2024 Honda Pilot EX-L Colors, Price, Engine – The 2024 Honda Pilot, one of the most popular midsize SUVs that stands out for its utility, returns with more standard amenities than ever. The LX and EX-L model levels of the 2024 Honda Pilot have been discontinued and replaced by the Pilot Sport and TrailSport. In addition, standard equipment now includes Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, and LED headlights.
Despite a massive reorganization of trim levels, Honda has decided to retain the Pilot’s most popular features for the 2017 model year. The Pilot continues offering a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds and a highly usable 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space. The 2024 Pilot appears to many as the SUV counterpart of the Odyssey minivan, a hit or miss for many. Honda also revealed that a brand-new Pilot Special Edition would be released later this year. The 2024 Honda Pilot competes against the Ford Explorer, Subaru Ascent, Toyota Highlander, Kia Telluride, and Hyundai Palisade.
2024 Honda Pilot EX-L Redesign
We believe that the Honda Pilot’s look is one of its most severe flaws and that a redesign is long overdue. In proper Honda form, the Pilot offers outstanding utility, good standard equipment, and competitive fuel efficiency but opts for a conservative design over a more modern one. Compared to rivals like the daring Kia Telluride, the Pilot appears drab, and its wagon-like side profile does little to enhance its street cred. However, Honda does sell the Pilot in a Special Edition version with black alloy wheels. The Honda Pilot Black Edition adds additional attitude, but we’re not persuaded it’s sufficient. Low-beam LED headlights and LED foglights are standard equipment across the entire lineup. Each model has a one-touch power moonroof and a power tailgate (hands-free above the EX-L level). Elite variants are equipped with a panoramic roof. Depending on the model, 18- to 20-inch wheels are available.
As if the exterior design of the 2024 Honda Pilot wasn’t dismal enough, so are the available paint colors. We recognize that the Pilot was never intended to be a fashionista. Still, Honda should have spent more time contemplating its paint options in light of the creative designs emerging from South Korea and elsewhere. The Pilot is available in six colors for its base trim, including Crystal Black, Modern Steel, Lunar Silver, and Obsidian Blue. Unique hues like Platinum White Pearl and Steel Sapphire Metallic cost $395 each. Thankfully, more hues become accessible as the spectrum rises. The Touring and Elite add a new unique color to the EX-palette: L’s Deep Scarlet. The Black Edition is only available in Crystal Black or Platinum White. The Unique Edition is available in six colors, including Crystal Black, Lunar Silver, Modern Steel, and the three unique colors for an additional cost.
Interior
The Pilot’s interior is roomy and functional, and family-friendly extras like an in-cabin PA system are available. The dashboard layout of the Pilot boasts easy-to-use temperature controls and an adequately labeled gauge cluster. There are a phenomenal 16 cupholders located throughout the interior. Most small classes have a three-across second row to accommodate eight passengers. In more expensive models, the bench is replaced by two captain’s chairs, limiting the passenger capacity to seven. However, the roomy third row’s soft seat cushion limits its utility for children.
The elevated seating position of this SUV provides the driver with a commanding perspective of the road. In contrast, the Pilot’s expansive windows and thin, unobtrusive roof pillars provide it with best-in-class visibility. This Honda offers an enormous cargo area and a multitude of helpful storage compartments. The cargo floor can be configured for the entire room or to create a storage compartment beneath the bed. It is among the most spacious SUVs in its class. Still, the load capacity varies between the seven-and eight-seat configurations since the Elite, and seven-seat Touring models have a non-removable second-row center console.
Engine
The most beneficial aspect of every Honda automobile is its sturdy powerplant. Constant refining and contemporary design philosophy have substantially increased the power output. The 2024 Honda Pilot has a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine mated to a ZF 9-speed automatic transmission. The SUV’s 280-horsepower and 262-pound-feet-of-torque production have left a lasting image of muscular performance. With a longer, lower stance and a lighter body, the SUV might gain several seconds in the 0-60 mph dash.
The 2024 Honda Pilot can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in around 6.2 seconds and cover a quarter-mile in 14.8 seconds, making it the quickest vehicle in its class. The Subaru Ascent and Toyota Highlander have identical acceleration times of 6.9 and 7.2 seconds, respectively. The Pilot handles well for an SUV in this market and provides a comfortable ride for its passengers.
2024 Honda Pilot EX-L Price and Release Date
The 2024 Honda Pilot is available in over seven trim levels, ranging from $36,830 for the base, now-new Sport trim to $50,620 for the highest-end Pilot Black Edition. The 2024 Pilot is scheduled to go on sale in 2024, so we anticipate learning more about the new model closer to its launch in late 2023.