2021 Honda Pilot Review

The 2021 Honda Pilot is the automaker's largest and most capable SUV. It seats up to eight passengers and has a roomy enough third-row seat for adults. There's plenty of cargo room too, whether you're just loading up some groceries or folding down the rear seats to help a friend move house. We're also impressed by the Pilot's fuel-efficient and powerful engine and exceptional ride and seat comfort.

Among midsize three-row SUVs, the Pilot isn't quite the go-to choice it was when this generation was introduced in 2016. Since then, new competitors such as the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride have debuted, offering even more space and interior refinement. There's also the Mazda CX-9; it's smaller but in return it gives you a sportier driving experience. But overall the 2021 Pilot is one of our favorites. We recommend putting it right at the top of your research list for a well-rounded family SUV.

What's it like to live with?

If you're interested in knowing what it's like to live with a Honda Pilot, check out our long-term test of the Pilot. We tested a Pilot Elite for a year, driving it over 20,000 miles, commuting with it to work, taking it on road trips, and collecting data all along the way. Note that while we tested a 2016 model, most of our reporting still applies to the 2021 Pilot.

The Honda Pilot comes in seven trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, SE (Special Edition), Touring, Elite and Black Edition. Most Pilots have seating for eight, though second-row captain's chairs — which reduce capacity to seven — are optional on the Touring and standard on the Elite and Black Edition trims.