2021 Honda Pilot: A Trim Comparison
The 2021 Honda Pilot is a great all-around vehicle with lots of space and even the ability to go off-road, so why not make it your next vehicle?
Comparing Honda Pilot Trims
These are the five possible trims with the Honda Pilot, but they’re not all made the same. It’s more than better features, and this in-depth guide can help you figure out what makes them different.
LX
The 2021 Honda Pilot LX is the base trim and has a starting MSRP of $32,450. That gets you a 2WD SUV with a 3.5L V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. Its capable of 280 hp and 262 lb-ft. of torque, and can tow 3500 pounds when properly equipped. It can only get up to 19 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. If you want to spring for an all-wheel-drive version, you’ll pay about $1,800 more, gain the ability to tow 5,000 pounds, and drop the mpg down to 18 city/26 highway.
The LX may be inexpensive, but it comes with a host of great standard features inside and out. Some of the best include a multi-angle rearview camera, push-button start, hidden storage well, and steering wheel mounted controls. A 5-inch display infotainment system, seven-speaker audio and dual-zone climate control are also among the standard features provided with the base trim. The Pilot LX also comes standard with the Honda Sensing safety suite. This includes a collision mitigation braking system, a road departure mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, and lane keep assist.
EX
The 2021 Honda Pilot EX starts at $34,930 and has some great features that are lacking in the Pilot LX. One of the best safety features Honda has to offer comes standard with the Pilot EX—intelligent traction management. With a push of a button, this feature easily helps you maintain traction in an array of driving conditions. the 2WD version has “normal” and “snow” mode. The AWD version adds two more: “mud” and “sand.” For added safety, the Pilot EX also has fog lights, Smart Entry, and a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines.
The interior of the Pilot EX also improves, upgrading to a 225-watt sound system and an eight-inch high-resolution touch-screen. The Pilot EX is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and has access to Pandora, SiriusXM, SMS text message function, and the ability to play specific songs by voice command. Like the Pilot LX, an extra $1,800 upgrades the transmission to AWD.
Touring
The 2021 Honda Pilot Touring starts at $42,920 and represents some pretty big changes for the Honda Pilot. Among the features provided with this trim are a power tailgate, rear parking sensors, leather-trimmed seats, and rear seat entertainment. Other features include navigation, voice recognition, and Wi-Fi. The interior has available heated second-row captain’s chairs and blue ambient LED lighting. The sound system is also upgraded to a 10-speaker setup that is 590 watts.
On the exterior, the Pilot Touring adds roof rails for extra cargo space and acoustic glass on the front doors to decrease cabin noise. It includes body-colored parking sensors in the front and rear.
Elite
The 2021 Honda Pilot Elite is the best that the brand has to offer and starts at $48,420. The Pilot Elite comes with standard all-wheel drive. The outside of the Elite incorporates a panoramic roof, which is a large window on the top that allows passengers to have expansive views and floods the cabin with light. You also get rain-sensing windshield wipers and a heated leather steering wheel. Additionally, there are perforated heated seats in the first and second rows with ventilation in the first row. Also standard is a wireless phone charger.
Honda Pilot Black Edition
Lastly, there’s the Black Edition, starting at $49,920. The Black Edition is similar to the Elite, offering most of the Elite trim’s features but it does offer unique styling that you won’t get on any other trim.
