The Honda Pilot is a mid-size crossover SUV with three-row seating manufactured since 2002 for the 2003 model year. Primarily aimed at North America, it is the largest SUV produced by Honda, and as of 2025 it is built in Lincoln, Alabama.
Honda Pilot at a glance
| Maker | Honda |
|---|---|
| Production | since 2002, 2003 model year |
| Class | mid-size three-row crossover SUV |
| Platform | shared with the Acura MDX and North American Odyssey |
| Construction | unibody with integrated perimeter frame rails |
| Suspension | independent, car-like |
| First generation | YF1/2, released June 2002 |
| 2003–2004 engine | 3.5-litre J35A4 V6, 240 hp |
| 2005 engine | J35A6 with drive-by-wire, 255 hp |
| Built in | Lincoln, Alabama |
| Earlier plant | Alliston, Ontario, until April 2007 |
| Role | Honda’s largest SUV |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Pilot.
History of the Honda Pilot
A car-like SUV
The Pilot shares its platform with the Acura MDX and the North American market Odyssey minivan. Its unibody construction and independent suspension are designed to provide handling similar to a car’s, and integrated perimeter frame rails allow towing and light off-road use. Before the Pilot, Honda offered the compact CR-V, the mid-size MDX, the mid-size Passport, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo, the full-size Crossroad, a rebadged Land Rover Discovery Series 1, and the Acura SLX, a rebadged Isuzu Trooper. Unlike the truck-based Passport, Crossroad and SLX, the Pilot used unibody construction similar to the Accord-based MDX.
First generation
The first-generation Pilot was unveiled in December 2001 and released for sale on 3 June 2002 for the 2003 model year. The 2003 and 2004 models used the J35A4 engine, an all-aluminium 3.5-litre SOHC V6 with VTEC producing 240 hp and 242 lb-ft. The 2005 Pilot received a new J35A6 engine with drive-by-wire throttle, producing 255 hp and 250 lb-ft, along with transmission changes.
Markets
The Pilot is sold in North America and the Middle East, while the Honda MDX, the first-generation Acura MDX, was marketed in Japan and Australia for several years. The second-generation Pilot was also sold in Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, Latin America and the Philippines. Although the Pilot is Honda’s largest SUV, the 2010 Crosstour was longer.
Design and features
- Unibody construction: car-like handling in a large SUV.
- Perimeter frame rails: towing and light off-road capability.
- Shared platform: the basis for the Acura MDX and Odyssey.
- Three rows: seating for the whole family.
Honda Pilot versions
- First generation (2003): the original Pilot.
- J35A4 (2003–2004): 240 hp V6.
- J35A6 (2005): 255 hp with drive-by-wire.
- Second generation: the later Pilot sold more widely.
The Pilot sits above the Honda CR-V and Passport, and replaced the Isuzu-based Passport. More Hondas are in the Honda collection.
Sources
- Honda Pilot, English Wikipedia: platform, generations, engines, markets
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