Overview & Reviews

Since its launch for the 2003 model year, the Honda Pilot has helped shape the market for crossover SUVs with three rows of seating. Offering V6 power, respectable fuel economy, a comfortable ride, plenty of interior space and seven-to-eight-passenger seating, the Pilot is exactly the kind of vehicle that appeals to growing families who are leery of traditional minivans. Other crossover SUVs might be sportier to drive or more stylish on the inside, but Honda's three-row crossover appeals to your practical side and packs in a lot of functionality.

Choosing a Pilot is straightforward, as Honda packages equipment in a few basic trim levels rather than offering countless options. Regardless of the year, all Honda Pilots give you three useful rows of seating and lots of storage slots, though early models are smaller and aren't quite as accommodating for teenagers in the third row. Cargo capacity has also increased over the years.

User Reviews:

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  Grandpa Loves His Pilot! - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By Jim - July 14 - 5:00 am

  I thought I was past my minivan stage, but when safety for hauling the grandkids became a factor, here I am again. My Pilot is awesome! It is comfortable, quiet, easy to park, fun to drive and I know my precious grandkids are safe in it. Im getting 16-19 MPG city and 18-21 on the highway. My 18 month old grandson loves the rear entertainment system. I have back problems, and the heated 8 way adjustable seat is greatly appreciated. It is too early to tell about reliability, but Hondas reputation is solid. With seating for 8, great storage, solid grip on the road (Ive driven in some bad weather) and SUV versatility, I dont know that I will ever go back to a sedan.

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  Our Pilot - 2006 Honda Pilot
  By Joe - July 12 - 9:50 pm

  We bought our Pilot in December 2005. It has been a great car, however, the air conditioning went out when we had 2,000 miles on the car. There is also a terrible rattle in the passenger side door. But if I could buy another car again, it would be the Pilot.

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  Exterior Body Not tough - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By Tom - July 11 - 8:50 pm

  The vehicle stability, brakes, and pickup are excellent. Many swift lane changes and sharp turns are handled gracefully. But the outside body is NOT good. If you drive on country side roads then lots of chipping problems occur. Also inside the rear AC air direction controller came broken in my new Pilot. So build is so-so , I mean from other aspects too.

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  Awesome car - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By SUVlover - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I love this SUV, I did look at Toyota Highlander, GMC, Chevy, Ford before buying this car. It is fun, good pickup and roomy

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  Not what I Expected - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By Heather Gordsaro - July 10 - 10:00 am

  The Honda we thought would be the dream car, but had second thoughts after comparing my sisters SUV the Mitsubishi Endeavor. That looks a lot better and drives better. Its more exciting and better looking.

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  A Less Expensive Acura - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By tacomastan - July 10 - 10:00 am

  This is an excellent choice for someone who needs good traction but without needing heavy-duty off-road capability. Provides a wonderful highway driving experience with better than average fuel economy for its class. Driver, passenger and second row seating are very comfortable but the third row is best for children. An excellent city driver with short turning radius, great for parking. Finally, it is a Honda so fit, finish and reliability are a given.

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  Saved my life in accident - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By Karthic - July 10 - 10:00 am

  I had an accident two weeks back with a deer and I was driving Pilot. Deer jumped from the woods on roadside and hit fast at high speed on driver side. Deer got killed on the spot. Hit was directly on the frame attached with the driver side rear view mirror. My pilots windshield got shattered. Damage was on the side door.No one was injured. I own another Toyota Corolla and if the same happened in that car, it would have killed me. I thank god that I was driving Pilot at the time of impact.

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  AVOID - Transmission Fails - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By Christopher Mason - July 8 - 10:03 pm

  Bought a 2005 Pilot with 150k on the engine. Ran great and girlfriend loved it (her car) until the transmission just went out. This is a know issue and I really wish Id caught it before dumping $10k plus over $1k for new tires and breaks. Car didnt last a year. Bought Honda because like most we thought they ran forever. Never again.

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  Excellent overall - 2007 Honda Pilot
  By Brent - July 7 - 7:22 am

  Bought my Pilot EX-L 2WD used with only 24k miles on it in 2010. I just passed 100k miles and I still love this vehicle. Things I love include: 1) Reliability. Very few problems with this vehicle. Basically standard wear and tear things like tires, brakes, filters, etc. 2) Comfort. I love the airiness of the cabin. Lots of head room, shoulder space, etc. Transmission is smooth, suspension just right for me, not too tight, not too soft. Long trips are comfortable, handling is good. 3) Space. I can load this vehicle up like crazy. Great for daily things like groceries or Costco trips, and also for vacations or big item things from Home Depot or mattresses with the second and third row seats down. Also, can haul up to 8 people if necessary, but third row is best suited for children. Adults can really only ride there if short trip around town. 4) Ergonomics. Nothing fancy, dont get me wrong here. But everything is Simple and easy to understand. Buttons and knobs are well-placed and easy to operate. Storage space is good. First, second, and third row car charger plugs, etc. Things that could be better in this vehicle: 1) Entertainment system. Basically, its 2016, and this vehicle does not have Bluetooth or aux input. Also, the stereo sound quality is average. Nothing special there at all. 2) Road noise. Always been an issue for Honda, and this vehicle is no different. Finally, there are issues I cant speak to, like towing and off-road capabilities, since I dont use my Pilot for these things. If I had to guess, Id say this vehicle is average at best. Also, I live in San Diego, so I have no idea how well this vehicle performs in snow or other inclement weather. Seems perfectly fine in rain though from my experience. In sum, this is a very reliable, spacious, comfortable vehicle that handles well. Great family vehicle, and good for hauling lots of stuff if necessary. Only minor complaints from my perspective. I would recommend this vehicle to anyone who is looking for a mid-sized SUV for everyday use.

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  One of the best midsize SUV out there - 2006 Honda Pilot
  By MG - July 5 - 12:30 am

  Ive been reading about the Pilot for the past three years and I finally made my decision. Test drove an LX, but I encountered the dreaded Active Noise Cancellation noise and didnt buy that one. I test drove another one, no noise, bought it on the spot. First gas tank gave me 17 MPG, which I think is decent for being one week old. The car is extremely smooth at all speeds, cant hear, or feel the VCM working... only the green light on the dash lets me know its working. Very high built quality, no noises to complain about.