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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  Everything I expected and a little more - 2006 Honda Pilot
  By Lakerhater - April 22 - 4:10 pm

  Already had 58000 miles when we brought it. Love the power. Good getup and go. Have four kids and they like the dvd system. Not factory. A nice looking SUV. Is a little loud on concrete roads. But not bad. Like the safety, three row side air bags. 5 star ratings. Safety is a big selling point for me and my family!

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  Glad I decided to buy it. Its awesome. - 2009 Honda Pilot
  By bpdrumr - April 21 - 11:14 am

  I "traded up" to the 09 Honda Pilot Touring after driving a Honda CRV for 18 months. I had no complaints about my CRV other than I wanted that "luxury" feel and needed more room. I drove many vehicles in my search and decided on the Pilot because it drove the best and gave me exactly what I wanted for a lot less than the Acura MDX and I liked the interior better than the Highlander. The pilot is a dream to drive and although it wont win any races, it has plenty of power. Love at first drive for me. :) My gas mileage is in line with what others seem to be getting. In mixed driving, around 18 mpg.

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  2016 Pilot EX-L Hard Shift Issues - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Tim L. - April 21 - 1:11 am

  Wait on buying this car. Horrible, frequent, but random hard shifting w/ the 6 speed tranny. Wife will not drive it anymore. New 7/2016, we have 6K miles on it and the hard shifting is damaging the whole drive train.. Horrible new car experience. Car is at the dealer for the 3rd time on this as I post this. Looks like Im not the only one..

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  Holy monkey!! - 2009 Honda Pilot
  By Spectre357 - April 19 - 5:25 pm

  For something with the aerodynamics of an apartment building, this thing is a nice ride. Its exceptionally quiet, even over marginal pavement or at higher speeds. Seats are extremely comfortable even after several hours of driving. Interior is very roomy - even the 3rd row. I had a 6-foot co-worker back there, and with the 2nd row shifted forward slightly, he said it was comfortable enough for a cross-town jaunt. Engine has a enough grunt to cruise very nicely at 90MPH. Ride is smooth with minimal body roll on turns. The build and design are typical Honda - everythings well laid out (overall), and controls and surfaces have a good tactile feel - some minor styling quibbles (IMHO.)

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  2nd Pilot - Worth the Wait! - 2009 Honda Pilot
  By Valerie - April 19 - 12:19 pm

  This is the 2nd Honda Pilot that I have owned. Previously, I had the 2005 Honda Pilot under a lease program. I ordered my 2009 Honda Pilot in Feb 2008. It arrived in June 2008. It was worth the wait. I purchased this one, it was better than leasing it. I have been a Honda fan since 1994. This truck has everything I wanted in a truck and more. Look no further!

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  Great vehicle (minus the 9-speed tranny) - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Joel Avila - April 18 - 11:36 am

  I would give this vehicle 5 stars if the 9-speed transmission were smooth. Its not, and thats too bad. Didnt catch that on the test drive, but I sure notice it now, generally when doing lower-speed (around-town) driving. Excellent kid hauler/road-trip vehicle. Im tall, and love the ceiling height and overall comfort & design of the cabin. Rear seating is very well designed, and easy to access - or drop flat for hauling gear. Mileage is good for its class, and I think the styling is much improved. I just cant understand why they didnt give more consideration to the tranny, and I think the NAVI unit, and perhaps the button-shifting could be a bit more smooth/responsive as well. Looking forward to taking it up to the snow this winter (Sierras). Have been in Volvo + Saab wagons my entire adult life, and its a nice change to be in such a big honkin vehicle. Hope this is helpful. Maybe check out the 6-speed, or see if you can live with the 9 on a more urban stoplight-filled test drive. Seems like some folks are not as bothered by it, but I think Honda should come up with an immediate fix. The drive, especially during deceleration at lower speeds = just plain odd.

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  So Far So Good - 2006 Honda Pilot
  By Pat M - April 17 - 2:27 pm

  Leased in June 2006. So far so good. Very reliable. Only oil change maintenance. No major problems or repair work. Except for a bad back speaker that the service dept said there was nothing wrong with...it still isnt fixed. Currently deciding if I should purchase after lease ends July 2009.

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  1st Time Honda Owner - 2004 Honda Pilot
  By New Honda Lover - April 17 - 2:00 am

  Just purchased a 2004 Silver Pilot EX w/cloth seats two days after Christmas. Love it so far! Replacing a 2000 Toyota Sienna, which has been a great vehicle for our family. Perfect time to swing a deal - Dealership traffic was slow over holidays, and they needed to sell car before end of the year to make Presidents Award. Bought it for just $500 over invoice!

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  Best Honda I have ever owned!!! - 2009 Honda Pilot
  By Hondalover - April 15 - 2:35 pm

  This is the 4th Pilot I have owned and it is by far the best one yet!! I cant believe all of the extra features on the 09 model. The ride and drive is awesome. I love the automatic back hatch. The bluetooth is great once you have it set up. It is very roomy and comfortable. The navigation system and backup camera are much bigger and clearer. You will not find a car with more features and comfort for the price.

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  Concerned About Safety - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Diane Larkin - April 15 - 3:14 am

  After 6 weeks of driving the Honda Pilot Elite, I have a growing concern that the user interface to the electronics package may be a safety concern for drivers. I am very confident that Honda builds a safe vehicle in terms of physical structure, air bags and collision avoidance technology, but there is a "huge" distraction issue with the center stack of electronics (nav, audio, RES, cell phone). My concern is the drive must spend an inordinate amount of time interacting with the center stack touch screen. Is is very cumbersome and has many layers to accomplish simple tasks. To make it worse, after several touches on the screen, the finger prints show and if the sun hits the screen a certain way, you cannot see or read the information on the screen. I spend way too much time interacting with the screen when voice commands would accomplish the same thing in a more efficient and "safe" manor. The same principle applies to the RES (rear entertainment system). In order to play a DVD for a child, you must put the DVD in the center console, stop the vehicle, get in the back seat and use the rear control remote to start the movie playing. You cannot do this from the "Rear Audio" screen that shows on the center console. How inconvenient and dangerous (stopping on the side of an interstate highway) is this? What little voice activation has been provided by Honda is really useless. It is very slow and you usually end up using the touch screen which is not organized very well. I am really shocked at how little effort was put into the design of the electronics package. Again, this is a very "unsafe" system given the amount of time and effort the drive must expend at the expense of paying attention to the road!