What is a Pilot? A Pilot is a full size SUV built in the Lincoln, Alabama assembly plant and sold in North America by Honda. The 2025 Pilot is a nice looking SUV with 3 rows of seats and has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs. Power is from a 3.5 liter V6 gas engine with 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, bolted to a 10 speed automatic transmission. It comes in either front wheel drive (FWD) or all wheel drive (AWD).
The Honda Pilot is available in 8 trims, starting with the Sport, EX-L, EX-L+, Touring, Touring+, Trail Sport, Elite and the top of the line Black Edition. Most trims can sit up to eight people across 3 rows of seats, 2nd row captain’s chairs are optional on the EX-L trim and up, while they are standard on the Trail Sport and Elite models.
This week, Honda sent me a 2025 Pilot SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this AWD Black Edition is $54,280. The only option on the test SUV is the platinum paint for $455. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) , including the $1,395 destination charge, is: $56,130.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealer fees, the out the door and in your driveway total purchase price came to: $63,146. At just $146 over $63 Grand, this full size SUV comes with everything you need in a very well equipped family hauler, with none of the silly stuff. By picking the Black Edition, you get the top of the line model with every option available on the order sheet.
Tech includes: adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation, traffic jam assist, 3 row side curtain airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, vehicle stability assist, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake distribution, LED daytime running lights, a 9″ color center stack touch screen display with Honda navigation and voice recognition, a surround view camera system, blind spot alert with cross traffic monitor, head up display and tire pressure monitors.
As this is an upscale full size SUV, it has a full leather trimmed interior, a leather wrapped and heated steering wheel, a mobility hotspot, a wireless phone charging pad, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Sirius XM satellite radio, push button start, a push button shifter, tri-zone automatic climate control, a drivers 10 way power seat with memory, a 4 way power passenger seat, heated and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, an auto dimming rear view mirror, second row sun shades, and a Bose premium surround sound system with a center speaker and subwoofer integrated into the vehicle body, for a fully active audio system, with a total output of 570 watts driving 12 perfectly placed speakers.
Special features are:
Seating: the 2025 Honda Pilot can seat up to 8 passengers, with a spacious third row.
Cargo space: Pilot has versatile space for all your gear and cargo.
Safety: Pilot has advanced driver assistance technologies and a strong 5 star safety rating.
Connectivity: the Pilot has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Power: Pilot has a 3.5 liter V-6 gas engine that produces 285 horsepower and can get up to 25 MPG on the highway.
Transmission: Pilot has a 10 speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.
Maintenance: the Pilot comes with a complimentary maintenance plan for the first year or 12,000 miles and comes with Honda roadside assistance for 3 years /36,000 miles.
Driving experience: the Pilot has refined steering, braking, and a comfortable ride.
The 2025 Honda Pilot is a 3 row SUV that’s a good choice for families because of its safety features, spacious interior, and family friendly technology. Other than revised pricing, and adding the new range topping Black Edition trim, the Pilot carries over mostly untouched for the 2025 model year. And that’s fine by me, as Honda’s 3 row SUV is still very fresh from its makeover from a couple of model years ago.
So, call, click or visit your local Honda dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review, on the 2025 Honda Pilot AWD Black Edition SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Pilot starts at only $40,200. The tagline for Honda is – The Power of Dreams. This slogan represents Honda’s commitment to innovation and achieving your dreams through their products including cars, trucks, minivans, motorcycles, ATV’s and SUV’s.
Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks nice and bright – Tony the Car Guy.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net
