The three-row SUV segment is as hot as ever, so you have to bring some heat to be competitive. Honda’s midsize original Pilot debuted for the 2003 model year and is now in its fourth generation. My last go in a new Pilot was in March of last year in the middle-of-the-range Trailsport trim. This time around, Honda tossed me the keys to a range-topping Black Edition, which is new for 2025. Let’s see how it got on with daily driver duties.

2025 Honda Pilot Overview

Some things have changed since 2023 beyond just adding a new trim level. Pilot ownership has gotten quite a bit more expensive, especially at the entry level. Pricing for the base Sport was $35,950 for 2023. As you can see below, the starting price has increased to $39,900. The increases are less dramatic for the other trim levels; the Elite is about $700 more, while some other trims are a bit over $1,000 more since 2023.

Our tester is the top-spec Black Edition, which starts at $54,280. The Radiant Red Metallic II paint color will add $455, and like other Pilot trim levels, there are a handful of option packages to choose from. The Function Package includes a cargo cover, some door sill protection film, and a rear bumper applique for $480. You can also get the HPD and HPD+ Packages ($2,000 and $2,550 respectively) that add a host of trim and wheel upgrades. Finally, there is a $305 towing package to make use of the Pilot’s 5,000-pound max towing capacity.

2025 Honda Pilot AWD Black Edition Inside & Out

The 2025 Pilot looks pretty solid in Black Edition trim. In some previous iterations, the Black Edition still had some chrome bits here and there. Aside from the Honda badge and some bright exhaust tips, this one has a consistent trim style across the exterior. The Pilot isn’t a standout with regard to exterior styling, but it’s handsome and not at all overdone.

The front end has the familiar Honda family look, with thin headlights, a tasteful grille, and some intake-looking bits at the bottom. The side profile and rear profiles are a bit anonymous-looking but also didn’t get an unnecessary level of attention from the designer’s pen. Some competitors like Hyundai are going a bit more dramatic and unique with designs like the new retro-boxy Santa Fe. However, Honda will likely appeal to the masses with the overall shape and design of the Pilot.

The inside is also pretty prototypical of Honda, with the same general shape and layout as most other models. The upgraded nine-inch screen (up from the standard seven-inch in the Sport trim) looks pretty tiny in the nicely sized interior. I’m not necessarily a fan of the huge screens on every new car, but the Pilot might have benefited from the latest Accord’s 12.3-inch screen.

It all works well, though. I quickly paired my phone to the wireless CarPlay, and there was a nice little spot to charge it, which is also wireless. Voice-to-text, which I use for all my notes, worked, but it didn’t want to return to my song on Spotify after it ended. Then, I couldn’t get Spotify to begin playing again for some reason. There were also some instances where the wireless charger would only charge when my phone was unlocked. A great feature is that the vehicle automatically turns down the air-conditioning fan when trying to do voice-to-text.

The interior is spacious and comfortable. The second row has plenty of space (a max of 40.8 inches), and the rear cargo space with the third row in place is a decent 18.6 cubic feet. Some competitors have more, but the Pilot will do what you need it to do as long as you don’t have an Elon Musk level of offspring.

Driving

Like most big Hondas, you get V6 power from a 3.5L engine. This one has 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, which routes power through a 10-speed automatic and all-wheel-drive. It doesn’t feel like it has a ton of power out on the road, but it has relatively effortless acceleration when passing. It’s also quiet and comfortable on the highway, but if you put it in Sport mode, it sounds pretty aggressive.

It does an admirable job keeping the air conditioning on during the stop-start activation, the same can’t be said for some other cars I have tested recently. Odd observation, but the steering wheel is huge. If that matters.

Summary

After a week in the new Pilot, my only real issue is that it is just a little anonymous. At one point, I actually kind of forgot what I was driving, mistaking it for my partner’s Subaru Ascent. The 2025 Honda Pilot Black Edition looks good, it’s comfortable, and it’s reasonably equipped. Lower trim levels in the Pilot lineup may deliver what you’re looking for at a lower price point.