2022 Honda Pilot comes with more standard features—including full LED headlights and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto—but these upgrades correspond with a significantly higher starting price. With Honda dropping the bottom-rung LX and EX trim levels, the lineup now begins with the EX-L, which begins at just over $40k.
That’s almost $7000 more than the LX cost last year. There’s also a new Sonic Gray Pearl paint color. Honda says it’ll introduce a new model later this year.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Pilot’s V-6 has a sporty sound and plenty of power, and we like the unobtrusive behavior of the nine-speed automatic transmission. The Honda is not the most ponderous three-row crossover to drive, but its considerable size can make it feel heavy when cornering.
The 20-inch wheels that come on the upper trims hurt ride quality a bit, but they enhance the Pilot’s otherwise dorky appearance. And the vehicle rides relatively smoothly when loaded with people and stuff. The Pilot’s lack of body control makes it seem disconnected from the road at times. And its light steering makes it easy to maneuver at parking-lot speeds, but it also contributes to the detached feel on the highway.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
Fuel economy is strong within Honda’s showroom, and the Pilot is very efficient for such a large and practical vehicle, according to both the EPA and our real-world testing. The front-wheel-drive model will achieve 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.
Adding all-wheel drive knocks 1 mpg off both government ratings, for totals of 19 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The all-wheel-drive-only Elite model we tested exceeded its highway rating, achieving 27 mpg on our 75-mph fuel-economy route. For more information about the Pilot’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
The 2022 Honda Pilot‘s interior is spacious and practical and can be had with family-friendly options such as an in-cabin PA system. Most trim levels offer a three-across second row, for those who need to seat eight. Pricier models forgo the bench for two captain’s chairs, reducing the passenger count to seven.
However, the spacious third row’s low seat cushion of the 2022 Honda Pilot means it’s really only practical for kids. The Pilot’s dashboard layout features easy-to-use climate controls and a clearly marked gauge cluster, and there are a whopping 16 cupholders throughout the cabin.
This SUV’s high seating position gives the driver a commanding view of the road, and large windows and thin unobtrusive roof pillars award the Pilot best-in-class visibility. This Honda has a downright cavernous cargo area and loads of useful interior cubbies.
It’s among the roomiest SUVs in its class, but the cargo capacity between the seven- and eight-seat configurations is different, as the Elite and seven-seat Touring trims have a second-row center console that can’t be removed. The adjustable cargo floor can be set up for maximum space or to create an underfloor storage compartment.
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Every Pilot has a host of standard driver-assistance technology. For more information about the Honda’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
