. Regarding overall appeal, some competitors give you more bang for your buck.

The 2025 Honda Pilot, with three rows, reasonable power, and six trims, offers front- and all-wheel drive. The Pilot is a versatile contender in a space where people like options. Many buyers like the lower and mid-level trims as the upper-echelon lineup gets expensive due to the addition of luxury features. We like the TrailSport’s look and usability a little better, but the Black Edition’s only change for 2025 is a $1,500 appearance package with no additional features.

Alright, We will get more updates about the 2025 Honda Pilot soon. So, bookmark our website right now for more information regarding Honda Review, Specs, Price, Release Date, and continuous news updates.

2025 Honda Pilot

FAQs: People also ask about the Honda Pilot 2025

Q: What is the difference between the 2024 and 2025 Honda Pilot?

A: Other than the design updates introduced with the Pilot Black Edition, the features offered in the 2025 Honda Pilot are identical to those provided in the 2024 model year.

Q: What year will the Honda Pilot be redesigned?

A: The Pilot has been entirely redesigned for 2023, complete with updated styling to match the newest models in the Honda lineup, such as the smaller CR-V SUV and the Civic compact sedan and hatchback.

Q: Will the 2025 Honda Pilot be a hybrid?

A: Does the 2025 Honda Pilot Come in a Hybrid? The 2025 Honda Pilot isn’t available in a hybrid version. The current Pilot offers a powerful and fuel-efficient 3.5L V6 engine, delivering impressive driving performance alongside excellent gas mileage.

Q: What are people paying for the 2025 Honda Pilot Elite?

A: Estimated payments based on Kelley Blue Book® Fair Purchase Price of $52,603 at 3.19% APR for 60 months with $5,500 down for well-qualified buyers.

Video Discovery: Is It The BEST Bang For The Buck Trim Level?

The Honda Pilot model has a total of six trim levels to choose from. These trim levels range from LX to Elite. The base price ranges from $37,090 to $52,480. The Touring trim level is the second to highest trim level available and has a base price of $46,900.

In this video is a model from the previous year. We will continue to update the 2025 Honda Pilot model.