2025 Honda Pilot AWD Black Edition

The Pilot has always been regarded as one of the most reliable and comfortable three-row SUVs in the market and the latest model is no exception. After spending a week with the Honda Pilot Black Edition, I was impressed with everything it had to offer, and my friends were too. 

As with every Honda, there is just something about the Pilot that just feels right. Everything is placed well within reach and the overall engineering makes sense. It’s as if Honda has perfected the “set it and forget it” ethos over the years and keeps improving on that with every new vehicle.

My daily driver, when I don’t have a press car to review, is a 2006 Honda Pilot with over 220,000 miles on it, and it’s still running strong. Considering its nearly 20 years old and still feels well put together, that’s a true testament to Honda’s build quality. That said, taking a closer look at the new Pilot reveals that it could and most likely will, withstand the test of time just like my old Pilot has.

Interior 

The 2025 Honda Pilot’s interior is without a doubt one of the most comfortable to sit in. There’s plenty of leg and headroom in all three rows and the front two seats are treated to amenities like heated and ventilation. The driver even has a heated steering wheel. My tester for the week came equipped with second-row captain’s chairs, which worked well for the couple of friends that sat back there. They gave it a “10 out of 10” in terms of comfort and space.

But what’s really cool about that second row is its folding middle seat, which has two cupholders on the seat back that the outboard passenger can use when the seat isn’t needed. But when it is needed, the Pilot can seat three people in the second row in relative comfort.

 The third row is a little more cramped but adequately sized for two people. It’s also easy to get into with the push of button on the second-row seat. I had a friend that is five-feet, 10-inches tall sit in the third row during a short drive he said that it was more accommodating than he expected and could probably sit back there for hour or two, but probably not any more than that.

However, I’m not sure how well three people would fit in the third row, unless they were kids or small adults, considering there are three spaces back there. The cargo area is more than sufficient, with 18.6 cubic feet behind the third row, which is enough for a backpack and some groceries. But with the row folded, that space opens to 60.1 cubic feet and a maximum of 112.1 cubes with all the seats folded. With that kind of space, you should be able to fit a bike or a few sets of golf clubs back there.

 Additionally, the Honda Pilot’s interior quality is excellent. The seats are soft and supportive with leather trim and there are plenty of cupholders and USB ports to keep everyone happy.

Exterior 

Overall, the Honda Pilot looks great with its subtle, but bold aesthetic. There’s nothing overtly flashy about it, save for the darkened elements that the Black Edition trim level brings. That includes 20-inch gloss black wheels, black roof rails, black trim accents, and black emblems.

The blacked-out treatment contrasts well with the Pilot’s red paint job. However, there are other four other colors to choose from and if you don’t like the black trim, the other Pilot trims come with chrome. 

Powertrain and Driving

Every Honda Pilot is motivated by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that generates 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. That’s more than enough power to get this three-row SUV moving quickly off the line and when passing slower cars on the highway. The engine even handled the high-altitude roads that I drove it on and didn’t feel like it lost power despite the thinner air.

Many SUVs in the market use turbochargers or mild-hybrid setups for a bump in power, especially in high-elevation situations since those add-ons compensate for the loss in power. But the Honda Pilot has used the same engine since it first debuted in 2003, which is a testament to how reliable and efficient it is. Additionally, the Pilot comes standard in front-wheel-drive and all-wheel drive is optional on every trim aside the TrailSport and Black Edition, on which it comes standard.

On the road, the Honda Pilot’s suspension soaks up bumps and other road imperfections well, but a little harshness can be detected at lower speeds. It’s not luxury-car smooth, but it won’t disrupt anyone’s sleep on a road trip. The Pilot’s steering also feels well weighted, and the brake pedal has a linear feel.

There are also seven different drive modes to choose from, most of which just tighten or loosen up the steering feel and adjust the throttle response. Additionally, the visibility out of all four corners from the driver’s seat is superb, especially considering the Pilot is basically a large box.

As for fuel economy, I achieved an average of 20.5 mpg during my week with the Pilot in mixed driving situations, which is on par with the EPA’s estimate of 21 mpg.

Technology

Opting for the highest Pilot trim level like the Touring or Black Edition gives you every technological feature that Honda has to offer. Some of the standout features include wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a nine-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a Bose 12-speaker audio system, and a handful of power accessories to fine-tune the driving position. There’s also a push-button start and buttons for the gear shift instead of lever. 

One nifty feature I like is the CabinTalk function that, when activated, allows the driver to talk to the rest of the cabin through the speakers. It effectively replaces the need to yell at your kids in the third row to tell them that you’ll “turn the car around” if they don’t behave well.

Safety

The Honda Pilot is very safe as it received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. It also has a lot of airbags, including knee airbags in the front row, and the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist features. That includes features like adaptive cruise control, a collision mitigation braking system, lane-keeping assist, road-departure mitigation, and traffic jam assist.

While it’s activated, the adaptive cruise control feature works well, and it safely keeps the Pilot at a good distance from the car in front. It also slowed down well when a car from the right suddenly merged in front of me while on the freeway. It even slows to complete stop when needed, making the feature a godsend in stop-and-go traffic. 

Summary

Ultimately, the 2025 Honda Pilot Black Edition proves to be an excellent value in the three-row SUV segment. My tester for the week was priced at $56,130 (including the destination charge), which is on par with rivals like the Mazda CX-90 and Toyota Highlander, and little pricier than the Kia Telluride.

For my money, I would say that the Black Edition isn’t worth the extra $1,500 over the similarly equipped Elite version. Unless you don’t mind paying that much for black trim pieces. Otherwise, stick to the Elite trim or below, because no matter which on you pick, the Honda Pilot is sure to check all the boxes when it comes to your wants and needs.