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:

• 

  2017 elite pilot - 2017 Honda Pilot
  By Elizabeth - February 26 - 7:27 am

  Acceleration takes some time getting used to, as it feels different with the 9 speed transmission. Safety features are great, but sensitivity of lane keep assist and auto braking can be overly sensitive. On a hilly road it will sometimes go off when no other cars in sight. Comfort and convenience is superb. I love this vehicle.

• 

  New Pilot Elite - 2017 Honda Pilot
  By Smith - February 25 - 12:19 am

  Researched Pilot, Explorer and Highlander. Pilot 3rd row more spacious than Highlander. Explorer rode more “truck like”. Had blind spot monitoring on prior - didn’t want to give it up so had to go to Elite model to get it. Honda should have it in other levels / as option. Push button gears in Elite - bit different - takes getting used to. Many well thought out design elements - impressive. LED headlights are great - very bright - good for those with difficulty seeing at night.

• 

  Could be better - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By All-Honda family - February 22 - 10:00 am

  We bought our Pilot last summer right after introduction. It has proven great in snow. However, road noise is excessive, and vibration from day one at about 65. Now we are told tires are cupping and need to be replaced at 20,000 miles +/-. Also, driver door does not fit tightly, squeeks while driving. Plastic on door pillar easily scratched by seat belt. Now we received a recall (called an "adjustment") about late-deploying airbags.

• 

  GREAT family car - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By robrecth - February 22 - 10:00 am

  Highest NHTSA crash test and rollover ratings of any SUV or minivan, better than Highlander, but Honda should at least offer side curtain airbags. Interior spaciousness is phenomenal, no comparison with Highlander. Exterior styling is very bland, not even stylishly understated bland like the Highlander. This is a GREAT family car for those who dont quite need the seating space of minivan. A nice set of compromises in the very best sense of the term.

• 

  Great Vehicle / Great Value - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By Joeb - February 22 - 10:00 am

  This by far is the best SUV in its class. The second that i drove it i fell in love. It has more than enough room and power.

• 

  Honda Pilot EX n/leather - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By tadreb - February 22 - 10:00 am

  This cars handling with the widetrack and AWD has been good in wet and dry highway conditions. The widetrack has to be accomodated when garaging, its wider than the Honda Accord 4 Dr. SE I had. The acceleration is quick with a pleasant exhaust sound as it goes through the gears. It easily passes on hte mountain passes going to and leaving Las Vegas Valley. There is power to spare while passing at 80 mph on I-15. I like the higher sitting possition over the Accord 4 Dr. SE.

• 

  Best Yet - 2017 Honda Pilot
  By Jimd - February 21 - 3:17 am

  This is the best Honda I have had and it is my fifth. I really enjoy the ride and appearance.

• 

  Front Seats Make it Un-Buyable - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Case - February 9 - 8:23 pm

  Just came back from driving a 2016 Pilot and I feel completely dejected and defeated. After a ton of research and considerations regarding a new 3-row vehicle I put the 2016 Pilot at the top of the list but now have to settle for less [Santa Fe or Sorento] because of the Hondas front seats. And BTW, where the hell is Edmunds on this issue? No mention at all, truly no credibility for them at this point. The front seats of the pilot are quite literally like a childs car seat, yes even in the Elite level trim. If all you need the armrest for is resting the tip of your elbow to sip tea then you should be fine. If you expect to use it to shift your weight, alternate body positions, get comfortable for a long-haul, you know ANY of the things you do to find and maintain a comfortable position, then forget it. The armrest is a fold-down plank thats [again literally] closer in size to a ruler than to a center console armrest. And on top of that its flimsy and wobbly in exactly the same way that the fold-down armrests on our childrens car seats are. And yes, Im sorry to be so freaking dramatic but I do mean this literally - they are child sized and child grade weight/feel/strength. Its truly shocking that Hondas effort to "upgrade" the interior design and materials quality but make such an egregious catastrophic fail on the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT element of an interior - the front seats ability to keep the driver comfortable. Truly stunning. Unless and until this is resolved [aftermarket retrofit?] the new Honda Pilot is, wait for it, literally un-buyable. PS - Equally stunning is that the Edmunds review doesnt inform us about this. For something that Honda deserves to be completely eviscerated for, theres not even a mention of it. Considering how often minor issues are amplified into concerns/cons, Edmunds silence on the Pilots shameful and distressingly abominable front seats leaves no doubt that something shady is going on.

• 

  52,704 miles so far - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By PilotFan - February 9 - 2:00 am

  I cant believe Ive taken this car to 52,704 miles so far. It has never been in the shop for anything other than scheduled maintenance. They took care of recalls during sched maint. Honda of Santa Monica takes care of me big time. California doesnt offer harsh winter weather to really test the vehicle but it has been to Tahoe(winter), survived pretty bad rains and even the nasty fires of so cal., and the dreaded heat of Las Vegas, NV. Ive been getting 20mpg highway lately. I took a 1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee to 242,000 miles and I sunk so much money into it by the 50,000 mile mark. The Pilot so far has been its weight in gold.

• 

  Great bang for your buck! - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By First Time SUVer - February 8 - 10:00 am

  I, too, almost purchased a Highlander, until my husband begged me to look at and test drive the Pilot. I was immediately in love. The space inside this SUV is amazing. It is much bigger on the inside than it looks on the outside ... and the seats are very comfortable (love the leather). Being new parents, we really digged the DVD, and figured it would come in handy on long road trips with the kiddos.