Forget the new toys.
The Honda Pilot is old school. It has an old-school V-6. The tech feels like it time-traveled from 2019. Luddites love this. No confusing screens, no high-voltage anxiety. Just a sturdy people mover.
But looking at the seven trims? It gives you crosseyes.
Some people want every bell and whistle, price be damned. Others can’t stretch a budget past the base model. Most of us sit in the messy middle. We want comfort. We don’t want waste. We want value.
There is one trim that wins here.
Why the EX-L?
It is the EX-L.
Simple answer. Complex reality.
At $46,195, it costs about $2,300 more than the base Sport. You pay up for leather. You get memory settings for the driver’s seat. The second-row middle seat? It tucks away. In the Sport, you’re stuck with it. You also get a wireless charger and parking sensors. Small things. Big conveniences.
Then there are the wheels.
The EX-L swaps the 20-inch rims for 18-inch ones. Some call this a downgrade. We call it practical. Thicker sidewalls soak up road imperfections. Less noise. More comfort. The aesthetic hit is negligible.
The Drivetrain Dilemma
Honda keeps options tight. Too tight? Maybe.
On the EX-L, you have two real choices: color and drivetrain. Four colors cost nothing. Three add $450. Not a big deal.
All-wheel drive? That costs $2,100.
It also changes what the truck can pull. Front-wheel drive pilots can tow 3,500 pounds. Add the AWD and you hit 5,000.
Is towing 5,000 pounds important to you?
All-wheel drive is the only option that meaningfully changes the vehicle’s utility cap.
If yes, add the tax. If no, save the money.
What Do You Miss Out On?
Climb higher. See what breaks.
The TrailSport ($52,095) looks rugged. All-terrain tires. Suspension tweaks. A panoramic sunroof. It is AWD only. But wait. You lose the fold-away second-row middle seat. For a family hauler? That’s a strike.
Then you hit the touring tier.
Touring ($52,795). It gets the sunroof. The Bose system. A hands-free liftgate. It returns the 20-inch wheels. If you hate chrome, buy the Touring Blackout ($53,995). Same features. Black finish. Same price hike logic.
Elite ($55,195) adds the fluff. Head-up display. Heated and ventilated seats. Rain-sensing wipers. The Black Edition ($56,695) is just an Elite dressed in black.
All of them cost more than the EX-L. Most of the upgrades are nice, not necessary. The fold-away seat remains available here. Good. But the value curve flattens. Then it tips backward.
The EX-L hits the sweet spot.
The rest? Luxury taxes. You decide if they’re worth it.
