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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  Rock solid,easy to drive,great family vehicle - 2006 Honda Pilot
  By Bob Kroha - January 14 - 7:18 am

  We bought this 2006 Honda Pilot with 14,000 miles on the odometer and could not be more pleased. The Pilot now has 216,000 miles on it and runs as good as the day we bought it. Maintenance over the years has been brakes , rotors , a timing belt at 140,000 miles. Other than standard upkeep , the radiator was replaced ( pin hole leak ) and an alternator around 200,000 miles. We still make comfortable trips from Ma to Nyc.It is still the vehicle of choice when transporting the grandchildren to various functions ,soccer and hockey games. We have even had two adults in the third row seat for one of our evenings out. We will now look at a 2016 Pilot because my daughter wants this one. Great Car. Hope the new Pilot is as good.

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  We like the 2015 - 2015 Honda Pilot
  By Kris - December 26 - 8:55 am

  I bought this car a year ago. We have found the car to be fine with the power of the engine. I use the cruise control often and dont have any problems with sluggishness. In fact when driving on the turnpike I set the cruise at 80 and I dont have any problems. Purchasing the Pilot was a financial decision when comparing toyota and Ford. The car has been at the dealership for minor fixes due to assembly though nothing has been engine related. The glove box handle worked sporadically, the rear Hatch control button didnt operate, the button on the gear shift sticks. Honda service is great and of course these have been fixed with no questions asked.

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  200000 miles and drives like new - 2008 Honda Pilot
  By Richard Kling - November 24 - 10:33 pm

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  Incredible vehicle - 2008 Honda Pilot
  By Tom Horrigan - November 10 - 8:46 am

  2008 Pilot is quiet, roomy, comfortable and reliable. Best vehicle Ive ever had!!

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  Great car for business and family travel - 2010 Honda Pilot
  By Clayton - October 28 - 3:56 pm

  Selected car for inside room and ride since I travel a lot. It compared with Lincoln Towncar for ride, since it isnt around any more. Car is great buy, I have company car now and do not need it anymore. Great car!

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  Over 278,000 miles... - 2003 Honda Pilot
  By Stephen Wollman - October 22 - 6:30 am

  My wife and I are now Piloteers. I bought my first pilot--an03--in 2013. The guy I bought if from had sent his last kid to college and didnt need the extra car, otherwise Im sure he wouldve kept it. It had 245,000 miles on it. Since weve owned it (its been my wifes primary driver) weve rolled it up to 278,000. Other than standard maintenance, Ive put no money into it. It literally still handles like its brand new. The invinceable V-tech engine is very quiet, and the transmission doesnt slip in the least. As of a week ago, we are now piloteers for life. I gave away my perfectly good Chrysler Pacifica and bought my wife a newer pilot with half the mileage. The 03 is now mine. I will never buy another vehicle. When my oldest gets into high school (in the next two years) I will give him the 03 and buy another. Make no mistake, the honda pilot is the absolute distance you can take your dollar. It is well worth the money.

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  LOVE IT - 2011 Honda Pilot
  By Brian Peters - October 1 - 4:33 pm

  I have owned my 2011 Pilot for two years now and have nothing but great things to say about it. The amount of cargo space and thought that went into this vehicle goes well beyond its truck like exterior. (Which I love) This SUV has places to store things behind every corner, and even has plenty of room when I have 8 people packed into it. IT never slips & slides in the rain or snow, and has been nothing but reliable to me since I purchased it in the summer of 2013. The only thing I have had to replace is the brake pads, but thats expected in any large 3 row crossover. Its get up and go is good, but I struggle to overtake cars on the highway without really hitting the gas pedal. Overall, I would recommend this vehicle to any family that does not want a minivan, wants a bang for there buck, and wants to ride in style. My rating for the Pilot? 10/10 best car I have ever owned.

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  Blue Smoothy - 2015 Honda Pilot
  By Mark - August 29 - 9:20 pm

  I always wanted a Pilot, but couldt justify the cost, but I finally made the plunge and love it. Sure, I looked at the 2015 Highlander and almost spent a few grand more to get the latest tech, and maybe in retro spec I should have, but the family and I love our Pilot and how it gets us around in our daily lives. The DVD player for the eight and twelve year olds are a must. Great MPG and my wife and I love how it glides down the road. Would buy another one. One crazy thing though... I had all four brake calipers rust, just surface, and Rivertown Honda replaced them under warranty without more than a "Hey guys what do you think of this." Cant say enough about how easy that was and a new 2015 Civic for the day without charge. Thanks Honda and Rivertown Honda of Grandville, MI.

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  My Dream Luxury SUV!!! - 2012 Honda Pilot
  By R.W. Bey - August 23 - 6:12 pm

  Since I have purchased and driven my "luxury SUV" , I have enjoyed every moment behind the wheel. Thank you Honda!!!!

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  A great vehicle in every way - 2013 Honda Pilot
  By Scott Hansen - August 5 - 5:55 pm

  My wife and I never buy new cars and the cars we have we keep for 10 or 15 years. The last car that my wife had was a 2002 Mercury Mountaineer and we had it 10 years and it was time to get a new vehicle. Two years ago we purchased a used Honda Civic and are very happy with it so when it came time to research vehicles we knew the Pilot would be one of them. We test drove three different SUVs. We tried the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe and the Toyota Highlander. We did not like the Santa Fe at all. The ride was not nice and despite raves from the reviewers, the interior seemed to be made out of cheep materials. The road we drove on was under construction and we felt every bump and hole we hit. The third row seating area was cramped, and that is being generous. The Toyota Highlander was next and we liked that car. It drove well, it looked nice, it was large and roomy but they tended to be more expensive and with less equipment than the Pilot. When we drove the Pilot I knew right away we found our next car. We drove one that had 17,000 miles on it and it had all the comforts we were used to and a bit more. The seats are very comfortable, there is plenty of second row seating leg room, and the third seat actually looks like it may be comfortable for adults. We liked the way it handled and how intuitive the controls were. I went to work and researched used Pilots and I honed in on three of them, on in Fargo, one where we live in the Twin Cities and one in Wausau, WI. The Fargo one and the Wausau one are about 3 1/2 hours from our house. I hate dealing with car dealerships but because I did the research I knew I was going to pay a fair price. When it came to numbers I wanted a towing lighting system installed as well as winter mats and a cargo area mat. The place in Fargo and I talked and then the place in Wausau and I talked. I was able to get a lower price from the Wausau place even though I was told this was the lowest they could go. They responded well when there was another valid offer on the table. I ended up going with the Wausau one because the vehicle they had was a Certified Honda which meant an extra years warranty. I then paid $795 to kick that out to the year 2020 or 100,000 miles, and with the low number of miles we drive I know I will be covered for five full years. Even with the warranty I ended up paying less than I would have at the Fargo dealer but the Fargo dealer was going to deliver it to my doorstep and I had to pick up the Wausau one. I then went online and found this forum. I was nervous when I read all about the vibration problems when the car goes into ECO mode. Since I did not test drive the exact vehicle I was buying, I thought it could be trouble. I also thought about this when I bought the extended Honda warranty. My wife and I have had the car now for about a month. So far there has been zero problems with vibrations. The car is a dream. It is built well and it gets better gas mileage than our old Mountaineer. It is more comfortable to drive and there is nothing better than getting that new car feeling even if it is a used car. My wife loves it too and is very happy with our choice. We are going to start saving our pennies so we can buy our next car with cash in about 10 years and most likely it will be a Honda or Toyota.