2021 Honda Pilot

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

2021 Honda Pilot 4-door SUV
2019 Honda Pilot shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system
Advanced
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
No Credit

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Honda Pilot EX 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2016 model year, and the Honda Passport was introduced in the 2019 model year. The Passport is derived from the Pilot, but it has a slightly shorter overall length and only two rows of seats instead of three. Ratings apply to both the Pilot and Passport.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1521
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Footrest (cm) 8
Left toepan (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 5
Parking brake (cm) 10
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 3
Upper dash (cm) 4
Lower instrument panel (cm) 4

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1521
Head
HIC-15 243
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.30
Chest maximum compression (mm) 24
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 3
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.41
Right 0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 1.5
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 80
Right 62

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Honda Pilot EX 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2016 model year, and the Honda Passport was introduced in the 2019 model year. The Passport is derived from the Pilot, but it has a slightly shorter overall length and only two rows of seats instead of three. Ratings apply to both the Pilot and Passport.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the right side, allowing the head to move far enough forward to hit the dashboard. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger’s survival space was maintained well.

The dummy’s head slid off the right side of the frontal airbag and moved far enough forward to hit the dashboard hard.

Forces on the right lower leg were high enough to indicate a moderate risk of injury.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CEP1808
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 5
Footrest (cm) 11
Right toepan (cm) 7
Center toepan (cm) 4
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 3
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 5
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 4
Upper dash (cm) 6
Right lower dash (cm) 5

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CEP1808
Head
HIC-15 444
Peak gs at hard contact 77
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 17
Maximum Nij 0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm) 16
Femur (kN)
Left 0.7
Right 2.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 4
Right 8
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.35
Right 0.85
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 1.4
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 87
Right 30

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEP1808
Head
HIC-15 65
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 10
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.47
Right 0.18
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.3
Right 0.7
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 53
Right 56

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Honda. The ratings also apply to the Honda Passport, introduced in the 2019 model year. The Passport is derived from the Pilot, but it has a slightly shorter overall length and only two rows of seats instead of three.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1501
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 2
Left (cm) 3
Center (cm) 3
Right (cm) 4
Brake pedal (cm) 9
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1
Rearward (cm) -5
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1501
Head
HIC-15 145
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.9
Extension bending moment (Nm) 46
Maximum Nij 0.24
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.2
Femur force - right (kN) 0.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.46
Maximum tibia index - right 0.48
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.4
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 1.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 61
Right 97

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Honda Pilot Touring 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2016 model year. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Honda. The ratings also apply to the Honda Passport, introduced in the 2019 model year. The Passport is derived from the Pilot, but it has a slightly shorter overall length and only two rows of seats instead of three.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1501
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -17.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1501
Head HIC-15 147
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.7
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 28
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 26
Average deflection (mm) 23
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.27
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.25
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 2.8
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.9
Combined force (kN) 3.3
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 37
A-P moment (Nm) -22

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1501
Head HIC-15 122
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 34
Lateral force (kN) 2.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38
Average deflection (mm) 29
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.62
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.61
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.7
Combined force (kN) 1.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 1.1
L-M moment (Nm) 111
A-P moment (Nm) 19

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Honda Pilot EX-L 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2016 model year. The ratings also apply to the Honda Passport, introduced in the 2019 model year. The Passport is derived from the Pilot, but it has a slightly shorter overall length and only two rows of seats instead of three.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2205
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -12.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2205
Head
HIC-15 206
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.5
Compression (kN) 0.0
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 17
Lateral force (kN) 0.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.41
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.42
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 6.0

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2205
Head
HIC-15 206
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 24
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 52
Average deflection (mm) 35
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 5.33
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.86
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.4

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Honda Pilot EX 4-door 2wd

Curb weight from 2016 Honda Pilot EX 4-door 4wd. Rating applies to the Honda Pilot and the structurally similar Honda Passport.

Overall evaluation
Curb weight4,219 lbs
Peak force22,025 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.22

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 50
Distance below top of head (mm) 35
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 13.0
Head contact time (ms) 67
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 0
Max neck tension (N) 470

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Touring trim
  • Elite trim
  • Black Edition trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp right curve, fair on the sharp left and gradual right curves, and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right and gradual left curves and fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and all 4 curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • Touring trim
  • Elite trim
  • Black Edition trim
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2019-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 93.9 m None
Straightaway left edge 51.2 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 58.9 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 50.4 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 56.1 m None
150m radius left curve, right edge 49.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 163.8 m
Straightaway left edge 141.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 77.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 75.9 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 63.4 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 60.2 m

Trim level(s)

  • EX-L trim
  • Special Edition trim
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Some glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the sharp right and sharp left curves, and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve and fair on the sharp right and both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • EX-L trim
  • Special Edition trim
Low-beam headlight type LED projector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2016-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 105.8 m 2.7%
Straightaway left edge 55.1 m 2.7%
250m radius right curve, right edge 65.5 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 53.8 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 52.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 50.3 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 167.9 m
Straightaway left edge 125.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 75.6 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 71.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 58.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 58.3 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Standard Collision Mitigation Braking System

Package name

  • Standard Honda Sensing Package

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2019-22 models

Advanced
Advanced
  • This system does not meet the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 12 mph.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Collision Mitigation Braking System

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2019-22 models

No Credit
No Credit

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle failed to slow.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 12 mph.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 2 mph. A warning was issued 0.4 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimEX
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 4 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 2 additional seating positions with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimEX
Seat type cloth
1 2 3 6 4 5
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
difficult to maneuver around anchors
3
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
4
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
5
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
6
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 17
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 70
Tether anchor
Location Bottom seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 17
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 15
Clearance angle (degrees) 48
Tether anchor
Location Bottom seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 16
Clearance angle (degrees) 71
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 20
Clearance angle (degrees) 73
Tether anchor
Location Bottom seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 31

6

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 32

5

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 33

4

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 26
Clearance angle (degrees) 75
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 23
Clearance angle (degrees) 74
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation