- for 2021, the honda pilot now comes standard with a nine-speed automatic transmission.
- the pilot also gains a new special edition (se) trim level that will slot in between the ex and touring trims.
- the 2021 pilot is now available in honda dealerships.
until now, honda pilot buyers had to opt up to the touring or elite trim levels to get the excellent nine-speed automatic transmission; the lower trims had a six-speed. not anymore; for 2021, a nine-speed automatic now comes standard across the pilot lineup, beginning with the $33,370 entry-level lx. that starting price is a $600 jump from the outgoing model year.
paddle shifters, dual-zone climate control, and a stop-start system have also been made standard for 2021. this coming year, the pilot also sees the addition of a special edition (se) trim between the ex and touring trim levels, which starts at $40,080. the se builds on the ex and includes black 20-inch wheels, a foot-activated power tailgate, and a wireless charger. the price of adding all-wheel drive to any of the trims has increased by $100 to $2000.
across the rest of the trims, price increases vary from around $300 to $500, as honda didn’t make any major changes to the suv. the v-6 engine, which generates 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, remains on the pilot.
the 2021 pilot is available now at dealers.