2021 Honda Pilot review

2021 Honda Pilot Review:

The 2021 Honda Pilot is an appealing choice among midsize three-row SUVs because it does many things right and few things wrong. Designed for families, this roomy SUV has comfortable first- and second-row seating, provides excellent outward visibility, and is rewarding to drive thanks to its powerful V6 engine, smooth ride, and responsive handling. The Pilot isn't suitable for off-roading, though the all-wheel-drive system is surprisingly capable in snowy and muddy conditions. Nevertheless, if you require confidence-inspiring capability in the dirt, you'll want something else to drive.

Honda sweetened the pot with the introduction of the Special Edition model, which adds a handful of features to the midlevel EX-L trim. Honda also made the nine-speed automatic standard on all trims. While the competition had caught up to and in some ways passed the Pilot by 2021, this big Honda remains a popular and smart choice for families. 

• Technology

• Comfort

• Cargo and storage

• Ease of use

• Driving

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What tech does the 2021 Honda Pilot have?

Connectivity

The 2021 Pilot has the technology you expect, but it doesn't raise the bar in any way. For example, the Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ connectivity requires a wired instead of a wireless connection. Also, while most Pilots have front and rear USB ports, they're the older USB-A type instead of USB-C designs. 

Bluetooth® connectivity with music streaming and text-messaging support is standard, and starting with the SE trim level, the Pilot has a wireless smartphone charging pad. Access to a Wi-Fi hotspot is available with the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. Those three trim levels also have a 10-speaker premium sound system that provides a satisfying listening experience.

Infotainment

From the driver's seat, the Pilot feels big. That might be partly due to the relatively small 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It's not easy to reach, and there isn't a way to steady your hand while using it. Also, though Honda provides a volume knob, there isn't a corresponding tuning knob. The voice recognition system is unimpressive, requiring you to follow specific prompts to achieve success. Fortunately, you can bypass it by using Apple CarPlay® or Android Auto™.

Those faults aside, the color touchscreen's menus are easy to understand, and if you head down the wrong path, the Home and Back buttons are helpful. Fortunately, the climate controls and many other vehicle functions are separate from the display, limiting interaction with the screen and its rudimentary voice recognition system.

Choose a Pilot Touring, Elite, or Black Edition, and it has a roof-mounted rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display. It works with wired or wireless headphones and offers content streaming capability via built-in apps. Still have DVDs at home? A Blu-ray™ player is a part of this system, and HDMI inputs support gaming.

Driver-Assist Tech

Every 2021 Pilot has Honda Sensing®, a collection of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) that includes the features you're most likely to want. However, as with this SUV's infotainment system, nothing about Honda Sensing® breaks new ground or sets new standards, and it's unrefined compared to some of its contemporary rivals. For example, when using the adaptive cruise control, the Pilot can accelerate and brake too abruptly in response to changing traffic conditions. It also lacks a stop-and-go function that is helpful in heavy commuter traffic.

Additionally, the lane-keeping and lane-centering assistance systems can seem unsure on any section of road that isn't straight. The Pilot's reversing camera offers multiple viewing angles, but the low-resolution image isn't helpful, especially after dark. Also, a surround-view camera system is not available on this SUV.

How comfortable is the 2021 Honda Pilot? 

Front Seating

All 2021 Pilots except the base LX model have a 10-way power-adjustable driver's seat, and EX-L and higher trims come with memory settings for two drivers and a four-way power-adjustable passenger's seat. Unfortunately, Honda does not offer a front passenger seat height adjuster on any trim level.

Both front seats are comfortable, boasting enough support to help you arrive at a destination feeling fresh even after hours on the road. Unlike other vehicles in its segment, the Pilot has adjustable inboard armrests instead of a wide armrest on the center console. They are too close and narrow to offer much use.

Triple-zone automatic climate control is standard, and all Pilots except the base LX have heated front seats. Leather upholstery is fitted to every Pilot except the LX and EX, and the Elite and Black Edition have ventilated front seats.

Rear Seating

Most 2021 Pilots have a second-row bench seat. Captain's chairs are an option on the Pilot Touring, and they're standard with Elite and Black Edition trim. All three of those models offer heated rear seats, and the two upper trims include a panoramic sunroof. Rear side window shades are standard in every Pilot except the LX and EX.

Regardless of the model you choose, the second-row seats slide fore and aft and recline, ensuring passengers can find a comfortable position. A one-touch slide function provides access to the third row, but the pass-through is narrow, presenting a challenge for adults. Third-row comfort is average for the segment.

Ride Quality and Interior Noise

Honda is well known for its supple yet sporty suspension tuning, and the 2021 Pilot provides the company's signature smooth and compliant yet controlled ride quality, which means it's comfortable without being so soft it induces carsickness. The Pilot is also quiet inside, with little wind and road noise. Under hard acceleration, the engine note intrudes, but the V6 sounds good when it's revving.

Does the 2021 Honda Pilot have good storage?

Cargo  

Open the Pilot's liftgate—powered on EX-L and higher trims—and it rises to reveal up to 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat. Handy storage wells bookend the center load floor, under which you'll find a generously sized hidden area. Upgrade to the SE trim or higher, and the liftgate features hands-free opening capability.

Fold the third-row seat flat, and the Pilot provides up to 46.8 cubic feet of cargo space. That is plenty of room for a typical family of four taking an extended road trip. Maximum volume with the second row folded down is 83.8 cubic feet. Note that the Elite and Black Edition provide slightly less space due to their panoramic sunroof.

Storage

If you have lots of stuff to stash away, the 2021 Pilot will put a smile on your face. The covered center console is large, and its tambour-style lid creates a tray when closed. Each door panel has practical shelving, and the rear doors feature cupholders located high and within easy reach of children. The available wireless charging pad is large enough to accommodate modern oversized smartphones without any trouble.

How easy is the 2021 Honda Pilot to use?

Entry, Exit, and Car Seats

Thanks to its large doors and tall ride height, getting into and out of a Honda Pilot is easy unless you're accessing the third-row seat. The pass-through to get back there is narrow, and while you can slide between the captain's chairs in Pilots that have them, the armrests can get in the way.

Because the Pilot is so roomy inside, installing child safety seats is no trouble. The LATCH anchors are easy to locate and use, and while the rear tether points at the bottom of the second-row seatbacks are somewhat hidden, once you know they're there, they're easy to find.

Interior Layout and Visibility

In the 2021 Pilot, it is easy to find and use what you're looking for … unless you're looking for a radio tuning knob, in which case you will be disappointed. Also, while the collection of buttons and switches that control the transmission is sometimes aggravating, you'll acclimate to them quickly.

From the driver's seat, forward visibility is outstanding. The windshield pillars are relatively thin, the exterior mirrors are mounted on the doors to increase the size of the side windows, and the dashboard is low. Looking to the rear through the mirror, you'll enjoy a clear view out of the back window as long as the third-row head restraints are nested down. Reversing from slant parking is also relatively easy thanks to the large third-row window glass.

The multi-angle reversing camera is helpful, but the low-resolution image is not, especially after nightfall. It lacks a surround-view image, and the display is small, making it harder to discern details. Choose a Pilot Touring, Elite, or Black Edition, and you'll make good use of the front and rear parking sensors.

What’s the 2021 Honda Pilot like to drive?

Driving

The 2021 Honda Pilot has a refined 3.5-liter V6 engine making 280 horsepower, driving either the front or all four wheels through a nine-speed automatic transmission. With only 7.3 inches of ground clearance, the Pilot isn't made for off-roading, though Snow, Sand, and Mud traction settings are available, as well as a hill-start assist system. Hill descent control is not on the Pilot's menu.

Thanks to the added traction of the available all-wheel-drive system, a Pilot can accelerate to 60 mph in about seven seconds. The SUV feels smooth and proves quiet in the city and on the highway, and unlike many of its competitors, it is unexpectedly rewarding to drive on a twisty road. Precise steering, faithful brakes, and controlled body motions contribute to that.

Towing

Like most midsize SUVs, the 2021 Pilot can tow a moderately heavy trailer when properly equipped. With front-wheel drive, the maximum it can handle is 3,500 pounds when properly equipped

Fuel Economy

Most Pilots return an EPA-estimated 22 to 23 mpg in combined driving, which is nearly as good as the most efficient models in the class (aside from hybrids). The lower number applies to the all-wheel-drive versions of the SUV.

EPA Fuel Economy Estimates