What you get in each 2024 Honda Pilot configuration
The 2024 Honda Pilot comes in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. Each step up adds features, comfort upgrades, and technology rather than changing the engine or basic structure. The LX is the base model with cloth seats and manual controls. The EX adds a power liftgate and a touchscreen. The EX-L brings leather and a sunroof. The Touring adds a premium sound system and adaptive suspension. The Elite, the highest trim, includes a head-up display and semi-autonomous driving features.
All five trims use the same 3.5-liter V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy and performance are identical across trims. The differences are in what you touch, see, and hear while driving — not how the vehicle moves or how much gas it uses.
Key Takeaways
- The LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims all share the same engine and transmission, so your choice is about interior features and technology, not performance.
- The EX adds a touchscreen and power liftgate over the LX; the EX-L adds leather seats and a sunroof; the Touring adds a premium audio system and adaptive dampers.
- All 2024 Pilots seat eight passengers in a three-row layout, though the third row is tight for adults on longer trips.
- Leather, sunroof, and advanced driver information systems are available on higher trims but can sometimes be ordered separately as packages on lower trims depending on your dealer.
LX and EX: The entry-level choices
The LX is the least expensive 2024 Pilot and comes with cloth seats, manual seat adjustment, and a 5-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It has a backup camera, Bluetooth, and Honda Sensing — a suite of safety features including adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping information. The air conditioning is automatic, and the steering wheel does not adjust for reach.
The EX adds a power liftgate, a larger 8-inch touchscreen, power-adjustable front seats, and a power steering wheel. It also includes a sunroof on some configurations. Both the LX and EX have the same seating capacity and cargo space. The jump from LX to EX is roughly $3,000 to $4,000 depending on your region and dealer, and most of that cost goes toward the power features and larger screen.
EX-L and Touring: Mid-range comfort and technology
The EX-L replaces cloth with leather on the front and second-row seats, adds a power sunroof as standard, and includes a 10.2-inch touchscreen with wireless phone charging. The second-row seats have power adjustment and heating. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and heated. The EX-L also adds a dual-zone automatic climate control, so the driver and front passenger can set different temperatures.
The Touring builds on the EX-L by adding a 12-speaker premium audio system (compared to an 8-speaker system on lower trims), adaptive dampers that adjust suspension stiffness based on road conditions, and a power-adjustable third-row seat. The Touring also includes a panoramic sunroof that extends further back than the standard sunroof. Heated second-row seats and a heated steering wheel come standard. The jump from EX-L to Touring is typically $2,500 to $3,500.
Elite: The fully equipped top trim
The Elite adds a head-up display that projects speed and navigation onto the windshield, so you do not have to look down at the dashboard. It includes Honda Sensing Elite, which adds semi-autonomous features like adaptive cruise control that can steer the vehicle within its lane and automatic lane changing on highways. The Elite also has a 16-speaker Bose audio system, ventilated front seats (which blow cool air through the leather to keep you from sweating), and a power-adjustable steering column.
The Elite is the only trim with a three-zone climate control system, meaning the third-row passengers can adjust their own temperature zone. It also includes a CabinTalk feature that lets the driver speak through the rear speakers to passengers without raising their voice. The Elite costs roughly $4,000 to $5,500 more than the Touring.
Seating, cargo, and third-row reality
All five trims seat eight passengers: two in front, three in the second row, and three in the third row. The second row has either a bench seat (LX and EX) or captain's chairs with a center console (EX-L, Touring, and Elite). Captain's chairs give each passenger their own armrest and cup holder but reduce flexibility if you need to fit a car seat or move between rows.
The third row is genuinely tight for adults on trips longer than an hour. It is designed for children or for occasional use by adults. Legroom is about 27 inches, which is less than most compact cars. If you regularly carry six or more adults, the Pilot is not the right vehicle. Cargo space behind the third row is 16 cubic feet; with the third row folded, it expands to 84 cubic feet.
Safety features across all trims
Honda Sensing comes standard on every 2024 Pilot trim. This includes adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping information, collision mitigation braking, and road departure mitigation. All trims have eight airbags, electronic stability control, and a backup camera. The LX through Touring all have the same core safety equipment.
The Elite adds Honda Sensing Elite, which includes adaptive cruise control that can steer within the lane, automatic lane changing, and low-speed following. These features use cameras and radar to monitor the road and surrounding vehicles. They are not fully autonomous — you must keep your hands on the wheel and remain attentive — but they reduce fatigue on long highway drives.
Fuel economy and engine performance
The 2024 Pilot gets 19 miles per gallon in the city and 27 on the highway with front-wheel drive, or 18 city and 26 highway with all-wheel drive. These numbers are the same across all five trims because the engine, transmission, and weight are identical. The only difference is that all-wheel drive adds roughly 200 pounds, which slightly reduces highway fuel economy.
The 3.5-liter V6 produces 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Acceleration and towing capacity (3,500 pounds) do not change between trims. If fuel economy or towing is important to your decision, the trim level does not matter — only the choice between front-wheel and all-wheel drive affects those numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get leather seats or a sunroof on the LX?
Leather is not available on the LX or EX as a standalone option. A sunroof is available on the EX as part of a package on some dealer inventory, but it is standard on the EX-L and higher. Check with your local dealer about what packages they have in stock, as availability varies by location and model year.
What is the difference between the Touring and Elite besides the head-up display?
The Elite adds Honda Sensing Elite (semi-autonomous driving features), a 16-speaker Bose audio system instead of a 12-speaker system, ventilated front seats, three-zone climate control, and a power-adjustable steering column. The Touring has a 12-speaker audio system, heated seats, and two-zone climate control. The head-up display is the most visible difference, but the semi-autonomous features are the most significant upgrade.
Is the third row usable for adults?
The third row works for children or for occasional short trips by adults. Legroom is about 27 inches, which is tight for anyone over six feet tall. If you regularly carry more than five adults, consider a larger vehicle like a full-size SUV or van instead.
Does the trim level affect how much the Pilot costs to insure?
Insurance premiums depend on the vehicle's value, repair costs, and safety features, so higher trims typically cost more to insure. The Elite, with its semi-autonomous features and more expensive components, may have a higher premium than the LX. Contact your insurance company for a quote on the specific trim you are considering.
Can I get all-wheel drive on every trim?
Yes, all-wheel drive is available on all five trims. It adds roughly $2,000 to the price and reduces highway fuel economy by about one mile per gallon. All-wheel drive is useful in snow, rain, or unpaved roads; front-wheel drive is sufficient for most drivers in dry climates.