Used Honda Pilot Buying Guide

If you’re in the market for a family-friendly, three-row SUV that is reliable, then the Honda Pilot is for you. Featuring spacious seats and powerful, efficient engines, it doesn’t get much better. We’ll take a look at the generations and their features so you know what to expect before you get down to the lot.

Key Takeaways:

The most reliable Honda Pilot year would be a 2019 model, which may seem surprising. While it doesn’t come with the most modern features, it does offer slightly better efficiency.
If you do want the most modern features, then even the start of the fourth generation will be a good option. This is because the current generation hasn’t seen much change.
Both generations offer 7- and 8-passenger seating configurations, ranging from captain's chairs to retracting middle seats.

Fourth Generation (2023-Present)

Used Honda Pilot Fourth Generation Buying Guide

Being a relatively new generation, this will come with the most modern features, making it a hot commodity. This generation comes with the LX, Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite trim levels. A new trim joined the line for the 2025 model year, this one being the Black Edition. This brings some unique looks to the vehicle, in the form of 20-inch black alloy wheels, black trim and emblems, red trimmed interior, and red LED ambient lighting.

No matter the trim, as it currently stands, there’s only one engine. This is the 3.5L V6 that can produce 285 horsepower, and has an EPA-rated 22 combined MPG.

For some trim-specific features, there are two infotainment screen sizes. There are the 7-inch and 9-inch screens that are saved for the TrailSport, Touring, and Elite trims. While the smaller one does come with phone connectivity, the larger one comes with wireless phone connectivity.

While 8-passenger seating configurations come standard on entry-level trims, there are a few 7-seat configurations. The EX-L trims can be found with optional second-row captain's chairs, while this came standard on the TrailSport trim. Touring and Elite trims come with a different configuration, where the middle seat portion can be removed and stored under the floor in the cargo area when not needed.

Third Generation (2016-2022)

Used Honda Pilot Third Generation Buying Guide

This generation hit the roads in 2016, coming in 5 trims. The trims are the LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims. As usual, the Elite comes with the best features. Some of these features are ventilated front seats, heated rear captain's chairs, and a panoramic roof.

The engine that this generation comes with is a 3.5L V6 that produces slightly less power at 280 horsepower. While this is slightly lower, it does come with slightly better mileage, having an EPA-rated 23 combined MPG.

At first, the interior came with two infotainment screen sizes. There’s a 5-inch display on the LX, and an 8-inch screen for the rest of the lineup. At first, they didn’t offer much besides radio, but for model year 2017, they gained access to phone connectivity.

For the 2019 model year, a hands-free tailgate became available, making it easy to access the rear if you find yourself looking at a model that is equipped with it. The next largest changes came in 2022, in the form of two new trims. These trims are the Sport and TrailSport. The Sport is the new entry-level trim, as the LX and EX trims were discontinued. The TrailSport aims at the off-road market, giving off-road enthusiasts a more family-friendly option.

The TrailSport comes with a suspension lift that increases ground clearance by 0.6 in, black exterior trim, and 18-inch alloy wheels. It also comes with some unique badging and stitching that sets it apart from the rest.

Where do I get a used Honda Pilot?

If you’ve made up your mind and want to get a used Pilot, then there’s no better place than with us here at Jarrett. Come on down to one of our locations, and we can show you what we have in stock. With no bad year for the Pilot, you only have positive things to look for from this SUV. Come see us today!