---
title: "2019 Honda Pilot: The Midsize Crossover Touches Down for an Update"
description: "The Japanese automaker's largest SUV offering receives a mid-cycle refresh and new tech."
date: "2018-07-02"
modified: "2018-07-02"
authors:
  - name: "Basir Khan"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/basir-khan.md"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/21847/2019-honda-pilot-the-midsize-crossover-touches-down-for-an-update"
categories:
  - "Honda News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "honda"
  - "Pilot"
  - "SUV"
  - "suv/crossover"
---

# 2019 Honda Pilot: The Midsize Crossover Touches Down for an Update

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/06/2019_honda_pilot1.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

**Year Make Model:** Shopping for a new crossover? While there are lots of new compact options on the way from [Toyota](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/19695/behold-the-2019-toyota-rav4.md>) and [Subaru](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/19723/the-2019-subaru-forester-is-here-with-tons-of-room-and-tech.md>), Honda is enticing buyers looking for something bigger with the updated 2019 Honda Pilot.

**Topline:** The third generation Pilot, which was released in mid-2015 as a 2016 model year, has received a number of refinements to keep up with appearances.

**What's New:** On the outside, the Pilot's revised front fascia sports new headlights, bumper, and grille. Cabin changes include a new instrument cluster, restyled infotainment touch-screen display, which now uses a physical knob to adjust volume, as well as a new steering wheel. The refreshed people-carrier also gets lots of new technology features such as Qi wireless charging for mobile devices, in-car WiFi, and more. [Honda Sensing](<https://www.thedrive.com/tech/20068/honda-sensing-will-be-standard-on-all-hondas-in-2022.md>), an advanced suite of safety features, is now standard on the Pilot as well. What were once optional features offered by manufacturers are becoming standard to provide buyers with a peace of mind when it comes to their safety. Competition wise, the similar Toyota Safety Sense is standard on the 2018 Highlander.

**Quotable:** "The many upgrades reinforce Pilot's fundamental capabilities while augmenting the state-of-the-art technology and family-friendly character that has made it one of the most popular midsize three-row SUVs,” Honda said in a press release. “Pilot also remains one of the few models in the segment to offer eight-passenger seating."

**What You Need to Know:** Under the hood, the Pilot will retain its 3.5-liter V6 which is good for 280 horsepower. The mid-size SUV has been a heavy hitter for the carmaker, selling in the hundreds of thousands annually. First introduced in 2002, the three-row Honda replaced the less favorable [Passport](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/18097/honda-passport-rumored-to-be-revived-in-2019.md>). The 2019 Pilot will go on sale on July 16.

![message-editor%2F1530236010716-2019\_honda\_pilot\_interior.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1530236010716-2019_honda_pilot_interior.jpg>)
*2019 Honda Pilot, *Honda News**

### Author social links

## More

- [2023 Honda Pilot Review: A Great Road-Trip Mate for 8](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2023-honda-pilot-review-specs-price-options-impressions.md>)
- [2023 Honda Pilot First Drive Review: Family Hauler Extraordinaire](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2023-honda-pilot-review-first-drive-specs-price-options-suvs-new-cars.md>)
- [2019 Honda Passport: The Pilot Gets a More Rugged Little Brother](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25174/2019-honda-passport-the-pilot-gets-a-more-rugged-little-brother.md>)
- [2026 Honda Pilot First Drive Review: Understated Utility at Its Finest](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2026-honda-pilot-first-drive-review.md>)
- [2019 Honda Passport Elite First Drive Review: The Call of the Wild in a Family Crossover](<https://www.thedrive.com/new-cars/26167/2019-honda-passport-elite-first-drive-review-the-call-of-the-wild-in-a-family-crossover.md>)
- [2019 Honda HR-V: Hipper and Smarter](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/21849/2019-honda-hr-v-hippier-and-smarter.md>)
- [Honda’s Ready to Take on Grand Highlander With Super-Sized Pilot: TDS](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/hondas-ready-to-take-on-grand-highlander-with-super-sized-pilot-tds.md>)
- [2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport Review: A Great Grocery Getaway](<https://www.thedrive.com/car-reviews/2023-honda-pilot-trailsport-review-a-great-grocery-getaway.md>)