2024 Honda Pilot All Trim, Specs, Release Date – The 2024 Honda Pilot, which has always been a best-seller and a great example of efficiency in the midsize SUV class, is back for 2024 with more standard features than ever. The LX and EX trim levels of the 2024 Honda Pilot have been discontinued, but two new ones have been added: the Pilot Sport and the Pilot TrailSport. LED headlights and other high-tech features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included on the standard 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system.
The 2024 Honda Pilot is a hit or miss among car buyers because it reminds some of them of the Odyssey minivan. Honda has decided to keep the Pilot’s most popular features unchanged despite significantly reorganizing the trim levels. This means the Pilot still has a respectable towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a helpful cargo volume of 16.5 cubic feet. As announced by Honda, a brand-new Pilot Special Edition will hit the market by the end of the year. The 2024 Honda Pilot competes with the Ford Explorer, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, and the Hyundai Palisade.
2024 Honda Pilot Redesign
We don’t have much to report, and the Honda Pilot’s outdated aesthetic is one of our biggest complaints about the vehicle. The Pilot is typical of Honda in that it is very functional, has a good set of standard features, and gets good fuel economy for a large SUV, but it opts for conservative design over cutting-edge flair. The Pilot’s bland appearance is in stark contrast to competitors like the striking Kia Telluride, and its wagon-like side profile does nothing to boost its cool factor. The Honda Pilot is available in a Special Edition trim with a unique black alloy wheel design. Although the Honda Pilot gains some swagger in the Black Edition, we’re not sure that’s a good thing. For example, low-beam LED headlights and LED foglights are standard equipment across the board. All trim levels arrive standard with a power moonroof and power tailgate (hands-free above the EX-L level). A panoramic roof is available on elite models. Depending on the trim level, wheels can be either 18 or 20 inches in diameter.
While the 2024 Honda Pilot’s exterior design is uninspiring, the available paint colors are even less. We get that Honda wasn’t trying to make the Pilot a fashion plate, but with all the cool cars coming out of South Korea and elsewhere, they might have thought about the color options they offered. Fortunately, a wider variety of hues becomes available as you move up the scale. The Pilot is available in six colors, including Crystal Black, Modern Steel, Lunar Silver, and Obsidian Blue, all of which are available in the base trim. The Platinum White Pearl and the Steel Sapphire Metallic are $395 premium colors. Deep Scarlet joins the list of EX-unique L’s colors as an option on the Touring and Elite. The Special Edition comes in six colors: Crystal Black, Lunar Silver, Modern Steel, and the three premium colors. At the same time, the Black Edition is only available in Crystal Black or Platinum White.
Interior
The Pilot has a roomy and functional cabin that can be outfitted with kid-friendly features like a public address system. Those who need to carry eight passengers can choose a vehicle with a second row that seats three across in the vast majority of its trim levels. More expensive variants swap out the bench seating for two captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity from seven to five. The low seat cushion in the roomy third row limits its usefulness to children. The Pilot’s dashboard is set up, so it’s easy to change the temperature and has a cleanly organized group of gauges. It also has a whopping 16 cupholders inside.
The Pilot’s high seating position and large windows, combined with its thin, unobtrusive roof pillars, give the driver a commanding stance on the road. The Honda’s trunk is enormous and has many convenient storage compartments inside. The Elite and seven-seat Touring trims have a fixed second-row center console that reduces cargo space compared to the eight-seat configuration, despite being among the roomiest SUVs in their class. The cargo floor is flexible, so you can either make the most of the available volume or build a secret storage space underneath the bed.
Engine
A Honda’s greatest asset is the reliable engine that sits beneath the hood. Modern design practices and ongoing refinement have resulted in efficiency and power improvements. To power the 2024 Honda Pilot, a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a naturally aspirated design and a ZF 9-speed automatic transmission are now standard equipment. The SUV has impressed many with its powerful delivery, thanks to its 280-horsepower engine and 262-pound-foot torque output. The SUV could gain a few seconds in the 0-60 mph sprint if it were longer, lower, and lighter.
The 2024 Honda Pilot has the fastest acceleration in its class, going from 0 to 60 mph in about 6.2 seconds and completing the quarter mile in 14.8 seconds. Competitors like the Subaru Ascent and Toyota Highlander have 6.9 and 7.2 seconds acceleration times. The Pilot handles well for a small SUV, and the ride is comfortable for its passengers.
2024 Honda Pilot Release Date and Price
The base, now-renamed Sport trim of the 2024 Honda Pilot has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $36,830, while the top-tier Pilot Black Edition costs $50,620. More information about the new Pilot model should be available by late 2023, as the release date for the vehicle is scheduled for 2024.