Mechanical Specs

The seven trims of the 2022 Honda Pilot are the Sport, EX-L, Special Edition, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. Under their hood is a 3.5-liter V6 that puts out 280 hp and 262 lb.-ft. of torque; a nine-speed automatic transmission completes the powertrain. All-wheel drive is standard on the TrailSport, Elite, and Black Edition and optional on the others, which otherwise get front-wheel drive.
The EPA has rated FWD ’22 Pilots for 20 miles per gallon in city driving and 27 mpg on the highway. With AWD that becomes 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway. Towing capacity is more than adequate, with AWD Pilots able to pull up to 5,000 pounds (FWD versions are limited to 3,500 lb.).

Trims

Sport

This model year’s base Pilot is nicely equipped with cloth seats that are heated in the front row, plus one-touch turn signals, silver roof rails, programmable remote entry, push-button start, automatic locking doors, automatic low-beam LED headlights, LED fog lights, HondaLink remote services, and gloss-black side mirrors with integrated turn signals. The automatic climate control has three zones (with separate controls for the middle row), plus humidity control and air filtration. CabinControl is also standard, letting the occupants control some of the Pilot’s features with a smartphone.
For infotainment, there’s a high-resolution 8-inch touchscreen system with smartphone integration (Android Auto and Apple CarPlay), Bluetooth (for hands-free phone calls and audio streaming), SMS text messaging, SiriusXM satellite radio, high-definition radio, and a 215-watt sound system with 7 speakers, including a subwoofer. Honda Sensing, the proprietary suite of advanced driver-assist technologies, is also standard, bundling collision mitigation braking, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, and lane departure warning. The Sport is also set up with automatic high beams, stability and traction control, a blind-spot information system with cross-traffic monitor, and a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines.

EX-L

The EX-L drops the roof rails but adds leather seating (power-adjustable in the front row), a power moonroof with tilt feature, a power liftgate, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and heated exterior mirrors with integrated turn-signal indicators, position memory, and reverse tilt-down. For convenience, there’s the HomeLink system, which combines a universal garage door/motorized gate opener with automatic control of your home security system and interior and exterior lighting. second-row sunshades, rear privacy glass, and a hidden storage compartment. The second-row seats easily fold down with one touch of a button, and the third-row splits 60/40 to accommodate cargo as needed.

Special Edition

The Special Edition’s liftgate is upgraded to the hands-free version, and wireless smartphone charging is added. The black-finished roof rails also make their return, and the wheels are upgraded to 20-inch alloys that are also finished in black.

TrailSport

As its name indicates, this is the most rugged ’22 Pilot trim. It gets all-terrain tires, fender flares, all-season floor mats, a standard power tailgate, and navigation. There are unique TrailSport badging and style elements, too.

Touring

The Touring trim goes back to plug-in smartphone charging, but it’s improved with front and rear parking sensors, a Wi-Fi hotspot, ambient interior lighting (blue), illuminated cup holders, courtesy door lights, chrome door handles, and CabinTalk (an interior PA system). The entertainment situation is boosted by a Blu-Ray rear-seat entertainment system, three additional speakers, and multiple audio zones. For buyers who don’t need to seat eight, there’s also an option to trade the three-person middle-row seat for a pair of heated perforated-leather captain’s chairs.

Elite

The Elite adds cold-weather comfort with a heated steering wheel and the heated perforated-leather second-row captain’s chairs, along with relief from hot summer days with ventilated front seats. The moonroof becomes the panoramic style, while rain-sensing windshield wipers, power-folding side mirrors, and front-row LED map lights are added.

Black Edition

The Black Edition dominates the style scene with black roof rails, gloss-black door handles, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and ambient interior lighting (red). Other than that, it’s equipped similarly to the Elite.

Standard Equipment by Trim Level

As mentioned, the reduction of trim levels for this model year has made the EX-L the base, but it’s equipped as generously as ever. There are many highlights, including a moonroof, silver roof rails, tri-zone automatic climate control, a power liftgate, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, keyless entry, push-button start, automatic locking doors, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, automatic low-beam LED headlights, LED fog lights, and heated exterior mirrors with integrated turn-signal indicators, position memory, and reverse tilt-down. It also gets HondaLink remote services, a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines, 12-volt power outlets, USB ports, a universal garage door opener, second-row sunshades, rear privacy glass, and a hidden storage compartment. Winter road trips are extra comfortable, as the front seats are heated and power-adjustable (the driver’s seat has position memory), and leather upholstery comes standard. The second-row seats fold down at the touch of a button, and the third-row splits 60/40 to accommodate cargo as needed. This trim also has CabinControl, which lets occupants control some of the Pilot’s features with a smartphone.

The Special Edition’s liftgate is upgraded with hands-free operation, and wireless smartphone charging is added. The Touring trim goes back to plug-in smartphone charging, but it adds a cornucopia of features, such as front and rear parking sensors, ambient interior lighting in blue, illuminated cup holders, chrome door handles, CabinTalk (an interior PA system), a Blu-Ray entertainment system, HondaLink subscription services, a second-row HDMI interface, and a 115V outlet. Buyers can opt to swap out the three-person second-row bench seat for a pair of heated captain’s chairs. The Elite is the top of the heap, though, with those captain’s chairs coming standard along with the wireless charger, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic moonroof, rain-sensing windshield wipers, power-folding side mirrors, and front-row LED map lights. The Black Edition has a similar slate of features, but with black roof rails, gloss-black door handles, and ambient interior lighting in red.

Safety & Technology

The Honda Sensing package of state-of-the-art driver assist features (adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, and lane departure warning) is standard on all 2022 Pilots. They all get automatic high beams and a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert as well.

It’s especially important to keep everyone connected in a vehicle that seats up to eight. The Pilot is ready for that with plenty of technology for communication and entertainment. The infotainment system has an 8-inch touchscreen, smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), Bluetooth (for hands-free phone and audio streaming), SiriusXM satellite radio, HD radio, and seven speakers. Navigation and an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot are added at the Touring level, along with multi-zone audio and three more speakers.