What You Get in Each 2025 Honda Pilot Trim Level
The 2025 Honda Pilot comes in five trim levels: Sport, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. Each step up adds comfort features, safety technology, and interior materials rather than changing the engine or basic structure. The Sport is the entry point with cloth seats and manual controls. The EX adds power seats and a touchscreen. The EX-L brings leather, a power liftgate, and a second-row sunroof. The Touring adds a panoramic sunroof, heated front seats, and a premium audio system. The Elite tops the line with semi-aniline leather, a head-up display, and the most advanced driver information features.
All five trims use the same 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and the same 10-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy does not change between trims. The real differences are what you touch, see, and hear during your drive — and which safety and convenience features come standard.
Key Takeaways
- The 2025 Pilot offers five trims from Sport to Elite, each adding comfort and technology features while keeping the same engine and transmission across all levels.
- Seating material, infotainment screens, and climate control vary by trim, with leather and heated seats appearing at EX-L and above.
- Safety features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping information are standard on EX and higher, optional on Sport.
- Wheel size, exterior styling, and interior color options differ by trim, affecting both appearance and ride quality.
- Cargo space and passenger capacity remain identical across all trims since the body and frame do not change.
Interior Materials and Seating Across Trims
The Sport and EX trims come with cloth upholstery on all seats. The EX-L switches to leather on the front and second row, with cloth on the third row. The Touring and Elite use leather throughout, though the Elite upgrades to semi-aniline leather, which is more durable and easier to clean than standard leather.
Heated front seats are standard on the EX-L, Touring, and Elite. Ventilated front seats — which blow cool air through the leather — appear only on the Touring and Elite. The second row has a 60/40 split-folding bench on Sport and EX, and a captain's chair configuration (two separate seats with a center console) on EX-L and above. The third row is a bench on all trims and does not recline.
Power seat adjustment is standard on EX and higher. The Sport has manual height and forward-backward adjustment only. All trims include a power liftgate, though the Sport's opens to a fixed height while EX-L and above let you set a custom opening height.
Infotainment and Climate Control Options
The Sport comes with a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a six-speaker audio system. The EX upgrades to an 8-inch screen and an eight-speaker system. The EX-L, Touring, and Elite all use the same 8-inch touchscreen but the Touring and Elite add a 12-speaker premium audio system from Bose.
Climate control is dual-zone automatic on Sport and EX, meaning the driver and front passenger can set different temperatures. The EX-L, Touring, and Elite add tri-zone control, letting the second row set its own temperature independently. All trims include rear air vents for the second and third rows.
Wireless phone charging is standard on EX-L and above. The Sport and EX require a wired USB connection. All trims include two USB-A ports and one USB-C port in the front, with additional ports in the second row on EX-L and higher.
Safety Features and Driver information Technology
Honda Sensing, the brand's suite of driver information features, is standard on EX and above. On the Sport, it is optional. Honda Sensing includes adaptive cruise control (which maintains distance from the car ahead), lane-keeping information (which gently steers you back if you drift), collision mitigation braking, and road departure mitigation.
The Touring and Elite add adaptive damping suspension, which adjusts shock absorber stiffness based on road conditions. Both also include a surround-view camera system that shows a 360-degree view of the vehicle when parking or navigating tight spaces. The Elite adds a head-up display that projects speed, navigation, and alerts onto the windshield so you do not have to look down at the dashboard.
Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on EX-L and above. The Sport and EX do not include these. All trims have a backup camera and hill start information.
Exterior Styling and Wheel Options
The Sport uses 18-inch wheels with all-season tires. The EX and EX-L offer 18-inch or 20-inch wheel options. The Touring and Elite come standard with 20-inch wheels. Larger wheels improve appearance and handling but reduce ride comfort on rough roads and cost more to replace.
The Sport has a simpler front grille and bumper design. The EX and EX-L add chrome accents and a more sculpted front end. The Touring and Elite feature a more aggressive grille, LED fog lights (standard on Touring and Elite, optional on EX-L), and a power moonroof on EX-L and above. The Elite adds a panoramic sunroof that extends over the second row.
Exterior color choices are the same across all trims. Interior color options vary: the Sport and EX offer black or gray cloth. The EX-L offers black or gray leather. The Touring and Elite add a third option, usually a tan or beige leather.
Cargo Space and Seating Configuration
All five trims have identical cargo space: 18.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 55 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 94 cubic feet with both the second and third rows folded. Seating capacity is eight passengers on all trims, though the captain's chair configuration on EX-L and above means the second row holds only two instead of three.
The third row is genuinely tight on all trims and best suited for children or short trips. Adults can sit there, but legroom is limited. The second row on EX-L and above, with captain's chairs and a center console, offers more comfort and easier access to the third row because there is no middle seat to climb over.
Roof rails are standard on all trims and can hold a cargo box or roof rack. The Sport and EX have manual roof rails; the EX-L and above have power rails that lower at the push of a button.
Price Positioning and Feature Jumps
The Sport is the lowest-priced entry point and includes the essentials: a reliable engine, basic infotainment, and standard safety features. The jump to EX adds touchscreen size, speaker count, and makes Honda Sensing standard rather than optional — a meaningful safety upgrade. The EX-L is where leather, heated seats, and captain's chairs appear, making it the first trim that feels noticeably more upscale.
The Touring adds the Bose audio system, panoramic sunroof, and adaptive damping suspension — features that improve daily comfort and driving feel. The Elite is the luxury option, adding semi-aniline leather, the head-up display, and surround-view cameras. Each step up costs more, so the choice depends on which features matter most to you and your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the engine or transmission change between trims?
No. All five trims use the same 3.5-liter V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy and performance are identical across Sport, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The differences are comfort, materials, and technology, not power or efficiency.
Can I get captain's chairs on the EX trim?
No. Captain's chairs are standard on EX-L and above only. The Sport and EX have a 60/40 split-folding bench in the second row that seats three passengers. If the captain's chair configuration is important to you, you must step up to EX-L or higher.
Is Honda Sensing standard on all trims?
Honda Sensing is standard on EX and above. On the Sport, it is optional and must be added at purchase. If driver information features like adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping information are priorities, the EX is the minimum trim where they come included.
What is the difference between the Touring and Elite?
The Elite adds a head-up display, surround-view camera system, semi-aniline leather (more durable than standard leather), and an extra interior color option. The Touring has the same Bose audio system and panoramic sunroof but lacks these premium features. The Elite is the top luxury trim; the Touring is the highest-performance trim without the extra luxury touches.
Do all trims have the same cargo space?
Yes. Cargo space behind the third row, with the third row folded, and with both rear rows folded is identical on all five trims. The body and frame do not change. The captain's chairs on EX-L and above do not reduce cargo capacity — they only affect second-row seating comfort and configuration.