2020 Honda Pilot: A Family Forward SUV

In the competitive family-friendly SUV market, the 2020 Honda Pilot has something for everyone. A strong engine and great looks, features, and safety.
2020 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com

2020 Honda Pilot – hondanews.com |  Shop 2020 Honda Pilot on Carsforsale.com

What’s New for the 2020 Honda Pilot

The 2020 Honda Pilot is deep into its third generation, which began in 2016, but offers a new, range-topper model in the Black Edition. With black rims and exterior trim plus red-on-black interior appointments, it strikes a sinister pose. Don’t let the lack of major updates fool you though, the Honda Pilot is an excellent all-around SUV with loads of standard features and options to take it upmarket.

Body Style

Starting Price

MSRP $31,650

Drivetrain

Drivetrain

FWD or AWD

Drivetrain

Fuel Economy

19 City / 26 Hwy (MPG)

Number of Seats

Seating

Seats 7-8

The Breakdown

LED lighting front and rear is a big plus

Cavernous cargo space

CabinTalk PA system keeps the kids in line

Second-row captain chairs are a nice touch

Hands-free power tailgate makes life easy

The warranty is not very competitive

Keep an eye out for the next-generation Pilot

2020 Honda Pilot Specs

Trims & Pricing

LX - $31,650
EX - $34,530
EX-L - $37,960
Touring - $42,720
Elite - $48,220
Black Edition - $49,720

2020 Honda Pilot Powertrain

2020 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6 - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6 - hondanews.com

Everyone should have the pleasure of driving Honda’s 3.5-liter V6 at some point. Its reputation for silky power delivery is well earned. Honed over the years, it makes a healthy 280 horsepower in the 2020 Honda Pilot application and utilizes Honda’s Intelligent Variable Timing Electronically Controlled (i-VTEC) technology. Paring variable camshaft profiles with a variable camshaft gear, i-VTEC is a main contributor to this impressive power plant. The sporty sound is backed up by ample thrust, moving two tons of Pilot with ease.

On lower trims, a 6-speed automatic is standard as is FWD. On Touring models and above, the transmission has 9-speeds and the promise of smoother operation. AWD comes standard on Elite and Black Edition Pilots, but regardless of powertrain configuration, all models use a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension ensuring confident handling. Just remember, while the optional 20-inch wheels look great, lower profile tires on a large SUV have the potential for a harsher ride.

Towing & Payload

Pickup trucks get all the attention in the towing category, but the 2020 Honda Pilot is no slouch. Front-wheel drive models can pull up 3,500 pounds while AWD versions max out at 5,000. Sure, you may not be towing a 30-foot trailer full of horses, but smaller campers or a couple of jet skis? Sure! Coupled with the Intelligent Traction Management control, drivers can customize power delivery based on road conditions like snow or sand, which is a confidence inspiring touch when towing.

2020 Honda Pilot Fuel Economy & MPG

2020 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com

Achieving 26 miles to the gallon in a 4,000 pound, AWD SUV is no small feat. The 6-speed, FWD configuration actually fares slightly worse at 1 mpg less in both city and highway driving which speaks volumes about the 9-speed transmission efficiency. i-VTEC has a hand in this, as does the cylinder deactivation technology that all Honda Pilots are equipped with. Eco Assist, which uses a color-changing meter in the instrument panel, gives drivers an illustration of when their driving style is most efficient.

Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space

Families with kids are a key demographic for the 2020 Honda Pilot, so a comfortable and functional interior is de rigeur. Honda has the functional piece covered on all trim levels thanks to seating for up to 8 with fold-down middle and way-back rows. One rung up to EX models yields tri-zone climate control and heated front seats. For those interested in the fancier side of life, how about a pair of heated captain’s chairs in the middle row that are just right for viewing the rear entertainment system?

Those folding rows of seats – which can be swaddled in leather – will allow for 83.9 cu-ft of your stuff when both sets are down. Alternatively, you can keep the third row flattened for plenty of grocery space and the flexibility to stand them up when toting around your kids’ soccer team. Be sure to check out the clever bit of cargo area engineering with a height adjustable floor. Move it down for max space or move it up to create covered, underfloor storage.

Entertainment & Technology

2020 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com

Comfort is nice, but comfort with the latest tech and entertainment features is better. Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock means drivers can touch the door handle to get in and walk away, at the end of the day, knowing the Pilot will lock automatically. Other smart tech like an available wireless charging pad means no more phone cables being tangled around the shifter.

On the entertainment side, an optional stereo system putting out 590 watts of block rockin’ beats through 10 speakers and a subwoofer will keep the audiophiles happy. Then there’s the 10-inch screen which folds out of the rear headliner to entertain those in the back. That keeps everyone happy. But in the event someone is unhappy, they can calmly communicate via CabinTalk, a modern version of cans connected by string.

Safety Features

Standard Honda Sensing is a huge value add for the 2020 Honda Pilot, as it comes with the latest in active safety tech. Adaptive cruise control works in conjunction with lane keeping assist and road departure mitigation by adjusting throttle and steering inputs to ensure you stay in your lane. Lane departure warning notifies drivers if they cross lane lines without signaling and the collision mitigation braking system can step in to prevent an accident if they do.

2020 Honda Pilot Trims & Pricing

2020 Honda Pilot LX - Drivers Only on YouTube.com
2020 Honda Pilot LX - Drivers Only on YouTube.com

LX – $31,650

Though considered the base model, LX trim brings a host of standard features like LED headlights, seating for eight and 18-inch alloys for a purposeful stance. The 280-horse i-VTEC 6-cylinder motor is standard and offers plenty of punch with an EPA estimated fuel efficiency of 27 miles per gallon on the highway. For 2020, the LX Pilot comes with a 6-speed automatic and a standard front-wheel drive (FWD) configuration, though all-wheel drive (AWD) is optional. Other useful touches like a rearview camera and capless fuel filler make the $31,650 starting price very attractive.

2020 Honda Pilot EX - Crazy Honda Chris on YouTube.com
2020 Honda Pilot EX - Crazy Honda Chris on YouTube.com

EX – $34,530

A big upgrade for EX-level Pilots and above is an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen versus the simple 5-inch display in base models. This feature also brings Apple and Android smartphone integration, making it easy to use the Pilot’s interface as an extension of owners’ phones. On the convenience front, EX models have a one-touch button to move the 2nd row of seats for 3rd row access. And the triple-zoned automatic climate control means driver, front passenger and back seat folks can temper the air to their liking.

2020 Honda Pilot EX-L - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Pilot EX-L - hondanews.com

EX-L – $37,960

Starting under $40,000, the Pilot EX-L offers comfort upgrades like leather seating and a moonroof. Second row sunshades, integrated into the window frames, are a lifesaver for anyone toting little ones about. There are additional tech features like 3 USB ports, an auto-dim rearview mirror and HomeLink that, while seemingly minor, simplify the day-to-day activities most owners engage in. Intelligent Traction Management (ITM) gives push-button mode control for drivers to choose from, based on conditions like Normal and Snow.

2020 Honda Pilot Touring - AutoSpoiler on YouTube.com
2020 Honda Pilot Touring - AutoSpoiler on YouTube.com

Touring – $42,720

Cracking the $40K mark, Touring trim is a great all-around luxury Pilot. The transmission is upgraded to a more efficient 9-speed automatic and wheels jump up to size 20. The tailgate is both powered and hands-free, no more balancing a grocery bag while fumbling with the keys and door handle. Inside, a pair of heated 2nd row captain’s chairs are available to replace the three-across bench. Luxury features like ambient interior lighting, a headliner-mounted rear entertainment system and 10-speaker stereo complete the Touring trim.

2020 Honda Pilot Elite - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Pilot Elite - hondanews.com

Elite – $48,220

Aptly name, Pilot Elite’s pour on the fancy with a panoramic glass roof, air-conditioned front seats and a heated steering wheel. Rain-sensing wipers are an unsung modern marvel that come in handy when using the standard all-wheel drive in slick conditions. And if you get too far off the grid, integrated satellite navigation will get you home, as it doesn’t rely on a cell signal.

2020 Honda Pilot Black Edition - hondanews.com
2020 Honda Pilot Black Edition - hondanews.com

Black Edition – $49,720

Sitting atop the 2020 Honda Pilot trim tree, a Black Edition pushes 50 large but nets a uniquely dressed-up look. Lord Vader, your Pilot has arrived. Outside, black chrome accents, black door handles and side mirrors plus black 20 inchers give legitimacy to the Black Edition label. On the inside, black leather with red-stitching and red ambient lighting rounds out the look.

Warranties

The 2020 Honda Pilot comes with a fairly basic warranty covering the first 3 years or 36,000 miles on the vehicle. Powertrain component coverage extends out to 5 years or 60,000 miles and there is corrosion coverage for those first 5 years as well. Honda also offers 24-hour emergency roadside assistance during the 3 year/36,000 mile period.

What we think

2020 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com

2020 Honda Pilot – hondanews.com |  Shop 2020 Honda Pilot on Carsforsale.com

I’m a longtime fan of Honda engineering and the sweet 3.5-liter V6 found in all 2020 Honda Pilot models makes for compelling consideration. Add the athletic design with stacks of great features and you’ve got the recipe for a solid SUV.

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Niel Stender

Niel Stender grew up doing replacement work on his 1990 Cherokee and 1989 Starion, so it’s not surprising that he would put his mechanical engineering degree from the University of New Hampshire to use in the car world as a vehicle dynamics engineer. Now engineering sentence structures, his writing infuses his auto experience with his time in marketing and his sales experience. Writing about cars for close to a decade now, he focuses on some of the more technical mechanical systems that are found under the hood and throughout a vehicle.

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