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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  So far, so many problems - 2006 Honda Pilot
  By bob - October 25 - 7:50 am

  First the good- love the interior room Now the not so good- at 500 miles discovered cv boot leaked all its grease- no rip/tear factory problem- rear speaker sounds blown- dealer adjusted bass-said it was fixed- the cv boot was fixed, not happy with the resolution of the other issues. I feel the vehicle is over-rated. MPG around 11 in city- I got 10 with my suburban. Why would Honda put cheap, poor handling tires on such an expensive vehicle? New tires make a big difference in handling. I am not impressed so far.

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  Should be better - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By Jim - October 25 - 2:02 am

  Was happy with the pilot until I realized that the gas mileage is HORRIBLE!!! I average 13 MPG, with a lot of Highway driving. Steering wheel also vibrates on highway and there is a lot of road noise. I keep on thinking someone has a window open. At 1,500 miles smoke came out of air vents and it smelled like a electric fire. Also, be careful on the highway. The Pilot is very top heavy and will tip if you suddenly have to change lanes.

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  Lovin the 2006 Pilot - 2006 Honda Pilot
  By Silvrmedic - October 24 - 12:56 pm

  Getting a true 18mph and expect highway mileage to be right on at at least 24mpg. You learn to drive in the "eco" mode (three cylinders shut off for more economy). On level highway you cant tell the difference. Overall great vehicle. Its as quiet as my wifes Lexus and more comfortable than my trade-in, a 2003 Infiniti G35. Pilot rocks

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  Honda Pilot - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By Greg Sauls - October 17 - 4:25 pm

  Very good reliable vehicle. Never had any problems. Smooth riding. Pull my 21 foot boat up the boat landing like it is not even there. Love this vehicle.

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  Very poor residual value after 5 yrs & 70K miles - 2011 Honda Pilot
  By Guy Gaspar - October 17 - 4:44 am

  This Honda Pilot EX-L (it has everything except navigation) does not hold its value like a Toyota product, which is very disappointing. My Toyota Tacoma 4X4 w/90,000 miles, is two years older and has a higher trade-in value. I have not had to repair anything on it, just fluid and oil/air filter changes by the car computer notification, a few recalls, new battery at 5 yrs., new Michelin tires at 30,000 miles which greatly improved the ride quality. The tires still look new after 40,000 miles. I want to keep it but she wants a new vehicle at her retirement. I purchased it certified used with 20,000 miles. MPG mostly city is 16.5 MPG, while highway got up to the best at 22.5 mpg. at speeds between 60 - 75 mph. Jan. 5, 2017 update: Made several dealership visits over the past week and have received trade-in offers between $14K - $18 if I purchased their vehicles: 2016 Acura MDX demo w/5K miles trade-in offer of $14K one day then $15K the next day. A new 2017 Buick Enclave trade-in offer went from $16K to $18K as I walked out the door. A new 2016 Honda Pilot Elite trade-in offer was $15.5K. A Mazda CX9 offer was $14K. Although these offers are within Edmunds published values, I turned them down because they wanted me to pay their bloated prices that were above MSRP prices in most cases for their add-on trinkets of $1K -3K. Still hunting for the best "win, win" deal.

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  Awesome vehicle - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By Linda - October 16 - 10:14 pm

  I love this SUV. The only down side is the gas mileage which did not bother me until the prices have risen. It is comfortable, looks great, has been maintance free! People ask me about it all the time and tell me how great it looks. I will never own a GM product again!

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  Comfort and Class - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By Chris - October 14 - 11:46 am

  Great SUV to drive...before I purchased my Pilot, I tested most of the SUVs in its class. Comfort on long road trips is undescribable. I would recommond this vechile to anyone!

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  Great Car So Far - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By Eric In Texas - October 13 - 2:04 am

  Ok, my second time to try this. Great SUV all around. Wanted leather seats and they gave me a great deal well below invoice. Instead of paying $1500 for DVD for the kids, bought a great, portable one instead. Very comfortable, good acceleration and view all around the vehicle. Good storage and like all the latches/power ports/cup holders. Gas mileage not good, but comparable to other SUVs in its class. Dont like where the gear shift is up near steering wheel, temporary spare tire (buying my own full size 235/16" rim and spare), or that back glass doesnt open seperately. Outside styling a tad bland and tinted front side windows at my own expense. Still, great SUV for the money and worth it

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  Acceptable but not great - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Steven Neal - October 12 - 5:42 am

  My wife and I went out to try what was available. We went with the Elite trim to get most of the features we wanted. We have a path we drive with all vehicles so it is and Apple to Apple review. The ride was harsher than I expected and the acceleration was disappointing. The road noise was higher than I expected on the interstate. The small detail that caused us to eliminate the Pilot was at the Elite trim level the second row seat option is captains chairs only. We wanted a bench.

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  Best in class - 2005 Honda Pilot
  By GM-owner - October 10 - 8:10 pm

  This is a great SUV. It has a lot of room, good power, handles well for an SUV and has very good build quality. It has more room than a Trailblazer and gets the same gas mileage as a Suzuki Grand Vitara. I get 20 MPG in mixed driving and I got about 16 MPG with my old Trailblazer.