The Honda Pilot is a solid midsize SUV, that much is true. With three rows of comfortable seats, a sizable load area, and a high-quality cabin, it succeeds on almost all counts. Thanks to a strong base V6 engine and a good balance of handling ability and ride comfort, driving it is also not boring.
In This Article...
Are Honda Pilot vehicles dependable?
Breakdown of the Honda Pilot’s reliability rating. The Honda Pilot has a 3.5 out of 5.0 reliability rating, which places it 13th out of 26 midsize SUVs. It has cheaper ownership costs than the national average due to the $542 average annual repair cost.
How much does a new Honda Pilot cost?
The base price of the 2021 Honda Pilot is $32,250. Though not as much as the Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-9, that is more than the majority of competitors in its class. The starting price for the Pilot’s top-of-the-line Black Edition trim is $49,920. The U.S. News Best Price Program offers fantastic savings at your neighborhood Honda dealer. Check it out.
Which issues does the Honda Pilot have?
Electrical troubles with the 2020 Pilot are rather typical, while not being as widespread as other Pilot faults. Owners of the 2020 model have complained about electrical issues that led to broken navigation systems, instrument panels, and entertainment systems.
Key Points
- The average annual repair cost for more recent Pilots is $542, which is less expensive than the Ford Explorer’s average annual repair cost of $732.
- Less than 100 complaints on vehicles from 2014 and later indicate that the Pilot has been a reliable vehicle, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- In a recent survey of the cars most likely to travel 200,000 miles, the Honda brand came in second. Although the Honda Odyssey minivan, which has the same platform as the Pilot, was listed in the study’s list of 16 cars projected to reach that mileage milestone, the Pilot was not.
- The Honda Pilot is a dependable and reasonably priced SUV that, while not the most thrilling car on the road, should satisfy the ordinary driver for a decade or more of devoted service and can easily travel over 150,000 miles with proper maintenance.
- The Pilot’s track record of dependability has one flaw: In 2013, a class action lawsuit involving an engine problem impacting more than 1.6 million automobiles was resolved. The 3.5-liter V6 engine used in 2009–2013 Pilots may malfunction or burn excessive amounts of oil, according to the lawsuit.
The Toyota Highlander is larger than the Honda Pilot.
Midsize SUVs with three rows of seating are now the go-to choice for families with four or more children. Customers who purchase in this class may anticipate plenty of room for passengers and cargo, a wide range of convenience amenities, and (for the most part) simple car-seat installation.
Two of the most popular options for a crossover SUV with a third row are the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander. The 2022 Honda Pilot and 2022 Toyota Highlander are comparable in size and interior space, other from that. Both come with a typical V6 engine. Toyota also has a hybrid Highlander available for those looking for improved gas mileage.
This 2022 Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander comparison will aid in your decision-making if you’re torn between the two vehicles.
Which is larger, a passport or a Honda Pilot?
The size is one of the greatest distinctions between the Honda Pilot and Passport. Greater in size than the passport is the Pilot. The Pilot has up to eight seats, while the Passport has five.
The two-row Honda Passport has 114.9 cubic feet of overall passenger volume and up to 100.8 cubic feet of cargo volume behind the first row. With 152.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 109 cubic feet of luggage volume, the three-row Pilot is about 6 inches longer than the Passport. Visit our Honda dealership to test drive these SUVs, then register for Honda rebates and lease offers.
Honda Pilot: A car for soccer moms?
The Honda Odyssey minivan is now the most popular among mothers in terms of both purchases and usage. Odyssey is the preferred option for mothers who have more than two children and need a vehicle that offers safety, space, and comfort to conduct their daily activities without difficulty. This is because Odyssey offers a capacity to hold up to 8 people, in addition to having a whopping 38.4 cubic feet of cargo and fuel economy with capacity for 18 cities, 27 highways, and 22.0 miles combined per gallon. All this and more make Odyssey the preferred option for mothers.
There have been four models of the Honda Odyssey since its initial release on the market in 1994. Highlights from the most recent version, which spans 2011 to 2017, include the 3.5L J35Z8 V6 engine and a 5-speed automatic transmission (2011–2013), which eventually became a 6-speed automatic (all models 2014-17).
Which year of the Honda Pilot is the best?
The second-generation Pilot was produced from 2009 to 2015 and featured a number of extremely significant contemporary conveniences. The latter models had more streamlined and contemporary body lines even if the overall size and shape were similar to that of the first generation. 2015 is regarded as the Honda Pilot’s best year.
Second-generation automobiles still come with the 3.5-liter engine. To increase fuel efficiency, Honda, on the other hand, used cylinder deactivation technology. Depending on how much power is needed, the engine shuts down two or three cylinders at cruising speeds. Reducing the number of cylinders in use increases fuel savings. Because of this technology, the second-generation Pilot boasts much better EPA fuel-efficiency ratings.
Both the front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions score 20 mpg overall. On the interstate, all-wheel-drive cars earn 24 mpg, while front-wheel-drive models get 25 mpg. Given that second-generation vehicles continue to produce 250 horsepower, this represents a significant improvement over first-generation models.
Like the first-generation Pilot, the second-generation Pilot has experienced many airbag recalls during its entire production run. Early models up to 2011’s seat belt stitching has been recalled owing to faulty or inadequate stitching, which might lead to the seatbelt disengaging from the chassis in the event of an accident.
Due to loose nuts on the front suspension parts, which could result in steering loss, other early models are recalled. Premature piston wear in some Honda Pilot models from the 2013 model year may cause engine failure.
Honda Pilot’s Second-Generation Gets An Offroad Design
Honda was spot on with the second-generation Pilots’ use of current technology, just as it was with the first-generation models. Voice controls and satellite navigation have been added to The Pilot’s GPS game. Beginning with the 2013 model year, all Pilots were required to have a backup camera as standard equipment. Some second-generation vehicles included an XM radio, and the rear-seat DVD system was still available.
Family-friendly features have also become more prevalent. Twelve cupholders in total are included with the second-generation Pilot. The number of 12-volt power outlets was reduced to three due to the loss of one of the original three. However, a 115-volt power outlet with a standard household socket soon became accessible, enabling the family to bring along gadgets like phone chargers and portable game systems. The second-generation Pilots could tow up to 4,500 pounds, much like the first.
The second-generation Pilots may be obtained in earlier versions for less than $10,000, but if you want one with all the bells and whistles, expect to pay more over $10,000. The most appealing models in terms of technology are those from 2013 and later. If you can do without a primary backup camera and make a few other minor changes, buying a model made before 2013 can save you a ton of money. Overall, you can obtain a superb second-generation Pilot for $15,000 or less.
Repair costs for Honda Pilots are they high?
During its first ten years of use, a Honda Pilot will require roughly $7,373 in maintenance and repairs.
This is $1,760 less than the industry average for popular SUV models. Additionally, there is a 21.05% likelihood that a Pilot will need a significant repair within that time. Compared to similar vehicles in this sector, this is 0.45% better. The following graph shows how these expenses and the likelihood of repairs will rise over time.
What model year of the Honda Pilot has transmission issues?
We don’t expect you to go out into the wilderness and try to buy an automobile that is over 20 years old. However, you might find one if you’re looking for a cheap used Honda Pilot. We’re here to advise you not to purchase it under any circumstances. This is by far the worst model year Pilot has ever produced. Users of the NHTSA and Car Complaints have encountered a lot of issues since 2003.
Users have specifically reported issues with the drivetrain, electrical, engine, and airbags. There are a lot more difficulties mentioned, but these are the biggest and most expensive. For instance, the NHTSA received reports of 105 gearbox issues, 123 electrical issues, and 112 drivetrain issues. It’s far simpler to avoid this paradigm given how frequently serious, expensive to fix problems like this occur. If you see a 2003 Pilot laying around, do not purchase it.
Furthermore, same issues reappeared for the 2005 model year a few years later. This one is still best to avoid even though they don’t happen as frequently as the 2003 model did. Even if this is a different model year, we wouldn’t anticipate anyone to be purchasing at the moment.
How much does a fully equipped Honda Pilot cost?
Total price for the 2022 Honda Pilot with all options is $54,455. This sum includes a $1,225 destination and handling cost. The Deep Scarlet Pearl 3.5-liter V6 Honda Pilot Elite with all-wheel drive and 20-inch black alloy wheels costs $51,643 in total. We increase the price by including the All-Season Protection Package I, crossbars, running boards, and a trailer hitch.
Although the price is about $5,000 higher than the 2022 Honda Pilot Elite’s initial beginning price, we used Honda’s build & price tool, and the result is actually not that awful. The Elite model is a terrific value SUV because it comes with a ton of standard features. The extras we’ve selected significantly enhance the options but aren’t necessary, and removing them would make the Pilot seem a little less expensive. Anyone looking for an SUV should consider this fully outfitted Honda Pilot, especially those who require dependability, safety, and room.
Which Honda SUV is the largest?
The new 2021 Honda Pilot is not only the largest SUV in Honda’s remarkable lineup, but it is also the only one featuring a third row of seats. The CR-V, HR-V, and Passport are all fantastic vehicles in their own right, but if size is what you’re after, the Pilot is the best option.
A Honda Pilot qualifies as a large SUV, right?
Because it has always offered room for up to eight passengers, Honda’s largest crossover SUV, the Pilot, is a family-oriented vehicle with three rows of seats and a foot in both the mid-size and full-size classes. Honda’s mid-size SUV prior to the Pilot’s arrival for the 2003 model year was the Passport, a knockoff of the Isuzu Rodeo that filled a void in the lineup while Honda developed its own SUV. The all-wheel-drive Pilot can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly outfitted, which increases its attractiveness to families. SUVs like the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Pathfinder, and Chevrolet Traverse are competitors.