By: Joshua Lee
July 11, 2024
Honda’s midsize three-row SUV, the Pilot, is now in its fourth generation. Sharing its platform with the Acura MDX, the Honda Pilot receives a new powertrain and redesigned styling inside and out. With so many three-row SUVs on the market, where does the Pilot see itself? For the week, Honda Canada has given us their 2024 Honda Pilot Black Edition.
A 3.5L V6 engine is still the pick for the Honda Pilot, but the new engine makes 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, which is 5 horsepower more than the 2022 Honda Pilot we reviewed previously. The bump in horsepower isn’t significant, but pairing it with the new 10-speed automatic transmission, the Honda Pilot feels smoother to operate and more responsive when accelerating. The fourth-gen SUV is now 2.8 inches longer in wheelbase and wider front and rear tracks for better stability. Its stiffer chassis and new electric power steering system help make the Pilot more agile and engaging to drive. The Pilot Black Edition gets AWD, seven driving modes, and a towing capacity of 5000 lbs.
We like the new redesign of the Honda Pilot as it features a sportier, rugged look compared to its predecessor. Its square-ish frame complements the new front grille, LED exterior lights, and 20-inch alloy wheels. Our Platinum White Pearl tester looks good with the rest of the blacked-out detailing of the Black Edition.
The Honda Pilot receives a new interior which follows Honda’s current lineup. The front seats are comfortable to be in with heated and ventilated functions. Outward visibility is great with no issues regarding blind spots. The cabin layout features a 4-inch head-up display, a 10.2-inch driver’s display, and a 9-inch infotainment system which are easy to use. A 12-speaker Bose sound system, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, red ambient lighting, and a panoramic moonroof are standard on the Pilot Black Edition. The Black Edition comes with a black leather interior with red contrast stitching. The front headrests have ‘Black Edition’ embroidered, and we like how the seats feature red perforations. Cabin storage space is plenty with a large center console, a passenger-side instrument panel shelf, 14 cup holders, and a large storage tray in front of the shifter that features a wireless charger.
The Pilot is great for families with a seating capacity for eight passengers. The second row features heated seats, sunshades, and its own separate climate control. On the Touring and Black Edition trims, the middle seat is removable and can be stowed underneath the trunk. This gives another way to access the third row if you don’t want to use the one-touch sliding function. Both the second and third rows gain an extra two inches of legroom, providing more comfort for passengers. Cargo capacity starts from 635L behind the 60/40 third row, 1702L behind the 40/20/40 second row, and expands up to 3175L behind the first. A power tailgate is standard with a clever Walk Away Close feature that will close and lock the tailgate when you leave the vehicle with your hands full.
Honda Sensing is standard on the Honda Pilot and has a new front sensor camera and radar which increases its field of view to 90 degrees and 120 degrees, respectively, compared to the 2022’s 50 degrees. This update improves its ability to recognize objects and any road boundaries, enhancing the system to prevent collisions faster. Traffic Jam Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition are added to the extensive features of Honda Sensing, which includes adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. The Pilot Black Edition is also equipped with parking sensors and a 360-degree camera.
Honda Canada rates the Pilot’s fuel economy as 12.7L/100KM city, 9.4L/100KM highway, for a combined 11.2L/100KM. With its new engine, the Pilot features a compact direct injection system and cylinder deactivation maximizing fuel efficiency. During our test, we managed to get 12.2L/100KM.
At the time of testing, our tester comes in at $65,510.80, including taxes and delivery. Prices for the 2025 model year feature 5 trim levels: Sport starting at $55,486, EX-L at $58,986, TrailSport at $61,986, Touring at $65,736, and the Black Edition at $67,236.
The new Honda Pilot serves well as a family-friendly SUV, and its new looks are certain to impress in the neighborhood. It’s comfortable with plenty of functionality on the inside, and there is improvement in performance, but we hope for a hybrid option for better fuel economy. We drove this through an abrupt winter storm, and our journey back home was calm and relaxing, which is exactly what you want this kind of vehicle to be.
