Redesigned in December 2022 for model year 2023, the Honda Pilot has recently entered MY25 with little in the way of changes. Be that as it may, the IIHS decided to crash the 2025 model to find out whether it could match the Top Safety Pick+ accolade of the 2023 model.
As you might have guessed by now, that's a yes. There is, however, a big difference between the 2025 and 2023 models in the updated moderate overlap front crash test. Compared to a marginal rating, the newcomer scored acceptable. It should be noted that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety altered the scoring criteria for the updated moderate overlap test earlier this year.
To better account for variations in the position of the rear shoulder belt, a new metric dubbed the chest index has been introduced. In other words, the nonprofit organization evaluates how well the restraints control the motion of the dummy during the crash. The rear-seated crash test dummy is the size of a 12-year-old child or small woman, a build that is more prone to submarining than a dummy with the physique of an average-sized adult man.
Submarining occurs when the lap belt doesn't properly engage the rear passenger's hip bones. In this event, the pelvis slides under the lap belt, increasing the risk of abdominal injuries. Given the aforementioned, the 2025 model's acceptable rating is – indeed – a welcomed upgrade.
The family-sized crossover aced the small overlap front crash test and the updated side impact test, earning the maximum rating possible. Headlights are good as well, and this rating further applies to the front crash prevention system in vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios.
Photo: IIHS / edited
Honda's largest sport utility vehicle for the United States market also received the aforementioned rating for LATCH ease of use and seatbelt reminders. The pictured crossover is an EX-L AWD, namely a trim level that slots between the EX-L 2WD and Touring 2WD. On March 1 when Honda published US pricing information for the 2025 model year, it featured a starting price of $45,300 (excluding the $1,395 destination charge).
Pricing remains unchanged as of July 2024. Lower down the spectrum, the Sport 2WD is $39,900 at the very least. $49,100 is the starting price of the rugged TrailSport grade, whereas $54,280 gets you the top-of-the-range Black Edition. Regardless of trim level and the driven wheels, the Pilot comes with a naturally aspirated V6 engine connected to a 10-speed automatic.
Codenamed J35Y8, said 3.5-liter engine is an evolution of the J35Y6 from the previous-gen Pilot. The biggest difference between them is double-overhead-cam heads with VTC for the J35Y8 versus a single-overhead-cam design with VTEC on the intake valves only for the J35Y6.
Good for 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet (355 Nm) versus 280 horsepower and similar peak torque, J35Y8 drinks fuel to the tune of 22 miles per gallon (10.7 liters per 100 kilometers) with front-wheel drive or 21 (11.2) with all-wheel drive. The off-roady TrailSport, meanwhile, nets 20 (11.8) combined.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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