Used 2021 Honda Pilot Consumer Reviews
Used Pilot for sale
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
I love the car
Ben, 12/13/2020
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
46 of 47 people found this review helpful
I traded in my Honda CR-V 2017 for the Pilot 2021 SE and so far I love it. The car is very quiet compared to my CR-V, and my family barely hear wind or tire noise. Riding comfort is in general good, but potentially due to the 20-in wheels, we could feel a bit bumpy on bumpy roads. The car is quite spacious for 6 people (we haven't got a chance to pack 8 people in the car yet). The engine is powerful with a smooth 9 speed transmission mated to it. I only have two complaints about the infotainment system. The touchscreen occasionally stopped responding to any touches for a few seconds. Even switching the touchscreen sensitivity to high, the problem still persists. It doesn't affect use of the screen, but it can be annoying. I'm not sure if the software is at fault, or the screen hardware itself. The other complaint I have is the Apple Carplay, it hung once.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
More comfortable than Telluride
Will, 12/28/2020
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
35 of 36 people found this review helpful
I narrowed my search down to the Pilot and the Telluride. the Kia was sexier but I found the Honda had a more comfortable seat for my old back. Safety features great, almost self driving. good acceleration when needed. close to 30 mph on flat highway in ECO mode. I chose the SE trim to get the 20" wheels; the shorter sidewalls seemed to be less rolly in the turns.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2021 Honda Pilot for sale near you
Showing 3 of 97 listings
- Black Edition 4dr SUVMSRP: $34,89016 mi away
- EX-L 4dr SUVMSRP: $30,71516 mi away
- Black Edition 4dr SUVMSRP: $31,41217 mi away
See all 97 listings
Lots to Love but Safety Features are a Turn-Off
AberdeenHiker, 06/13/2021
updated 06/20/2023
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
17 of 17 people found this review helpful
I tested alot of SUVs before choosing the 2021 Honda Pilot. I loved every one of the other vehicles, but the Honda Pilot won me over because the total package met my needs. Here are the features that won me over: 1) the seat is comfortable and has a handy "Captain's Chair" arm rest 2) the steering wheel has a space at the bottom middle where I can put one hand and steer, and the steering wheel just feels right 3) The seats fold completely flat without any rise or bumps 4) The AWD has a 5,000 lb. towing capacity 5) There is a lock on the glove compartment 6) the FM radio tuner pulls in all of my favorite stations and more! 7) the sound system, well, it sounds great. I like the interface and it will stream from my Android smart phone if I choose. 8) the LED head lights do a great job of lighting up the road 9) the TPMS displays the actual tire poundage and is not just a dumb gauge 10) the cabin is quiet 11) SNOW MODE - I'm hoping this works well because I'm heading to the mountain this winter 12) I took the Pilot to the beach and it was comfortable for 300 miles with all my stuff and 2 bikes on a rear Thule hitch rack 13) I got over 26 miles to the gallon with mostly highway miles, but some local too 14) there is plenty of power even in Eco mode 15) with a friend driving I sampled the passenger seat and it rocks 16) The price for the EX-L was lower than many other vehicles - but I should have gotten the SE. I didn't really know the difference and should have done more research. I actually like the smaller tires on the EX-L so maybe it doesn't matter? 17) the 9 speed transmission is smooth and quiet - much better than the CVT transmission on the CRV. One note, there seems to be a delay between selecting drive or reverse and the transmission actually shifting into drive or reverse. 18) the Pilot has good under body clearance which should be good in the snow this winter 19) the Pilot has a good reputation and I know it will be durable. Plus the Honda dealer in my area has a good reputation too. Those are unquantifiable inputs that matter in the long run because I plan to update this review in 10 years Cons: - The Adaptive Cruise Control is so annoying that I mostly turn it off, I MISS having a real cruise control system. It senses cars far ahead of me and drastically brakes to reduce speed disrupting my highway driving and posing a safety risk - Sometimes the vehicle automatically brakes at random times when it senses an oncoming vehicle. This really scares me because it's unexpected and I worry about losing control - the engine shutting down at stop signs is smooth, but still annoys me. I discovered that this feature can be turned off, but it turns on again each time I start the engine with the button. - this thing has huge space and I need some friends to keep me company on my way to the mountain! UPDATE AFTER 2 YEARS: - Still loving the Honda Pilot after 2+ years on the road - the Honda Pilot is a solid performer with no problems at all - the OEM tires are holding up well and are still comfortable and track well - Snow performance turned out to be great and I drove to the mountain in gnarly storms where the greatest danger was from white-out. But I was comfortable that I would not go off the road. - I bought a cargo box for skis, but haven't used it because my skis fit straight into the cargo bay - the engine shutting down at stop signs continues to annoy me and doesn't seem to provide ANY benefit - automatic braking seems to be a NHTSA inspired scam. The only time it brakes is when I'm driving and there is oncoming traffic. Very Scary! - The hitch receiver was the best accessory. My bike rack does not move an inch. I upgraded to a Kuat bike rack - I forgot to mention that the windshield visibility is terrific and it's nice to have a great view of my surroundings - I would buy another Pilot, but I already own one and I'm not letting it go!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Outstanding Vehicle For The Money
Class of '74, 12/09/2020
updated 12/14/2022
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
49 of 52 people found this review helpful
This is my third Honda. It's very comfortable, has lots of extras that would have cost me more with other brands. My previous Honda purchases have been super reliable, and have had excellent resale value. I'm sure this one will be no different. After driving this vehicle for over six months now, I've been impressed with the fuel mileage, the adaptive cruise control, and the comfort of the seats on long drives. This has proven to be an excellent purchase for me! Update: 18 months since I purchased my Pilot. No problems or issues, and I'm very happy with my fuel mileage especially with the current gas prices so high! Nearly 25 mpg average, not bad for a 3 row SUV! Update: 24 months since my purchase. Great vehicle! Not one single issue. Highly recommend!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love Love Love!
JC, 09/09/2020
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Rear Captain's Chairs (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
75 of 81 people found this review helpful
We've driven a Pilot for 12 years and wanted to try out the competition for something new but quite frankly, after test driving several midsize SUVs in the Pilots class, we came back to it for its overall roominess in all 3 rows (even my 6' tall husband felt the 3rd row was comfortable), its smooth ride, and its features. We have two teenagers and a medium-large dog so we opted for the 2nd row captain's chairs which only came on the Touring or Elite, even though we didn't need all the features of either, the chairs were important to us. The ride is so quiet and smooth, the handling is nimble, pickup is quick. If I had any negatives it would be, I don't like the absence of a gearshift (pushing a button is so strange) and I wish the center console between the captain chairs could be removed. That's it though, we absolutely love everything else!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Hammer Time
Jon, 01/07/2021
updated 05/23/2022
2021 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
272 of 302 people found this review helpful
Assuming consistent build quality on Pilots is a mistake. Test drove a couple Pilots in late ’19, decided on the Pilot, planned to purchase a ‘20 in early ’20 but things happened. December ’20 test drove a couple ‘21’s, told dealer what trim/color I wanted and they transferred from affiliate store to my home on a Friday night. Never drove it before and Assumed same quality as the ones I’d test driven. (Did same in 2015 with a Toyota and no surprises.) The next week I drove it to town and noticed a constant and nagging hammering on right front upon slow to moderate acceleration that lasted from 1100 to 1500 RPM. Not a tick or a thump – hammering like a hammer on concrete, muffled by the car firewall. Got dealer appt., rode with a master Tech who, after a series of slow take-offs, said “That is Loud”. They got a couple other techs involved at dealership when we got back and it seemed none felt this was acceptable engine sound – too loud. Tech contacted Honda Tech line and waited. What he got back was 2 example audio files and both had the same frequency (crank revolutions) hammering – one with a more metallic tone the other more like hammering concrete, like mine - no difference in decibels between the 2 that I heard. The concrete hammering sound, they said, was normal engine operation. No repairs authorized. The writer and the tech both seemed stunned that Honda Tech line could straight-faced pass this hammering off as normal engine operation. But they can’t tear into it for free and Honda ain’t paying. They both seemed to feel badly for me and they didn’t seem to agree that this was normal or acceptable. Many dealers would agree with the Factory and tell you there’s nothing wrong with it. Not these guys. I don't throw fits or brow beat service folks, they get enough of that without me adding to and I'm an old man with better things to do. So I thanked them for their effort and told them respectfully that I didn't pay $45K to listen to a hammering engine for the next 100K mi. That I'd be moving on past this vehicle soon. The fact that Honda had ready audio files of “normal” engine hammering on Pilots was alarming to me. Never noticed any such hammering on the others I drove – why would I buy one if I had? I read these customer comments on the Pilots and Passports on Edmunds religiously for years (9-speed shifting problems, body seam irregular gaps, etc.) and seemed they had improved somewhat. One thing I noticed is regularly there’s a customer experience that doesn’t read anything like the others. That, to me, points to inconsistent build quality of the product and I overlooked that fact in accepting an unfamiliar car delivered to my door. Unfortunately, I got the booby prize model. Advise you test drive a Pilot At Length, look at everything long and hard and put it through all the paces you can think of before you purchase one. If something’s not just right, get in another and maybe it’ll be better. Or maybe compare with another Brand. I’m trading soon and will eat the dollar loss– fighting with Honda or working the Lemon law process both would take Much time and stressful confrontation; and like I said - I got better things to do. UPDATE- FINALLY found the right replacement car and waited months to arrive from factory. Got super trade-in for the Pilot thanks to extreme shortage of 3-row's with very good mileage (got almost what paid for it w/25k mi.). Disliked the thing as much the day I traded as day wrote the orig. review. Before new car came in, Pilot started flashing multiple system warnings while driving at speed down hiway. Eased it back home, thankful to get there. Dealer said by phone 'yep, it's a bad battery'. I didn't believe a 1 year old battery that cranks the car instantly is 'bad' but didn't argue. Battery tested bad at dealer ~13 months old. Fixed warning lights. Engine hammer never got better. Everything worked and it drove fine.
Love my 2021 Honda Pilot Touring AWD so far
Keith, 09/24/2020
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
37 of 41 people found this review helpful
I've had mine about 1 month and have driven about 1K miles. It looks good and is a great road car. Nice ride, great gas mileage for a large vehicle (we load it down and "sometimes" stretch the speed limit). Great sounding stereo system, good visibility, very comfortable seats, powerful engine, and seamless transmission operation - the push button shifter is easy to get used to IMO. There are a lot of electronic items I probably won't use but they are there if you want them. I carefully looked at other SUV's, most notably the Highlander, but came back to the Pilot, primarily because of more interior space - the Highlander seemed a bit tight inside for me (I'm 6'2, 195 lbs). The cons: I wish automatic rain-sensing wipers were available in trim levels other than the elite. Also, the lane-drift sensing function is a bit annoying, since I am a car guy and don't particularly like a "nanny" car reminding me where I am in the road. Many people probably appreciate it, though. That's about all I can think of regarding negatives. I still have my 2004 Honda Pilot 2004 EX-L RES with 175K miles - it has been a very reliable and am keeping it for my second vehicle.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I HATE MY 2021 Special Edition PILOT
GMcDad, 04/08/2021
updated 04/10/2023
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
57 of 65 people found this review helpful
I owned a 2012 Pilot and it was amazing. Felt safe and overall quality was good. Fast forward to 2021. Overall interior quality is cheap. The Info center is a dud. Constantly loses phone connection. Wireless charging works when wants. On sunny day you will have issues with sun reflection of info screen with sunroof open. First week the fan blower motor in front and rear had issues with high pitch. Took 6 months for Honda to replace rear. Still waiting for front. Ride is rough. Rubber around passenger doors pops off. TRULY DISAPPOINTED! Can't wait to pay off!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Software issues and False indicators for New Car
Haranadh Adigopula, 06/22/2021
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
34 of 39 people found this review helpful
This is New Honda Pilot 2021 model purchase in Dec,2020. Miles 3300. It seems Honda is having software issues. Without ON of Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) feature is activating automatically and taking over driving or steering of the vehicle and attempt to steer the vehicle back into the center of the lane. Basically it's giving false indicator without ON of LKAS feature and due to this issue driver is becoming panic situation this will be safety issue and this will cause problems for others safety as well(Putting other at risk while driving). This is appearing from past one week onwards. Called Honda Customer Care about this issue and informed. They have taken a notes to inform R&D/Technical team and suggested to take to service to determine system failed or malfunctioned. Having hopes on Honda bought, after this we are seeing issues and loosing confident on Honda products.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
love car buy don't like the transmission
John Skariot, 06/04/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
The transmission slips occasionally but when I take it back to the dealer they can't do much because it doesn't happen when they test ride it. I love everything else about this car and I haven't had any other problems with the issues that I have read about. It actually has a hard drive in the touring model that you can load your CD'S into.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Finally bought a Honda and love it!
MZ, 12/23/2020
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
18 of 20 people found this review helpful
I've tried buying a Honda multiple times over the past 25 years based on their reviews and reliability, but just couldn't do it. I hated how they drove and the road noise...from Civic, to Accord, to Odyssey. After owning Toyota and Lexus for the past 16 years, I finally picked up the 2021 Honda Pilot SE, and so happy with it. For the price, it's a fantastic vehicle. It's super easy to drive, lots of great features, very quiet cabin, and a great value! The fit and finish is great, the doors feel solid. For a 3-row SUV it has plenty of power and the 9-speed transmission is smooth. No heavy downshifts needed to pass another car. Plenty of safety features that make it easy to drive, from blind spot monitoring, lane keep assist, to auto high-beam headlights. I've seen some complaints about these from others, but suspect folks just don't understand how to use them or weren't shown them at the dealership. My 83 dad uses all of them on his CRV and loves them. I just discovered the tire fill assist, which alerts you when the tires are properly inflated as you fill them. Also like that it came with Continental Crosscontact tires, and not the typical low budget tire most new vehicles come with. Fingers crossed the historical Honda reliability is there, but off to a great start!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
DONT BUY THIS CAR
Mr J, 10/12/2020
2021 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
219 of 261 people found this review helpful
This car is currently involved in a class action lawsuit for the Infotainment system. This system controls the radio, DVD player, map system and basically all of the entertainment features in the vehicle. It experiences cracking and popping noises over the speakers, the system shuts down randomly, turns off DVDs or even shuts off all sound in the car. Honda has known about this problem since 2019 and even with all the problems, still continues to sell the car. After we started having these problems we took it to the dealership 5 times for them to try and fix it. After that failed the dealership told us we needed to work with American Honda to get them to buy it back. After weeks of talking with American Honda we were finally told, "Honda management did not feel that it impedes the vehicle from being operating outside of this CONVENIENCE FEATURE and the vehicle is able to perform its main function. American Honda does not feel that the repurchase of the vehicle is merited at this time." No, I'm not kidding. They admitted that the vehicle is defective and they can't fix it but no they aren't going to buy it back. This system was the sole reason we decided to purchase the Honda Pilot over the Toyota Highlander. I went into the purchase of this car thinking Honda has a great reputation for quality and planned on owning the car for at least 10 years. I expect a company to stand behind their product and honor their warranty in good faith. I will NEVER, EVER consider purchasing another Honda product as long as I live.
- Technology
- Reliability
- Value
2021 Honda Pilot
2021 Honda Pilot , 04/16/2021
updated 04/19/2022
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
7 of 7 people found this review helpful
I bought a brand new 2021 Honda Pilot in January. The first thing I noticed is that the AC blew out hot air. Took it to the dealership, they fixed it. Then about 2 weeks ago I noticed the satellite radio going off, at first I thought oh k they cut me off. Then I noticed that CarPlay wasn’t working either. It said that audio wasn’t connected. When I turned the car off, I turned it back on. Then it worked fine. But then the car alarm kept going off, for no reason. Then I called the alarm company they said it was an electrical issue. I took it to the dealership and told them what it was doing. The guy tells me that this problem has been going on since 2018. And that this issue was fixed til 2020! I couldn’t believe it. I told him I didn’t understand why this was going on. He said it simply wasn’t made well. I feel so disappointed, since this is my 2nd pilot. It drives well, we just came back from a trip to Washington state. Another thing I’ve noticed is that when I’m driving down a bumpy road Brake will appear telling me to stop. And there’s nothing there except for being a rough road. Then I noticed that when I’m parking it in our carport, I’ll put it in reverse, it then goes by itself into Park. Then when I tried to put it into Drive, it went back into Park. I finally had to say goodbye to my suv. Apple CarPlay didn’t work, not even the radio. I just decided I couldn’t deal with it anymore. Whenever I see someone else driving one I think to myself, Do they have the same troubles I did? I guess I’ll never know
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Great vehicle!
SE Pilot owner, 12/05/2020
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
18 of 21 people found this review helpful
The Pilot is a solid vehicle with great seating comfort and a smooth driving experience. The technology is certainly sufficient without extra "bells and whistle technology" that would increase the price. The main complaint in reviews seems to be problems with the infotainment system. We have had NO issues and as far as I can tell this issue affects PREVIOUS models and a software update from dealers should fix this. https://www.autonews.com/regulation-safety/honda-accused-class-action-selling-vehicles-defective-infotainment-systems
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Very comfortable but not perfect Honda Pilot
JLil, 05/30/2021
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
14 of 16 people found this review helpful
Have had the 2021 EX-L for about a month with one long road trip in it and 2600 miles on it. I traded in a 2018 Honda CR-V turbo which was a lot of fun to drive, has excellent mpg (33-35) but was just too small for my stuff and too uncomfortable on long drives. The Pilot is exceptionally comfortable but being so much larger, not near as fun to drive but am happy enough with overall 27mpg. Have to get used to the engine stop and some of the other computerized features but I think most new cars have these...So I want to warn any potential buyers about a feature I HATE: the cabin air flow/control. Be warned if you enjoy air flow through the vents you only get it with the system turned on. If shut off it is stuffy in the cabin. No air movement. If on, you must choose a temperature. So far I cannot find a comfortable one, I am constantly changing it up or down as mainly it feels like cold air is flowing (no, I do not have the air conditioner on). Otherwise I believe some of the issues previously mentioned with infotainment have been fixed with a software update.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
$47,000 PIECE OF JUNK PLEASE BUYER BEWARE!!
Never buy a Honda Again! , 08/01/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
24 of 29 people found this review helpful
Bought a brand new Piolet Touring Edition AWD in June of 2021. Liked the burgundy color and seemed right for me. Just a week after owning it the trouble began. Hot summer here in Ohio and the AC totally blows HOT AIR. The only time it will even begin to work is on the freeway. You have to leave it on LOW or in the '50s to even begin to cool. The driver-side mirror glass is so loose you cannot see through it, looks as if it's gonna fall out of the frame. The auto stop-start goes haywire every single time you come to a stop sign. It's so bad it makes a banging noise in the engine and surges the entire vehicle. Unacceptable right?? It gets worse!! The rear glass in the hatch isn't meeting the weather seal, so every time it rains water just pours in when you open the hatch. The driver's assistance computer is so glitchy that driving down a straight road with nobody around the Pilot will slam the breaks on and jerk the steering wheel almost as if you were going to hit someone head-on. So we take it to the local Honda dealer. They are 3 weeks!! Yes!! 3 Weeks out from even looking at my SUV. They told me upfront they could NOT fix the mirror because Honda doesn't have parts due to Covid-19. They said the AC checked out in specs. If we do not like the auto stop-start or the driver-assist features turn them off. We get the car back and it's even WORSE than what it was with all these problems than before we took it in. The pilot goes back to the dealer for the 2nd time and again a 3 week wait!! This time they had a field tech from Honda of America look at it. Saying ALL IS FINE AND IN SPEC! REALLY!! Broken mirror, almost no AC, leaking water, and computer going haywire in SPECS?? The pilot goes back to the dealer a 3rd time now!!! Less than 2 months of ownership!!! They GLUED my mirror and told me the rest was in spec... So when is a $47,000 SUV that leaks water, mirror falling off, NO AC, and the driver assist functions all haywire in spec?? Our dealer will DO NOTHING! Drive farther, taking the Pilot to another dealer to be TOLD THE SAME THING!!! Called Honda of America stressing my issues. EXTREMELY RUDE!!! Telling me that some things are just this way because of the "COVID excuse" again and I will just have to live with some of the problems. I'm going to try the Ohio Lemon Law this week because I have more than 3 times Honda has failed to correct the same problem. The ONLY ONLY ONLY ONLY good thing I can say is it at least runs ok and the seats are comfortable. FLASHY PIECE OF JUNK!! Before buying a Honda!! DO SOME RESEARCH!! THEY ARE ALL THIS WAY!! Look it up on Google and other car reviews! NEVER WILL WE PURCHASE A HONDA AGAIN!! THE QUALITY IS JUNK!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Suspension problem
Francisco leal, 06/17/2021
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
26 of 32 people found this review helpful
I have had my Pilot for 6 months and it’s sounds like a wagon from the 1800’s. The suspension is wearing out so quickly that it worries me what problems it will bring in the future. I live in the city and I don’t take it off road . So I don’t know why it’s been giving me so many problems and the dealership is no help just put off my parts for a month and still nothing. I feel like they are trying to play one on me on the warranty
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
2021 Black Edition
Mary, 09/26/2020
2021 Honda Pilot Black Edition 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
49 of 62 people found this review helpful
The trunk motion sensor doesn't work to opem or close it and the charging station doesn't work as well. Now the speakers are starting to crackle. The gas range is 18 mpg. I wasn't expecting to use that much gas even with eco boost on. Its great vehicle but not a great car if you have to commute far everyday. Also, gas tank is extremely small only hold 300 miles of gas. I am constantly filling up my tank.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Honda issues
Chaz, 02/24/2021
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
15 of 19 people found this review helpful
2021 Honda Pilot we had the cracking issue with the radio and they fixed it. works fine now for about a month. new issue is, I use the auto for the heat control and every once in a while exhaust blows into the car. Any one else had that issue. Honda says they have never heard that issue before. dropped it off today to see what can be done.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Refined ride
Jeff, 04/28/2021
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
I had a 2016 Pilot that pleased me for the 5 years I owned it. I now have a 2021 and am even more pleased - the ride is more refined (smooth and quiet).
Pilot round 2
Ken Y, 08/12/2021
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
This is our second Pilot. We looked at a few other mid size SUVs but we chose the Pilot again. It is definitely one of the larger ones and overall everyone felt that the seats were more comfortable and had much more room. It wasn’t the most powerful or nimble of the ones we test drove, but it handles pretty well and has enough power. Other dealers were only ordering the highest levels with the expensive options but the SE and the EXL come nicely equipped and I didn’t feel like I was being forced to purchase vehicles with 12 speakers and surround sound or giant panoramic roofs etc. to pad the dealer’s pocket during this car shortage.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
New 2021 Pilot
A Pilot Lover, 12/13/2020
2021 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Love the Pilot! This is my second purchase of a Honda Pilot. The extra space that the Pilot affords over the CRV is just what is needed for running errands and family trips. This new Pilot, with all the safety features, also seems easier to drive than the older version.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
"Utility" part of SUV is expensive!!!
Mark, 08/31/2020
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
47 of 70 people found this review helpful
It's a $2471 adder to get that 5000 lb tow rating. Down to $1400 for just adding the dealer-installed hitch for 3500 lbs. Roof rack is a $600+ adder. If you want to do anything more than haul people, it gets expensive. I haven't seen other SUV options so expensive to add towing. If you have an SUV full of people for a trip, you'll need that roof rack. Ouch!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Very disappointed in the 2021
Margo, 12/01/2020
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
69 of 104 people found this review helpful
I had a 2017 and it was my favorite car I have ever owned. We recently got a 2021 and I absolutely HATE it! They made it so much more complicated and it’s the most distracting car I have ever owned. I have 3 loud, wild boys that are already distracting. Things I hate; The gear buttons, it has a time lag before it actually shifts into gear. I hate this feature so so much!! Getting it into low gear is ridiculous. It takes 2 to 3 steps with 2 to 3 different buttons. On slick roads, which I travel on much of the time, this is insanely inefficient. The Apple car play never works, it has to be managed through the phone so what’s the point. When radio stations are changed it makes a terrible sound like you have a flat tire. The volume buttons on the steering wheel are set too far in so you have to look down to find them. Defeats the purpose. The steering wheel seizes and shakes while an orange brake light flashes on the dash. Still can’t figure out why it does that but it’s an awful rush of fear adrenaline. I miss the right turn camera in the 2017. Overall the features in the 2021 made it the worst and most distracting car to drive and terrible in winter conditions.
Good but disappointing
Jayinok67, 09/22/2021
updated 09/25/2023
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Bought a 2017 Honda Pilot, loved it except for the huge cup holders. Will not hold a standard bottle or cup without them flopping around. The previous pilot I had, had rubber flaps the stabilized a smaller drink. Couldn’t believe they did away with such a simple but important item. So was hoping the 2021 had them put back in. Nope!!! So I have to have them full of napkins to keep the bottles still. Second, the ‘17 had this really cool feature, a blind spot camera. Simply the best accessory I’ve ever had in any vehicle. Could switch it on on stop and go traffic to see when to change lanes. It was great. To my dismay the new ones no longer had it. Argh!!! Why would Honda do away with the coolest and best safety device “ever”? And replace it with a herd to see little light on the passenger door. Whomever was responsible for this change should be fired immediately. There’s no excuse. Then they have the ever so hated adaptive cruise control. Almost made me have a wreck the first day I had the new vehicle. Needless to say, I went straight to the dealership and had it disabled. Otherwise it will take some getting use to with the other new features, like lane departure. Overall satisfied, but very disappointed.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Love ‘21 SE over ‘17 EX-L
OJ Silk, 02/04/2021
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
5 of 6 people found this review helpful
Owned a ‘17 EX-L prior. Upgraded to ‘21 SE for safety features. So happy I did. Info-system noticeably improved as well.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
PILOT SE
TAB, 04/08/2021
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Rides great, lots of features but navigation is extra and expensive so I skipped navigation. Added backup sensors instead.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Special Edition model review
Rhynestone, 09/02/2021
updated 09/09/2022
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Great SUV with 8 seats. With all the driver assisting features and smooth ride and handling, this vehicle is impressing us. We enjoy the 9 speed tranny and the 3.5L V6 produces a nice punch when needed (especially in Sport mode). We own the AWD version as we live in snow country and have not used it thus far in snow mode but have driven it on very wet paved roads (1" flowing water) and it handled very well at reasonable speeds for the conditions. We like the versatility of the seating as we can lay down each of the back rows to increase cargo space as needed and then seat 8 when needed as well. The middle seats are adjustable to allow slightly more room for the rear seat. We test drove an Acura MDX and felt the Pilot had more room for all passengers. We like all of the USB charging ports located in the vehicle. Connecting our phones is easy enough with our android devices (except the wifi connection). We like the wireless charging station as well. We own an accord and used to own a civic and were/are pleased with those vehicles so we expect great things from this vehicle as well. (over 1 yr later and still like this vehicle)
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
It almost killed my wife and son
Soledad p, 07/04/2021
2021 Honda Pilot LX 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
16 of 24 people found this review helpful
The system went completely haywire it revved and went into gear on its own accelerated then went into Park at a stoplight where oncoming traffic was approaching and almost killed my son and wife it has serious flaws there is Major electrical issues all systems went haywire and now all check engine lights and warnings are showing on dash it won't go into gear I was waiting for a tow truck for 5 hours on the 4th of July it is the worst vehicle you can ever own I am taking this vehicle which is a 2021 Honda pilot back to the dealership and I am suing them
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
problems
Lisa, 09/21/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
6 of 8 people found this review helpful
I am a Honda person, I've always had either a CRV or a Pilot. I bought a brand new 2019 Pilot Elite, loved it, however I realized it's not very comfortable to sleep in on very long drives, and all of a sudden, the symbols indicating a problem with the vehicle lit up. It stated there was a transmission problem, emissions problem, power steering problem, the radio turned off...etc. I traded it in on a new 2021 Pilot elite and the same thing has happened twice, except this time we were sitting in a drive thru and the car was in drive and it shifted to neutral by itself in addition to all of the warning symbols coming on. I used to have a 2007 Pilot and I loved it, it was definitely a better vehicle than the newer ones.
- Performance
- Comfort
- Reliability
I think the Pilot has fallen off
James in Atlanta, 09/24/2021
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
My last Pilot was a 2010 EX-L, so that was my baseline for assessing the 2021 SE. Overall, I felt the quality was not the same. For example, the black molding around the wheel wells was lose (I could move it enough to get my index finger behind the molding). Additionally, the gaps between the quarter panels seemed to be too wide. In terms of the interior, nearly all of the materials seem to have less quality. Overall, I felt the Pilot rode like a min-van.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Better than expected
Toadybuddha, 01/29/2021
2021 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
Have to admit it's nice. I'm not really a Honda guy, they have never fit me well. No back support, no guts. This was a pleasant surprise. Adjustable lumbar support was a nice addition and the engine seemed generally better powered. Now if they would only fix the entertainment interface. Not very user friendly in my opinion, though it is better than previous versions.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Drivers mirror
Upset driver, 11/11/2021
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
Purchased 2021 Honda Pilot. I was already upset that they changed the 2021 mirror from the 2018 mirror with camera on it. Everything worked amazing. 2021 mirror is loose and wiggles when driving. Had Honda changed my mirror out. My new mirror was like a wavy fun house carnival mirror. Gave me migraines/headaches and made nauseous driving just one block!!! Took it back they said Honda knows they have a problem and it needs to be fix. But Honda doesn’t have a solution yet. So now I’m stuck with a bad mirror and migraines.
Simply AMAZING
Car Reveiwer, 02/02/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
5 of 7 people found this review helpful
This car is the best car YOU can buy. The safety features are good, it is very comfortable, and ample cargo space. There is even enough room in the 3 row for a adult to sit in! The Rear Entertainment system is excellent, the buttons to access the 3rd row is convenient. Overall, ITS SIMPLY AMAZING.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
HONDA QUALITY POOR
mcdog, 05/22/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
10 of 17 people found this review helpful
inconsistent build quality a hallmark of Honda now. from powertrain to electrical, buyer beware. AND don't expect Honda Tech to help either.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
LOVE IT
Jen, 03/31/2021
updated 10/01/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Rear Captain's Chairs (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I am in love. I got everything I wanted. This vehicle is absolutely beautiful inside and out. I cannot believe it's mine. Equipped with all the features I and my children need/want.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Touring Model Pilot
Jerry, 02/23/2022
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Love this car. Have driven it 30000 miles in the last 14 months. The more I drove it the better I liked it. Very easy to live with. The lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control make trips in the car easy. The adaptive cruise saved me in the fog when I came upon a slow driver and it automatically matched his speed.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Piloting toward the future
Harry F, 04/07/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Rear Captain's Chairs (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I love everything about this pilot. I have owned civic, crv, and ridgeline, and with the pilot touring it has been everything we need. The cons don't make sense because you can set sensitivity and I have had no issues getting in the back and plenty of space. I read the critiques but it seems that people like the new kids on the block, with pretty decent reviews for the Pilot. To be honest everyone is a little biased, but would like critics to take take better look at this family vehicle because that is what it is.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Honda Pilot Amazing
Paul, 11/24/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Rear Captain's Chairs (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I formerly owned a 2017 Honda pilot touring. Now a 2021 Honda Pilot touring. You get what you pay for. I enjoy all the extras including rear captain chairs and second sun roof. I also tows well. Even mileage is great. Waiting for the hybrid model in the future.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Made without care
BB, 02/02/2023
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
I would recommend this vehicle to no one. I am sitting in the dealership yet again, this time to get the windshield washer hose replaced at a cost of at least $300 I was told. I have the EX – L model. I am losing count of how many times I’ve had to bring this thing to the dealership for The umpteenth time to get something fixed that should not be broken in a car there’s it’s not even two years old yet. The dealership where I bought it from gives me a value of between 16 and $20,000 for this car. This two year old car which was the highest model they made in 2021. I’m so disgusted with the lack of attention and care on to put into making this car. The so-called “safety“ system are insanely oversensitive and I turn them off every time I get in the car because of that. Now one of them is having its self fixed today because of a recall on one of them. Trim goes flapping in the breeze when I drive down the road, the brakes make a grinding sound and when I forced a mechanic to take a ride with me it took me 10 minutes to get him to admit that this was what he called a quote on the thing“. Too many other things have happened to enumerate here but take my advice and look elsewhere for your next third row SUV.
Happiness in a bundlee
Back2Good, 08/09/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
3 of 4 people found this review helpful
We were not planning to buy so soon but gOt such a great deal on Black Edition In white After driving Numerous mid size SUV’s and owning two Acura MDX in past, decide this was the right vehicle for us. Great deal. Great vehicle. Lots of compliments.
- Safety
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Piece of poor quality crap
Stacy B, 09/08/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV w/Rear Captain's Chairs (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
5 of 8 people found this review helpful
Drove off the lot and heard a popping noise from the front left driver’s side. Took it to service twice and finally was told it had a bad strut. Guess what? It was on back order and they had no idea of when it would come in due to the pandemic. First brand new vehicle I have ever bought and it came off the manufacturer line messed up. The air also wasn’t cooling and it had to be recharged. Ended up having the dealership unwind the deal with the vehicle only having 700 miles. There are several Facebook groups that have been created solely to discuss the infotainment issues. Buyer beware!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Speakers static noise problem
Sam, 07/31/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD w/Rear Captain's Chairs (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
7 of 12 people found this review helpful
I’ve got speakers static noise issue. After I bought Honda Pilot 2021 with in 2 weeks problems were started. It’s horrible I regret buying this car . Dealership ordered parts it’s been 2 months I didn’t get the parts yet
Special Edition
PJ Stone, 01/09/2021
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
3 of 5 people found this review helpful
We love all of the features of the Pilot Special Edition. The wireless phone charger is clutch. The vehicle is spacious and extremely comfortable to drive. It was a little weird not having a shifter, but the push button shifter is very easy to get used to. The perfect family vehicle. We can not wait to take a roadtrip!
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
What happened, Honda?
JC, 08/03/2022
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
5 of 10 people found this review helpful
Came from a 2010 Honda Odyssey which was an excellent vehicle. The 2021 Pilot is not worthy of the Honda name, if that is even worth anything now. The infotainment system is glitchy and blacks out. The hands-free function, both Bluetooth and usb cable connection, android and iPhones, is useless. Cannot hear the other person clearly and they can’t hear me. All that I’m told is that there is not a hardware issue and that a software update is forthcoming with no ETA. last update was January 2022. This is not acceptable Tires shot at 20,000 miles due to excessive negative camber and ridiculous amounts of camber gain when vehicle is loaded with any kind of weight. I have confirmed what I was told — there is no camber adjustment. The dealer, on two different occasions, tried to tell me that buying a $1300 set of Michelins would cure all my problems even though the alignment printouts told a different story. Transmission is sluggish many times after coming to a complete stop and then accelerating felt like the transmission was slipping. Turns out it is still trying to downshift from third to second gear even after coming to a complete stop. The push button transmission gear selector is an abomination. Again, slow to respond to inputs, and otherwise generally does what it wants to do, which frequently involves refusing to acknowledge driver inputs or shifting to park on a whim. Supposedly this is all normal behavior. The driver safety features cannot be permanently disabled in settings, which wouldn’t be an issue if they actually worked properly and didn’t give repeated false alarms. Lost count of the times the automatic braking engaged while driving down perfectly straight and deserted highways. Was told this may be caused by bug splatter and is expected. I know of no other vehicle that does this, and it does it with or without bug splatter. When I do get bug splatter I stop and clean my windshield and radar sensor in the grill on the regular just to prevent this and it doesn’t change a thing. Mileage is meh at best. Doesn’t get close to the EPA ratings. Might get 22 mpg highway on a very good day. Again, was told this is expected, it’s a large vehicle after all. Then why lie on the window sticker? Avoid this SUV. Honda is not what they once were.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Penny
Pennt, 09/09/2020
2021 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
7 of 15 people found this review helpful
It’s great has all kinds of safety features and a very classy looking vehicle
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Class Act
Craig, 07/08/2021
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
The absolute balance between enough for the family and yet the coolest looking suv that sums up comfort, sleekness and all the bells and whistles you can have while still managing a excellent price point. 👌🏾Which is why I say a Class Act. Honda Pilot is like that period point blank.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
I just got the car yesterday
Angie, 06/06/2021
2021 Honda Pilot Black Edition 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
I just purchased the car yesterday and only drove it home. I had a Pilot before this. This is comparable but I need to get use to the push button shift. Otherwise, the car is nice so far.
Great SUV!
Trisha, 02/04/2021
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
The Pilot is exactly what we were looking for. We love the features that it comes with, and the way that it drives! The safety features are great too! The size is perfect for our family, and we love the 3 rows of seating.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
Sleek and sporty
Mike M, 12/23/2020
2021 Honda Pilot SE 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 9A)
3 of 6 people found this review helpful
Nice to drive and for the price I paid is worth it. All the technology is more better than the other competitors
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value