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The 2024 Honda Pilot is a three-row crossover SUV with a big interior and decent V-6 power. Shop it against the Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, and Kia Telluride.
Big and reasonably stylish for a three-row crossover SUV, the 2024 Pilot makes a solid case for itself. Middling fuel economy and some quirky tech hold it back against the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. We give it a TCC Rating of 6.8 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
Honda made no major changes for 2024. The Pilot was revamped for 2023 with blockier styling, an off-road-ish trim level, and a muscular V-6 engine.
Its blunt front end gives way to a side profile that looks like an updated version of some 1990s classics. The available TrailSport trim delivers a hint of off-road utility with its higher stance, real skid plates, and recovery points.
Inside, most versions come with a 9.0-inch touchscreen that juts out of an otherwise simple, contemporary dashboard.
The Pilot makes use of a smooth 3.5-liter V-6 rated at 285 hp, which clicks its way through 10 gears to either the front or, optionally, all four wheels. The gearbox works silently in the background to make the most of all that power, but the Pilot will beg for fuel-station stops. Look for just 21 mpg combined for most models with all-wheel drive. The TrailSport’s slightly lifted suspension nudges that down by 1 mpg. Honda doesn’t currently offer a Pilot hybrid.
A calm, comfortable ride with standard 18-inch wheels becomes only slightly harsher with the bigger 20s fitted to higher-trim versions. The TrailSport can be a bit bouncy with its off-road tires. It’s definitely more capable in the rough than other versions, but we question how many owners will venture beyond a grass parking lot.
More importantly, the cabin swallows up as many as eight passengers is solid comfort. It’s not quite as spacious as Honda’s own Odyssey van, but it comes close. Second-row captain’s chairs are widely available.
The IIHS gives the Pilot a Top Safety Pick+ award, but it didn’t perform as well in updated tests the agency will implement in the coming year. The expected array of driver-assistance tech includes adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and a driver-attention monitor. Blind-spot monitors come on all but the lowest trims.
How much does the 2024 Honda Pilot cost?
Honda asks $38,465 for the Pilot LX with front-wheel drive, which is a bit spartan with its unheated cloth seats and dinky 7.0-inch touchscreen. All-wheel drive costs about $2,000 on models where it’s not standard. The $40,975 Sport tosses in rear-seat climate controls and butt warmers up front for a hefty $3,000 more, at which point you might as well drop another three grand for the EX-L with its leather trim, 9.0-inch display, and power tailgate. The $53,855 Pilot Elite tops the lineup.
Where is the 2024 Honda Pilot made?
