This week I'm behind the wheel of the 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport. Honda's most rugged, off-road capable SUV ever debuted in 2023 and I'm as impressed now as I was then. The three-row SUV slots third of six Pilot trims and stands out for its added equipment, higher ground clearance and nice interior suited for adventuring.
Exterior
The Pilot was all-new for 2023 when it turned into to a larger and decidedly more athletic, rugged looking vehicle, which scored points with me.
My test vehicle's Diffused Sky Blue Pearl hue compliments it exclusive 18-inch Shark Gray Alloys with TrailSport logo and Black Lug Nuts that hug all-season tires. TrailSport is the only trim equipped with underbody skid plates and front/rear recovery points. Orange TrailSport badging shows off its status on the front and rear.
Other TrailSport features include gloss black power- folding, heated side mirrors, body-colored door handles, gloss black roof rails, heated wipers, and acoustic laminate windshield glass.
The entire lineup benefits from LED lighting from the headlights, daytime running lights and fog lights to the tail and brake lights in the rear, along with a body-colored roof line spoiler.
Powertrain
The Pilot's 3.5-liter V6 engine delivers 285-horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It really gives this more than 4,500 pound SUV the power it needs. The idle stop/start engine is mated to a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic with shift-by-wire and paddle shifters. Seven drive modes includes: Normal, ECON, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand. You can remotely start the engine using the key fob. TrailSport features standard all-wheel drive and the only trim to additionally benefit from Trail Torque Logic.
Interior
The Pilot's interior scores high marks with me for its comfort, design and layout. Its exclusive to the TrailSport synthetic leather seats look and feel great, and they're purposely durable to handle adventure, as are the all-season floor mats which also feature TrailSport logos. 
TrailSport-exclusive orange stitching adds a sporty flair to the interior on the seats, steering wheel and other trim pieces. A 10-way power driver's seat is really cushiony and comfortable as are the headrests . The passenger's seat is four-way power. Both front seats are heated across the lineup. Honda's also done a great job with the leather-wrapped heated steering wheel. Above it you find a partially digital display with a 7-inch digital screen with nice, easy to ready info, graphics and speed limit sign info. There is also an analog speedometer, so Honda definitley has you covered in the speed department!
The multimedia screen is on the smaller side at just 9-inches (a 10.2-inch screen is available on the top two trims.) The infotainment system is compatible with Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with HD Radio and Bluetooth. I do like Honda's Navigation system as it includes lane guidance. The screen is also home to TrailSports TrailWatch camera system, also available on the top two trims.
Below the center stack's traditional A/C controls, a large center console hosts controls for the drive mode select, electronic parking brake, automatic stop/start automatic brake hold along with the push-button shift-by-wire gear shift. A large vertical wireless charger is well placed and convenient to use.
TrailSport features second-row reclining captains chairs. They are cushiony, but on the smaller side as there is a pass-through area between them to the third row. My other observation is that the armrests seem too high.
Overall the durable synthetic leather impresses throughout the cabin. As do the door handles that feel substantial with some heft to them. And Of course, I'm always a fan of a one-touch panoramic sunroof.
Moving to the third row- yes it's big enough for adults! It even has USB-C ports and two sizes of cup holders. It's also easy to get out of the third row by either using the pass through or a power button on the second-row seat.
Family friendly features include the CabinTalk In-Car PA System, second-row manual window sunshades and USB-C ports in all three rows.
Other standard features include tri-zone climate control, nine speaker sound system, lockable glove compartment and wireless phone charger.
Utility
The Pilot is terrific on utility. A power tailgate opens to a nice amount of cargo area with the third-row seats up. The cargo space features a reversible, dual-lever cargo floor, four tie-down anchors and cargo area bag hooks. You pull the straps on the back of the third-row seats to unlock and fold them down, a method I found to be pretty easy.
Note that TrailSport is the only Pilot model with a standard Integrated Class III Trailer Hitch.
Ride and Drive
I found the Pilot to be a great daily driver with comfortable on-road dynamics, great handling and a fantastic off-road tuned suspension. It also gets my thumbs up for its quiet ride on the highway. This is a heavy SUV so I was notably impressed as well with the really great acceleration. I also found it easier to maneuver that I thought it would be given its larger size.
Note that the TrailSport has the most ground clearance of any model in the lineup coming in at 8.3 inches compared to 7.3 inches for the rest of the lineup.
Safety
Honda Sensing is standard and includes a long list of driver assistance features including Adaptive Cruise Control with low-speed follow, Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Driver Attention Monitor, Blind Spot Information System and Cross Traffic Monitor as well as Road Departure Mitigation. Rear Seat Reminder and Seat Belt Reminder are standard across the lineup, as is a rearview camera.
TrailSport is additionally equipped with front and rear parking sensors and low speed braking control.
Options and What You'll Pay
The Diffused Sky Pearl Blue Paint adds ($455) to the bottom line. Using Honda's build site I get an MSRP as equipped of roughly $51K.
Verdict
Once again, the family-friendly Pilot TrailSport impresses me with its interior, ride and drive as well as its handling. It's also really exceptionally equipped for the price. Overall, it's a terrific SUV with a lot to recommend it, and importantly, TrailSport isn't just about looking rugged, but backing it up with the equipment to prove it.
- What I Liked Most: Interior, Power, Ride and Drive
- What I would change: Expand the larger multimedia screen to TrailSport and entire lineup.
- MSRP: Base: $49,110; As equipped: $50,950.
- Official Color: Diffused Sky Blue Pearl. ($455).
- Fuel Economy: 18 city/23 highway/20 combined.
- Odometer reading when tested: 137 miles.
- Curb Weight: 4,685 pounds.
- Spare tire: Full spare tire.
- Length-Width-Height: 200.2" long/ 78.5" wide/ 72" high.
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 18.5 gallons with filler on the passenger side.
- Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds.
- 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport in a few words: A really enjoyable, capable SUV with a comfortable interior to love.
- Warranty: 3-year, 36,000 mile Basic Warranty; New Honda Service Pass complimentary 2- year/24,000-mile Maintenance Service.
- Final Assembly Location: Lincoln, Alabama.
- Manufacturer's website: Honda
