2024 Honda Pilot SUVOTY Review: Three-Row Glow-Up
Honda’s family SUV returns with more space and amenities.
Pros
- Earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+ status
- Fantastic value
- Roomy, practical cabin
Cons
- Old-looking interior design
- Outdated technology
- Lots of cabin noise
This review was conducted as part of our 2024 SUV of the Year (SUVOTY) testing, where each vehicle is evaluated on our six key criteria: efficiency, design, safety, engineering excellence, value, and performance of intended function. Eligible vehicles must be all-new or significantly revised.
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In a field packed with three-row SUVs galore, the 2024 Honda Pilot fared well against our SUV of the Year criteria. Judges were pleased with its ride and handling, ample interior room, and easy ingress and egress into the third row.
"This is a highly versatile three-row SUV for people who will use it to haul the brood, their friends, and all their stuff around," associate editor Alex Leanse said. With seating for up to eight passengers, the Pilot is a popular family hauler thanks to its impressive packaging and comfort—even in the third row. Leanse, despite standing 6-foot-10, didn't have issues with head- or legroom in the third row, and he noted the big windows made the cabin feel even airier.
Our Pilot Elite was fitted with a middle-row bench, but the center seat can be removed to create a passthrough to the third row. Either way, the entire second row moves out of the way at the push of a button, creating enough space for adults to easily climb into the way back. "The Pilot's second-row execution is excellent in terms of folding and sliding, especially compared to some higher-end competitors," said guest judge and retired Ford engineer and product development chief Hau Thai-Tang.
With a new 3.5-liter V-6 engine, the Pilot now makes 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, and the 10-speed automatic transmission is a nice upgrade over the previous nine-speed. While this mill is the only one available in the Pilot, judges wished it were quieter and more powerful, something that could be solved if, say, it were hybridized. But overall, the 2024 Pilot is much improved over the previous model, with judges logging positive comments on its ride, steering, and even off-road chops. On the safety front, the Pilot scored big by being named an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and having standard advanced safety features that worked without error in our testing.
The Pilot fell short on advancement in design, specifically inside. While we praised the deviation from the prior model's minivan-style exterior, we were critical of the Honda's interior, which already looks outdated with its small infotainment screen and unimaginative design. "It lacks that all-new-car wow factor," Detroit editor Alisa Priddle said.
Our $53,855 top-of-the-line Pilot Elite was priced in line with the competition considering its feature set, which included USB ports and air vents in all three rows, a color head-up display, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. An off-road-focused TrailSport variant is also available for families that plan to head off pavement.
The Pilot was the only three-row SUV that earned a finalist spot, a testament to how well it performed against the majority of our criteria. It continues to be a tremendous family vehicle, but it didn't break enough new ground, and Honda needs to invest in a hybrid powertrain and state-of-the-art interior tech.
More 2024 SUV of the YearIntroduction|Criteria Explained
Finalists|Contenders
Behind the Scenes
Miguel Cortina is Mexico Editor at MotorTrend, covering the auto industry in the U.S. and south of the border. He joined MotorTrend in January 2015 and is an avid automotive enthusiast who enjoys playing golf, surfing, and running in his free time.
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