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2022 Honda Pilot: Practical and Spacious

A strong V6 engine, ample interior space, and plenty of trim variety makes the 2022 Honda Pilot a compelling people-mover.
2022 Honda Pilot - automobiles.honda.com

2022 Honda Pilot – automobiles.honda.com |  Shop 2022 Honda Pilot on Carsforsale.com

What’s New for the 2022 Honda Pilot?

The 2022 Honda Pilot is the final iteration of this third-generation, midsize SUV with a new model expected for 2023. However, Honda has not left the 2022 model to collect dust. Base LX and EX trims have been replaced with a single, EX-L model that costs right around $40,000. It’s well-equipped and targeted at younger buyers with an active lifestyle. An 8” touchscreen infotainment interface is standard across the 2022 Honda Pilot lineup and features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. Sonic Grey Pearl is a newly available paint color and standard LED headlights round out the updates for this latest Pilot.

Body Style

Starting Price

MSRP $40,285

Drivetrain

Drivetrain

FWD or AWD

Drivetrain

Fuel Economy

20 City / 27 Hwy (MPG)

Number of Seats

Seating

Seats 7-8

The Breakdown

Panoramic roof offers plenty of light

Folded rear seats adds 100 cu-ft of volume

V6 motor offers plenty of get-up-and-go

Rear entertainment screen folds into the ceiling

Second row center console cannot be moved

Keep your eyes out for the incoming design

2022 Pilot Specs

Trims & Pricing

EX-L - $40,285
SE - $40,885
Touring - $44,845
Elite - $50,345
Black Edition - $51,845

2022 Honda Pilot Powertrain

2022 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6 - hondanews.com
2022 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6 - hondanews.com

All 2022 Honda Pilots come with Honda’s venerable 3.5-liter, naturally aspirated V6 engine that makes a healthy 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque in this application. Transmission duty is handled by a nine-speed automatic and can be operated via steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. Front-wheel-drive is the standard powertrain setup, though AWD is available on lower trims and standard with the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition.

When equipped with AWD, the Intelligent Variable Torque Management system can engage individual rear wheels via electro-hydraulic clutch packs, to enhance traction. All Pilots have a selectable Intelligent Traction Management feature with Snow mode on FWD vehicles plus Sand and Mud on AWD models.

Towing & Payload

2022 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com
2022 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com

With the AWD drivetrain, a 2022 Honda Pilot can tow up to 5,000 pounds which is plenty of capacity for the average weekend activities. A pop-up camper, couple of jet skis, or fishing boat are all possibilities. Sticking with the front-wheel drive layout results in a 3,500-pound max tow rating which is still enough for things like a teardrop trailer or mini excavator to get some landscaping work done.

2022 Honda Pilot Fuel Economy & MPG

The 2022 Honda Pilot is outfitted with idle-stop tech, an Eco Assist System, and Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), all in the name of fuel efficiency. That last one, VCM, can run the Pilot on three cylinders when appropriate to squeeze as many miles from a gallon as possible. It all helps the two-ton SUV hit 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway in FWD guise. An AWD model drops 1 mpg from each figure to 19 and 26 mpg, respectively.

Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space

Leather upholstery is in use across the Honda Pilot lineup, ensuring a luxurious feel no matter the trim. Moving up that trim ladder does yield richer features like perforated leather surfaces with heated and ventilated seating. Also, standard fare is the triple-zoned automatic climate control, acoustic windshield, and power-adjustable front seats. While the second-row captain’s chairs found in Touring and Elite models look great, keep in mind they come with a fixed console, which means owners lose the ability to fold that row flat and access the 102 cubes of cargo volume found in second row bench versions.

Entertainment & Technology

2022 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com
2022 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com

New for 2022, all Honda Pilots are equipped with an 8” Display Audio touchscreen that features Apple and Android phone mirroring tech. A 7-speaker, 215-watt stereo is standard, but at Touring level and up, a 590-watt system running through 10 speakers and a subwoofer is added. That trim also features a rear seat entertainment system with a 10” screen that drops down from an overhead console. CabinControl allows passengers to interact with audio and climate via smartphone while CabinTalk acts as in-car PA system between driver and rear passengers.

Safety Features

Honda Sensing, the company’s suite of driver-assistance system, is included on all 2022 Honda Pilots. Adaptive cruise control and road departure mitigation are some highlights with blind spot and cross traffic monitoring available on upper trim levels. Airbags cover front row passengers from frontal and side impacts while full-length side curtain airbags protect all three rows up high. Parents with small children will appreciate the four LATCH anchors that cover all three middle row positions and one in the wayback.

2022 Honda Pilot Trims & Pricing

2022 Honda Pilot EX-L - carsforsale.com
2022 Honda Pilot EX-L - carsforsale.com

EX-L – $40,285

EX-L Honda Pilots may be the base trim but they’re fairly loaded with black leather upholstery, 18” wheels, a moonroof, and 8” infotainment screen. Front-wheel-drive (FWD) is standard, but all-wheel-drive (AWD) can be added for $2000. Apple and Android mirroring software, HondaLink, and CabinControl Remote Compatibility give the base Pilot plenty of tech presence. On the comfort side of things, triple-zoned HVAC includes humidity control, second row passengers have integrated window sunshades, and front row folks will appreciate heated, power-adjustable cushions.

2022 Honda Pilot SE - carsforsale.com
2022 Honda Pilot SE - carsforsale.com

SE – $40,885

Short for Special Edition, SE trim comes with 20” gloss black rims and the optional Deep Scarlet Pearl paint job is unlocked for $395. The standard power tailgate adds hands-free operation here and heated side mirrors with reverse tilt-down functionality are included. Like all 2022 Pilots, headlights, DRLs, fog lamps, and tail lighting all use LED technology. SE models are upholstered with beige leather and a wireless charging pad is fitted in the center console.

2022 Honda Pilot Touring - carsforsale.com
2022 Honda Pilot Touring - carsforsale.com

Touring – $44,845

At Touring level, Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock tech allows for hands-free operation of the doors. Those doors gain chrome finished handles and 20” black alloys are a $2000 option. Buyers can opt for black or beige leather while the CabinTalk in-car PA system, heated second row outboard seats, and navigation is all standard. As well, the Advanced Rear Entertainment System brings a 10” high-resolution screen that folds out of a rear overhead console with a Blu-ray player, HDMI interface, and wireless headphones.

2022 Honda Pilot Elite - hondanews.com
2022 Honda Pilot Elite - hondanews.com

Elite – $50,345

At over $50,000, Elite models come only with the AWD powertrain and second row captain’s chairs. Those second-row thrones are heated while front row seats are heated and ventilated. All seats are upgraded to perforated leather in black or gray. Rain sensing wipers and the panoramic glass roof are part of the Elite trim along with a heated steering wheel, 115V power outlet plus parking sensors front and rear.

2022 Honda Pilot Black Edition - hondanews.com
2022 Honda Pilot Black Edition - hondanews.com

Black Edition – $51,845

Top-spec Black Edition Pilots would make the Star Wars Empire happy with their black and red color scheme. Crystal Black Pearl is the standard paint job with the only option being Platinum White Pearl. Black-chrome accents and trim-exclusive black wheels complete the look outside. Inside, black leather front seats feature embroidered BLACK EDITION seatbacks and all leather surfaces sport red stitching. Red ambient lighting adds to the sinister vibe.

Warranties

New Honda Pilots come with a basic vehicle warranty good for 3 years or 36,000 miles and powertrain coverage for a period of 5 years or 60,000 miles. Body corrosion is under warranty for unlimited miles over a 5-year span while 24/7 roadside assistance lasts 3 years or 36,000 miles.

What we think

2022 Honda Pilot - hondanews.com

2022 Honda Pilot – hondanews.com |  Shop 2022 Honda Pilot on Carsforsale.com

Honda has a reputation for building quality, safe, value-packed vehicles and the 2022 Honda Pilot follows suit. It’s a solid three-row SUV option for those who need to haul minivan levels of people and stuff but aren’t quite ready to buy one.

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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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