2020 Honda Pilot review
Honda Pilot highlights
Customer rating
Pros
- Smooth ride
- Excellent fuel economy
- Potent V6 engine
Cons
- Lacks agility
- Poorly equipped base model
- Some driver-assistance systems are too sensitive
Mileage (EPA estimate)
18 city, 26 highway, 21 combined
Pricing for current inventory
(no current inventory)
Shop with your budget in mind
Powerful, practical, and playful, this SUV is easy to love
Thanks to crowd-pleasing midsize SUVs like the 2020 Honda Pilot, family vehicles can be fun and exciting. Jam-packed with technology and driver-assist features, the perennially practical Pilot is an all-star choice. Whether you've got children that need to be ferried to their next appointment or you're just looking for something comfortable for your next vacation, the Honda Pilot is a good choice.
All Honda Pilot years
What is new for the 2020 Honda Pilot?
- The Pilot is available in a new trim called the Black Edition.
- Pilot trims have been upgraded with Skylight(s) as standard equipment this year.
- The LX trim now comes with Satellite Radio Ready as standard equipment.
2020 Honda Pilot trims
LX:
Includes rearview camera, seven-speaker audio system, five-inch display screen, USB port, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic braking, and more.
EX:
Adds heated mirrors and front seats, power driver seat, eight-inch touch screen, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, blind-spot mirror with rear cross-traffic alert, and more.
EX – L:
Includes a power liftgate, auto-dimming rearview mirror, sunroof, leather upholstery, and second-row USB ports. There is also an available package to the EX-L that includes navigation and rear entertainment systems.
Touring:
Features roof rails, front and rear parking sensors, hands-free liftgate, sound-reducing front-door glass, rear heated seats, 10-speaker premium audio system.
Elite:
Second-row captain's chairs are standard, along with auto-dimming/power-folding side mirrors, heated steering wheel, ventilated front seat, panoramic sunroof, and wireless charging pad.
Black Edition:
Enhances the Elite trim with black accents and red interior.
Honda Pilot photos
5 reasons to buy the 2020 Honda Pilot
1. Stacked with technology
Honda's technology suite, Honda Sensing®, is very feature-rich. It includes collision-mitigation braking, road-departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, forward collision warning, and lane-departure warning, just to start. Auto high-beam headlights are also standard across the board, along with a multi-angle rearview camera, a tire-pressure monitoring system, and more.
2. Quiet cabin
Honda's commitment to a smooth and quiet ride is evident in the technology they use. First, the noise-canceling system eliminates noise and emits an anti-noise signal through the speakers, neutralizing annoying road sounds. The 202 Honda Pilot also uses vibration-damping insulators and high-density plastic sheeting to absorb vibration. Inside the door pillars of the Pilot, insulation and foam are strategically placed to control sound transmission, while custom engine and transmission mounts help the vehicle achieve a ride that is as quiet as possible.
3. Cavernous cargo space
All the way down to the adjustable cargo floor, the 2020 Honda Pilot is configured to maximize the space available. Change up the settings for the floor itself to create a storage compartment under your feet or use the entire space for your passengers to stretch their legs. The seats are easily moved aside and even the base model offers a 60/40 split so you can travel with some gear and your friends and hit the open road. With nearly 84 cubic feet of cargo space when all of the seats are folded down, you could certainly throw a few big coolers in the back and tailgate all day without having to run home for more supplies.
4. Smart and thoughtful interior touches
How many vehicles can you think of that offer 15 cup holders spread out among three rows? That's five in the front, six in the middle, and four in the back. No arguing about who gets to put their smoothie in the cup holder, because each passenger can bring more than one beverage and share the space in harmony. Clever storage solutions are sprinkled throughout the 2020 Honda Pilot, providing nooks and crannies for all of the things you need to travel. Map lights are installed in all rows, so your passengers have their own light source during night-time drives. You'll appreciate Honda's CabinTalk™ in-car PA system (available with the EX-L trim equipped with the Navigation package, as well as Elite, and Black trims). This allows you to talk comfortably to your second- and third-row passengers without having to shout over your shoulder.
5. Entertainment and comfort tech
The 2020 Honda Pilot added a significant number of updates to the infotainment system, including an all-new eight-inch touchscreen with crisper graphics for EX and higher trims. In addition, Honda added more intuitive buttons on the steering wheel to control the tech. The 2020 Honda Pilot benefits from these upgrades and takes it a notch higher with the Black trim, which features a jaunty sport feel.
Similar vehicles
If you're interested in the 2020 Honda Pilot, you should also check out these similar vehicles from Previous generation years.
If you carry a lot of extra gear and need every inch of cargo space, the five-passenger 2019 Honda Passport is worth considering. Behind the second-row 60/40-split seat is 41.2 cubic feet of storage volume, but that number climbs to 77.9 cubic feet by folding the rear row—plenty of room for camping gear or even a bicycle. Touring and Elite trims of the 2019 Passport also include a hands-free power liftgate for easy trunk access. Want to bring your recreation toys or equipment with you? Just hitch them up and go! This 2019 SUV can tow an estimated 5,000 lbs. with the 3.5L V6 and AWD when properly equipped.
The Honda CR-V feels like a compact hatchback with extra cargo and ground clearance. The 2017-present Honda CR-V features easy handling that creates confidence on-road, while the optional AWD lets you power through tough weather conditions and muddy trails. The 2017-2019 CR-V packs a 2.4L four-cylinder engine under the hood, with an optional turbo 1.5L engine available for more power and torque. For 2020-present, the 1.5L is the sole engine choice.
Standard features on the 2020 Honda CR-V LX include:
17-inch alloy wheels
Automatic climate control
Bluetooth® connectivity
Chevrolet Traverse
The three-row Chevrolet Traverse is a great everyday SUV, with six USB ports, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard, and much more. Are you packing for a weekend getaway? You can tow an estimated 5,000 lbs with the 3.6L V6 when the 2019 Chevrolet Traverse is properly equipped, making it a terrific match for your active lifestyle.
18-inch tires
Rear intermittent wipers
Electronic stability control with traction control
Rearview camera
Shop with your budget in mind
Ratings & reliability
RepairPal gave the Honda Pilot an overall reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks Honda Pilot 15th out of 32 among Midsize SUVs.
View RepairPal's full rating of the Honda PilotHonda Pilot features and specs
LX 2WD 4D Sport Utility
Standard Features
- ABS Brakes
- Air Conditioning
- Alloy Wheels
- AM/FM Stereo
- Automated Cruise Control
- Automatic Transmission
- Auxiliary Audio Input
- Bluetooth Technology
- Cloth Seats
- Fold-Away Third Row
- Lane Departure Warning
- Overhead Airbags
- Power Locks
- Power Mirrors
- Power Windows
- Rear Defroster
- Rear View Camera
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Side Airbags
- Smart Key
- Third Row Seat
- Traction Control
- CD Audio
- Cloth Seats
- Full Roof Rack
- Running Boards
- Tow Hitch
Drive Wheels
Front Wheel Drive (2WD)
Engine size
3.5L
Horsepower
280
Torque (ft-lbs)
262
Engine type
Gas
Fuel capacity
19.5
Wheelbase
111"
Overall length
196.5"
Width
78.6"
Height
70.6"
Leg room
F 40.9"/M 38.4"/R 31.9"
Head room
F 40.1"/M 40.2"/R 38.9"
Front tires
P245/60HR18
Rear tires
P245/60HR18
Seating capacity
8
Max towing capacity
350/3500 lbs.
Transmission
Automatic
2020 Honda Pilot FAQ
The 2020 Honda Pilot is available in multiple trims, each with its own estimated fuel economy, here are the EPA estimates for each trim:
- LX: 19 MPG City and 27 MPG Highway
- Elite: 19 MPG City and 26 MPG Highway
- EX-L: 19 MPG City and 27 MPG Highway
- EX: 19 MPG City and 27 MPG Highway
- Black Edition: 19 MPG City and 26 MPG Highway
- Touring: 20 MPG City and 27 MPG Highway
The Honda Pilot received a rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars from RepairPal, which RepairPal describes as Above Average. This rating ranks the Honda Pilot as 14 out of 32 among Midsize SUV
The 2020 Honda Pilot has received an average 4.2 out of 5 stars from our customers. If you're in the market for a 2020 Honda Pilot, check out reviews from customers just like you. 2020 Honda Pilot Reviews.
The 2020 Honda Pilot has a maximum towing capacity of 3500 pounds, when properly equipped. Various factors may impact towing capacity, including weight of passengers, cargo, and options/accessories.
Here is what's new for the 2020 Honda Pilot:
- Black Edition
- Satellite Radio Ready
- Memory Seat(s)
- Front Seat Heaters
- Power Locks
More about the 2020 Honda Pilot
Color options
Exterior colors:
Black Forest Pearl
Crystal Black Pearl
Deep Scarlet Pearl
Lunar Silver Metallic
Modern Steel Metallic
Obsidian Blue Pearl
Platinum White Pearl
Steel Sapphire Metallic
Interior details
Cargo space specs: 83.8 cubic feet with the second and third-row seats folded down
Seating capacity: up to eight (up to seven in the Elite and Black trims)
Bluetooth is standard on all trims
Lockable glove compartment is standard
15 cupholders (five in front, six in the middle, and four in the third row)
Lots of storage cubbies
Research other vehicles
We hope you found this information helpful. This content is intended to inform and is not meant to indicate that a particular vehicle is currently available or recommended for you.
Statements of fuel economy or EV range are based on EPA and other third-party estimates for vehicles when new. Fuel economy and EV range will degrade with time and vary based on age, driving conditions, vehicle history, and other conditions. See fueleconomy.gov for more info.
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