2021 Honda Pilot

The 2021 Honda Pilot comes with a 3.5L V6 engine under the hood and with three rows of seating on the inside. The Honda Pilot for this year comes with dual-zone automatic climate control in the base trim as standard, while tri-zone climate control is standard in the next trim and upwards. The pricing starts at $32,250 and climbs more than $50,000 for the high-end trim. The 2021 Honda Pilot compares with the 2021 Mazda CX-9, 2021 Kia Telluride, and the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse. 

There are a lot of trims in which the Pilot is available. For 2021, a new trim named Special Edition has also been added to the list of trims. The 2021 Honda Pilot comes in seven trim lines, namely LX, EX, Special Edition, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. All trims are equipped with the same 3.5L V6 engine under the hood mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission. All trims except the Elite and Balck Edition come with FWD as standard while AWD is optional. The Elite and Black Edition, which are the highest level trims, come as AWD-only models. 

The base LX trim starts at $32,250 and comes with a great set of features. The EX, EX-L Touring, and Elite trims add much more features on top of the trim lower to the respective model, while Special Edition and Black Edition models provide just minor feature additions and unique exterior appearances. Elite stands at the top with all the bells and whistles available for the lineup.

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The EX-L trim would be the best option to choose. The EX-L trim comes with much more advanced features and luxury on the inside compared to the lower-end trims. It gets leather-trimmed upholstery along with a powered moonroof, memory function, and adjustability for seats. The pricing of the EX-L is also on the mid-level territory, while it comes with a great set of features.

All trims of the 2021 Honda Pilot are equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine that delivers power to either the front wheels or all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic transmission. The engine delivers a strong 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of power and torque. The power outputs are not the absolute best in the segment, but the power figures are certainly on the higher side of the spectrum. The engine is punchy and responsive, and the power delivery is smooth and linear. 

The Pilot has a highly responsive engine that helps it to sprint to 60 mph in just 6.2 seconds and crosses the quarter-mile mark in 14.8 seconds. The 0 to 60 as well as quarter-mile times are really good for a three-row SUV. The 2021 Honda Pilot is limited to a top speed of 130 mph, and the engine is efficient and delivers remarkable performance. The Pilot undoubtedly comes with one of the best powertrain options in the segment.

The 2021 Honda Pilot smokes all of the rivals in terms of straight-line performance. The Chevrolet Traverse as well as the Kia Telluride are more powerful and put out a higher amount of torque than the Pilot. But still, the Pilot is the fastest in terms of 0 to 60 and quarter-mile numbers. The higher performance from the Pilot, despite its lower power figures, proves how great the performance of the Honda Pilot is. 

How well does the 2021 Honda Pilot Drive and Handle?

The 2021 Honda Pilot is engaging to drive with a strong powertrain and efficient transmission. The steering is also responsive, but the connection between the steering and the road surface is not the best or enjoyable. The vehicle delivers an impressive ride quality with a smooth ride over the pavement as well as mildly uneven surfaces. However, the suspension setup and ground clearance are not the best-suited for proper offroading, but the available AWD drivetrain can be equipped for a considerably higher grip, traction, and stability over slippery as well as normal road conditions. 

The Honda Pilot loaded with seven or eight people delivers a composed and smooth ride without much body roll. The cornering capabilities are surely limited by its huge footprint, but still, the Pilot is pretty good around corners unless you over expect. The 2021 Pilot is easy to drive around in the city and also to maneuver into and out of tight parking spaces. Overall the handling is good, although there is nothing to be properly excited about and also that the steering feels a bit dead. 

How efficient is the braking performance of the 2021 Honda Pilot?

The 2021 Honda Pilot comes with impressive braking capabilities which are on par with the machine’s performance. The Pilot gets 12.6-inch rotors in the front and 13-inch ones in the rear. Honda has managed to keep the weight of the vehicle down effectively, which helps in delivering superb braking performance. The SUV stops from 60 mph at a distance of 129 ft, which is an impressive distance for the segment. The 2021 Honda Pilot has one of the best braking distances in the segment, proving that it has strong brakes and delivers impressive braking performance.

*70-0mph figure shown

The 2021 Honda Pilot is the best performing vehicle in the class, not just in terms of speed but also in terms of bringing the vehicle to a stop from that higher speed. The Honda has a strong set of brakes that bring it to a stop within one of the best distances. The Kia Telluride follows just after it with a difference of just 2 ft. Mazda stands behind Kia with a braking distance of 139 feet.

The 2021 Honda Pilot delivers a pretty good fuel economy, and it is surprising that the Pilot, which is the fastest SUV among the competition, also provides a very good fuel economy. The Honda Pilot puts out a fuel economy of 20 mpg in the city, 27 mpg on the highway, and a combined range of 23 mpg. The Pilot has a 19.5-gallon fuel capacity which results in a range of 390 miles in the city, 527 miles on the highway, and a combined range of 448 miles. 

The 2021 Mazda CX-9 is the best in terms of fuel economy as well as range. The Chevrolet Traverse, however, with a larger fuel tank manages to deliver the best range on the highway while yielding the least efficient mpg figures in city traffic. The Honda Pilot performs really well and stands below the Mazda with slight differences in efficiency figures and range. Overall all of the members in the comparison have their own strengths in terms of fuel efficiency.

The 2021 Honda Pilot has a decent cabin with luxury that increases while climbing up the trim ladder. The base LX trim comes with a dual-zone automatic climate control system as standard, whereas tri-zone automatic climate control with humidity control and air filtration is standard in all other trims. The interior options include black or grey perforated leather upholstered seats with lots of adjustability and memory functionality. 

The interior is spacious with lots of space available for the first two rows and a respectable amount of space for the third-row passengers. The third row provides pretty comfortable seating for adults in short drives, while it can be tiring in long journeys and is not suggested. The front two rows, however, offer a great amount of space, and the seats are comfortable and supportive. The highest-end trim also receives seat ventilation along with a heating function. The cargo space in the Honda Pilot is not the best in the competition.

The Kia Telluride, Chevrolet Traverse, and the Honda Pilot are the overall more spacious models in this comparison, but there are differences in spacing in each row as well as cargo space. The Kia Telluride comes with the best first and second-row space, whereas the Chevrolet Traverse has the best third-row space as well as cargo capacity. The Mazda is the lowest spacious option in the segment, while all others have their own strengths and weaknesses. The following are some of the standout interior features in the Honda Pilot-

• Heated & Ventilated Front seats
• Heated 2nd-Row Captain's Chairs
• Perforated Leather-Trimmed seats
• Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control System with Humidity Control and Air Filtration
• Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
• Ambient LED Lighting

How intuitive is the 2021 Honda Pilot’s infotainment unit?

The 2021 Honda Pilot features an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment unit in the higher trims, while the lower trims come with just a 5-inch color LCD infotainment screen. The larger touchscreen unit is responsive, intuitive, and easy to use. The audio unit in the base models is a 215-Watt audio system with 7 speakers, including a subwoofer. The higher trims, however, come with a 590-Watt premium audio system consisting of 10 speakers, including a subwoofer and Multi-Zone Audio. The 10-speaker audio unit is of high quality, and the listening experience is amazing. The following are the most important infotainment features- 

• 8-inch Display Audio with High-Resolution Electrostatic Touch-Screen and Customizable Feature Settings
• Advanced Rear Entertainment System with 10.2-inch High-Resolution Screen, Blu-Ray Player, and Built-In Streaming Apps
• 590-Watt Premium Audio System with 10 Speakers, including Subwoofer
• Multi-Zone Audio
• Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration

The 2021 Honda Pilot is not the best-looking SUV in the segment, however, it’s not bad either. It’s just that the Pilot is a generic-looking Honda SUV. This might be a positive thing for some people, but it's just boring for some eyes. The Pilot doesn’t have any standout beauty elements that will turn heads. But overall, the Pilot is a decent-looking SUV and features LED headlights in the front along with the signature Honda grille. 

The 2021 Honda Pilot features 18-inch alloy wheels in the lower trims and 20-inch ones in the higher trim which come in a black shade in the top-most Black Edition trim. The Pilot is available in eight color options, including four free and four paid options. The 2021 Honda Pilot is a typical Honda-looking SUV with distinct styling and design language. Overall it can be considered a good-looking vehicle from all sides.

The Honda Pilot, as we discussed earlier, is the lightest among the competition while also being the shortest. It also comes with the least ground clearance, whereas the Mazda has the best ground clearance and is the most practical SUV in comparison. When it comes to beauty, the Kia Telluride is the best looking with a sporty and updated design language with futuristic accent lighting and LED-lined turn indicators. The Pilot and the Mazda follow, but both of them have a brand-specific design language that not everyone would appreciate. The following are some of the standout exterior features-

• Body-Colored Roofline Spoiler with Integrated Brake Light
• LED Headlights with Auto-On/Off
• Rear Privacy Glass
• One-Touch Power Moonroof with Tilt Feature
• Panoramic Roof
• Acoustic Glass in Windshield and Front Doors 

The 2021 Honda Pilot has been crash-tested and rated by both NHTSA as well as IIHS. It has been awarded impressive safety ratings from both agencies. NHTSA has given the Pilot an overall 5-star rating. It gets nothing short of a 4-star rating under any parameter, including a solid 5-star rating under all side crash tests. IIHS has also given the Pilot very good ratings. All of this means that the Honda Pilot is a super safe vehicle equipped with a host of safety features, including Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), and many others, including the following-

• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
• Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
• Blind Spot Information System (BSI) with Cross Traffic Monitor
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines
• Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) with Traction Control

2021 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Mazda CX-9

The 2021 Honda Pilot is definitely the better option than the Mazda CX-9. It provides better drivability and improved handling while also being faster than the Mazda. The Mazda only has a slightly better fuel economy to hold up against the Pilot. But that is not enough to beat the Pilot, and the CX-9 loses out in this duel, meaning that the Honda Pilot is the overall better choice. 

2021 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Kia Telluride

Kia Telluride is a very strong option in the segment offering great space and impressive power outputs. The Kia Telluride also provides good handling capabilities and impressive acceleration. The space on the inside, as well as the cargo capacity, is also very good, and the Telluride also features a luxurious cabin and a beautiful exterior. The Pilot, as well as the Telluride, are equally good competitors in the segment, and the choice is subjective. We would lean towards the Telluride due to its better looks and performance that is very close to the Pilot. 

2021 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Chevrolet Traverse

The Honda Pilot is the better option here as it performs better and also looks better than the Chevy Traverse. The Traverse is a powerful SUV with impressive third-row space but still cannot keep up with the Pilot in terms of speed and acceleration. The Pilot also delivers superior handling and fuel efficiency, making it the better choice. The 2021 Traverse is a healthy option, but considering all aspects, the Pilot is definitely the one to opt for. 

The 2021 Honda Pilot is one of the best options in the segment offering impressive performance and interior space. The powertrain combination of the 3.5 L V6 and the 9-speed automatic transmission is superb in delivering the best acceleration figures in the segment while also providing great fuel economy. The Pilot also looks pretty good and comes in various trim options to choose from. Overall it is a superior option in the three-row SUV segment.