The 2022 Honda Pilot is a carry forward of the outgoing 2021 iteration and comes with only minor changes to the interior and infotainment features and trim configurations. Offered for a base MSRP of $37,850, the 2022 Pilot comes with the same 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 motor that is capable of towing an impressive 5,000 lbs. The acceleration times are pretty good for a mid-size SUV, too.
Coming with a long list of interior and infotainment features coupled with top-notch cabin space helps the 2022 Honda Pilot to be one of the most preferred offerings of the segment. Being a Honda, the reliability and safety are assured too, which could be seen from its reasonably long warranty and all the driver-assistance tech coming in as standard. Competing with the likes of the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the 2022 Honda Pilot.
10 Comes With A Capable Powertrain
The powertrain sees no changes from the outgoing model, and the same 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 motor that is present in the Honda Odyssey is offered with the Honda Pilot. This is a very capable motor, producing a healthy 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The motor has solid low-end and that helps in quick overtake when driving through the cities.
The superb mid-range performance is a boon on the highways too and the lack of forced induction is never a problem with the I-VTEC motor. The car is capable of maintaining highway speeds all day long with no problems as well. Mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission which is adequately fast and very smooth in operation, this mid-size SUV is a joy to drive.
9 Not A Head Turner
The design of the 2022 Honda Pilot sees no changes from the outgoing 2021 model. In comparison to the rivals like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, the Honda Pilot is a pretty bland-looking mid-size family SUV. The front fascia does get many elements from the Honda Odyssey and the subtle elements like a chrome grille, LED headlights with LED DRLs, and the excellent height and width do help it to hide the otherwise bland fascia.
The side profile has nothing to boast about, either. The multiple character lines, 20" wheels, chrome window linings, and blacked-out pillars add a bit of zest. Apart from that, if you opt for the most expensive Black Edition trim, it gets many more blacked-out elements too, making it look more striking. Eight exterior color palettes and a long list of optional extras can be had too. The rear is the most underwhelming area of this SUV, and the LED taillights and the integrated spoiler cannot hide the blandness.
8 Quite Fuel Efficient
Even though the car comes with a powerful V6 motor and a heavy curb weight of 4,030 lbs, it is a pretty frugal offering of the mid-size SUV segment. Coming with a 9-speed torque converter automatic transmission that is tuned pretty well for fuel efficiency coupled with the legendary I-VTEC system, the car managed to give out 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highways with the FWD setup.
If you opt for the optional full-time AWD drivetrain, the fuel efficiency sees a minor drop, with 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway. With 19.5-gallon fuel tank capacity on offer, the 2022 Honda Pilot could do close to 527 miles on the highway with a tank full, making it the best SUV of the lot in terms of tank range and gas mileage.
7 One Of The Most Spacious Offerings
The space has always been a USP of the Honda Pilot, and this 2022 iteration sees no changes. Being part of the third generation of the Honda Pilot, the driver and passenger who are occupied at the front seats are going to be impressed with the excellent all-around visibility and the impressive headroom and shoulder room. The legroom is more than adequate, too.
This SUV can be had with a bench seat or captain's chair (depending on the trim that you choose) for the second row, and either way it is one of the most spacious offerings of the lot. The seats are also neither too soft nor too hard, and the under-thigh and lower back support is excellent. Even though the third-row seat offers superb space, since the seat is positioned very low, it will not be comfortable for adults.
6 Loaded With Features
The 2022 Honda Pilot comes loaded with all the tech and features, and even the base Sport trim doesn't feel very spartan like the lower-trim configurations of the rivals like the Toyota Highlander and the Subaru Ascent. The features like heated front seats, 7-speaker audio system, tri-zone automatic climate control, LED headlights, 20" alloy wheels, etc come as standard even with the base trim.
If you go up the ladder and get the top of the line Black Edition trim, which is offered for a base MSRP of $51,370, it comes with a long list of the interior, exterior, and safety features including roof rails, powered tailgate, ambient lighting, blacked-out elements, panoramic sunroof, and all the driver-assistance features coming in as standard. There are many optional accessories and packages too.
5 Safety Is Unmatched
Like all the other monikers from the Honda stable, the 2022 Pilot comes with all the required safety and driver-assistance features. Even the lowest trim configuration gets all the much-needed features like the forward-collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, etc.
The basic safety features like ABS, traction control, stability control, side-impact beams, and many more are offered too. With its impressive build quality and solid construction, the 2022 Honda Pilot received an overall crash safety rating of 5-stars from the NHTSA and a good rating in most of the subsections of the IIHS crash test.
4 Not The Best Driving Dynamics
The driving dynamics is one area that the 2022 Honda Pilot that may disappoint many prospective buyers. Many would expect it to be as capable as the Honda Odyssey around the corners, and that is not entirely true. The suspension setup is tuned for comfort, and hence the driving dynamics are a bit sloppy.
Take the car enthusiastically through the winding roads, and the car rewards you with a high body roll and quite a lot of understeer. Even when equipped with the AWD drivetrain, the front end of the Pilot is very heavy and that leads to slow turn-ins and lower grip levels. As a result, the Ford Escape felt a bit more poised around the corners.
3 Superb Ride Quality
The 2022 Honda Pilot's lack of driving dynamics is translated to a machine that offers impeccable ride quality. With strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension with coil springs and anti-roll bars on offer, the suspension of the Pilot is tuned to a tad softer side, making it a very comfortable offering on both city and highway roads.
Drive the car slowly through the broken roads, and the suspension takes care of even the sharpest potholes with ease. There is no vertical movement, and even the third-row passengers would be pretty happy. Even as the speeds increase during the highways drives, the car ride almost flat, unlike some of the tall rivals. The suspension works pretty silently too.
2 Infotainment Is A Bit Of A Disappointment
All the trims of the 2022 Honda Pilot come with the same 8" center stacked touchscreen infotainment system, which is a step below the infotainments offered by the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Ford Escape. The interface feels a bit old-school, and it is not the smoothest of the lot, too. The display quality and icon design are a bit of a letdown as well.
However, that doesn't mean that the infotainment lacks any features. All the connectivity and entertainment features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM radio, navigation, Bluetooth audio streaming, rear-seat entertainment (depending on the trim), Wi-Fi hotspot connectivity, etc are standard. There are multiple audio systems depending on the trim that you choose, and all of them offered a clear and punchy audio experience.
1 Interior Quality Is Top Notch
The interior of the 2022 Honda Pilot is a step up from its main rival, the Ford Escape. In comparison to the poor fit and finish and slightly cheaper material selection, the Honda Pilot feels every bit premium for the price. There are no uneven panel gaps anywhere, and most of the plastics that are used for the interior construction are soft-touch ones.
Even the areas that are not easily accessible also come adorned with soft-touch materials. The leather upholstery feels top-class and the silver and gloss black elements uplift the overall ambiance of the cabin too. However, the center console is a fingerprint magnet and that couldn't have been sorted with the lesser use of the gloss black inserts, especially surrounding the infotainment system.