2017 Honda Pilot In-Depth Photos
Check out the 2017 Honda Pilot from every angle, including interior and exterior photos.
Pros:
- Well-finished and roomy interior.
- Powerful acceleration.
- Easy access to rear seats.
Cons:
- Awkward shifting with 9-speed automatic transmission.
- Lack of audio controls.
- Base trim lacks advanced safety features.
Would we buy one? Yup!
Vehicle Type: Midsize 3-row SUV with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.
Price Range: From $18,913 to $36,995 MSRP.
Powertrain: The LX, EX, and EX-L trim levels offer a direct-injected 3.5L V6 engine with 280-horsepower, 262 lb-ft of torque a 6-speed automatic transmission.
The Touring and Elite models come with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
Competitors: Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Traverse.
Overall Score: 7.7/10
Safety Features: 9/10
Named a 'Top Safety Pick Plus,' the 2017 Honda Pilot was awarded the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's highest rating of 'Good' in five crash tests. The NHTSA rated the Honda Pilot five stars based on its frontal, side, and rollover crash tests.
The Pilot's standard safety features include ABS brakes, brake assist, a multi-angle rearview camera, and front/side/curtain airbags. The Honda Sensing Suite is optional, but Honda LaneWatch, which provides auto high-beam headlights, is standard on EX, EX-L, and Touring trim levels. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is standard on the Elite trim.
Value: 7/10
Compared to its competitor, the Toyota Highlander, the Pilot has a lower starting price, better performance, and more passenger and cargo capacity. But the Toyota SUV has more standard safety features. Also, when compared the Pilot is compared to the Chevrolet Traverse, the Chevrolet SUV is the better value: it has excellent safety scores, more cargo space, excellent handling, and a lower price.
The 2017 Honda Pilot has five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite.
The estimated Pilot pricing runs between $18,913 to $36,995 MSRP.
Across the board, reviewers recommend skipping the base-level LX and opting for other Pilot trims when searching for a Honda Pilot for sale. When paired with the Honda Sensing safety features, the Honda Pilot EX-L trim offers the best value.
Tech Features: 8/10
All Pilot trims come with an infotainment system with a seven-speaker sound system that includes Bluetooth and a USB port with a one-touch start. The entertainment system lacks physical knobs making usability difficult, but the touchscreen has larger icons. Higher Pilot trims offer Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, satellite radio, navigation with voice recognition. The touchscreen is upgraded to an 8-inch at the EX and EX-L trims. The Honda Pilot Touring and the Honda Pilot Elite models provide a 10-speaker entertainment system.
Active safety systems are standard starting with the EX trim and the Honda Sensing suite, including adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-departure mitigation, and forward-collision warning systems. Three-zone climate control is offered to start with the EX.
The Pilot models offer up to five USB ports in the front and second-row as well as an HDMI port for rear entertainment. The navigation system includes live updates, and the Pilot has a SiriusXM ability to create a customized channel and weather reports.
Practicality: 9/10
The Honda Pilot has more cargo space than other 3-row seating SUVs. The cargo area measures 18.5 cubic feet with the third row in use and increases to 55.9 cubic feet. The second row and third row offer LATCH car-seat connectors, allowing four car seats to fit in the rear seats.
Second-row seating is a split-folding bench on the Honda Pilot LX. Higher trims provide captain's chairs that allow walk-through access to the third row and a set of cupholders. There are cupholders, a USB port, and a bin capable of holding a large smartphone in the front row.
A one-touch button on the higher Pilot trims folds the second-row seats and slides them forward. The rear headroom and legroom are roomier than expected. The Pilot rivals the Honda Odyssey minivan in interior space.
Similar to the Chevrolet and Toyota, the Pilot has a towing capability of 5,000 pounds with AWD. The FWD Pilot can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Styling & Design: 7/10
Honda took cues from the Honda CR-V and added more practical details, like touchscreens that offer user-friendly icons. There are obvious style touches from the Honda Accord sedan in the interior, and the lineup provides well-finished materials. The Honda Pilot Touring trim offers a sunroof, as well as acoustic glass. The EX-L offers leather seats as well as a moonroof.
The Honda Pilot has lost its boxy shape from years past, with a lower front end and a rear end that hides the undercarriage, unlike the Chevrolet. The Pilot is 111.0 inches in its wheelbase and is 191 inches in length, a larger vehicle overall than previous generations.
Driving Experience: 8/10
The Pilot offers FWD as standard, and AWD is an option.
The V6 280-horsepower engine can be paired with a 6-speed or 9-speed automatic transmission. The Pilot has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds that can be improved with a traction management system. The all-wheel-drive can turn too sharply while on test drives, making it seem out of place with the smooth ride. Front-wheel-drive offers a similar and smoother ride.
Fuel Efficiency: 6/10
The Pilot's EPA-estimated fuel economy rating is 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, an average rating for SUVs in its class. Respectively, the Toyota Highlander offers 20/24 MPG city/highway while the Chevrolet Traverse provides only 15/22 mpg city/highway.
The Honda Pilot Touring and Elite trims with 9-speed automatic transmission and FWD are rated at 20/27 mpg city/highway. AWD models are EPA-rated at 19/26 MPG.
