Honda builds some outstanding cars, creating icons, including the Civic, Accord, and CRV. So what about the Pilot? How does this mid-size SUV from Honda compare? Will it tow your boat? Is that a good driver for every day? If you are contemplating a new SUV for your household, here’s what you should know when it comes to the Honda Pilot.

How does the Honda Pilot compare?

There is some serious competition in the three-row SUV category. The Pilot has held strong in the game. The LX, EX, and EX-L offer seating for eight, but the higher trims exchange the second-row bench in place of captain’s chairs, reducing the seating capacity to seven.

In addition to seating up to eight passengers in total, the cargo area is considerable. In size and popularity, it compares to the Toyota Highlander and Chevrolet Traverse.

Looking for a New SUV? Go First Class With the Honda Pilot

There is much to enjoy in the Honda Pilot, from adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring to WiFi and rear entertainment systems. It truly is a first-class experience. Here are the features you might expect or experience on a test drive.

Impressive tech features

You will continue to be impressed with the technology that comes standard in the Pilot. CabinControl, an exclusive Honda smartphone app, allows backseat passengers to control their climate settings and audio option with their phones. This is something the teenagers in your life will love. Apple Carplay is standard as well. An optional Advanced Rear Entertainment System will entertain the backseat passengers with a Blu-ray player, wireless headphones, and family-friendly games. You can even use HondaLink to have your Amazon Prime delivered directly to your Honda Pilot.

The Honda Pilot has first-class safety with Honda Sensing standard

Their signature safety package, Honda Sensing, is available in all five trims. These safety and driver assistance features range from automatically applying the brakes to preventing a crash with systems that help keep the driver in the lanes. Honda Sensing also includes adaptive cruise control. Honda takes safety seriously. All safety features in the Honda Sensing suite are included as standard equipment on every trim level.

You’ll get an award-winning drive experience

The Pilot was awarded Kelley Blue Book’s Best Buy Award for Midsize SUV, four years in a row, and ranked it one of their 12 Best Family Cars. In 2019 US News & World Report gave Honda high praise as the best SUV manufacturer that year. 

The Pilot is extremely reliable with its 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower, and 262 lb-ft of torque. Those transitioning from another automaker will look for pushbuttons for park, reverse, neutral, and drive. Drivers can select gears manually using the paddle shifters found behind the steering wheel. The latest generations have increasingly improved gas mileage, power, and emissions. All-wheel drive is available on all trim levels, but standard on Elite and Black Edition.