The Honda Pilot, redesigned in 2016 and continuing through the 2022 model year, along with its sibling the Honda Passport (introduced in 2019), has undergone rigorous safety testing. These models, while the Passport is slightly shorter with two rows instead of the Pilot’s three, share fundamental structural designs, meaning these safety ratings apply to both. This detailed analysis delves into the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) evaluations for the Honda Pilot 2020, providing a clear picture of its safety performance in various crash scenarios and preventative measures.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The driver-side small overlap front test simulates a collision where just the front corner of the vehicle impacts another vehicle or a stationary object. For the Honda Pilot, this test reveals crucial insights into driver protection.
Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/thigh | Good |
| Lower leg/foot | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
During the test, the Honda Pilot’s structure and safety cage held up well, earning a “Good” rating. Measurements taken on the crash test dummy indicated a low risk of injury to all critical body regions – head/neck, chest, hip/thigh, and lower leg/foot. The restraints and how the dummy moved during the crash also received a “Good” rating, indicating effective occupant protection in this challenging scenario.
The survival space for the driver was maintained effectively, as evidenced by the dummy’s position relative to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash. This is a critical factor in real-world accident survivability.
The frontal and side curtain airbags deployed correctly and worked in conjunction to shield the head from hitting hard structures or external objects, further minimizing potential head injuries.
The structural integrity of the driver’s space was maintained, contributing to a low risk of injuries to the legs and feet, according to the dummy readings.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap test mirrors the driver-side test but assesses the protection offered to the front passenger.
Rating: Acceptable
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Acceptable |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Acceptable |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/thigh | Good |
| Lower leg/foot | Acceptable |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Marginal |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Hip/thigh | Good |
| Lower leg/foot | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
While the structural performance and safety cage remained “Good,” the overall passenger-side evaluation was “Acceptable.” Passenger injury measures for the chest and hip/thigh were “Good,” but head/neck and lower leg/foot protection were rated “Acceptable.”
The passenger’s survival space was still well-maintained, similar to the driver’s side, indicating a robust structure.
A key concern in the passenger-side test was the performance of the frontal airbag. The dummy’s head slid off the airbag and hit the dashboard, contributing to the “Marginal” rating for passenger restraints and dummy kinematics and the “Acceptable” head/neck injury measure. The side curtain airbag still deployed effectively, offering side impact head protection.
Measurements indicated a moderate risk of injury to the right lower leg for the passenger in this scenario.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Test
The moderate overlap front crash test, a more traditional frontal impact assessment, evaluates vehicle safety when a significant portion of the front end collides with another vehicle or barrier.
Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Chest | Good |
| Leg/foot, left | Good |
| Leg/foot, right | Good |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good |
In the moderate overlap front test, the Honda Pilot 2020 achieved a “Good” overall rating. The structure and safety cage again demonstrated “Good” performance. All driver injury measures – head/neck, chest, and leg/foot (both left and right) – were rated “Good,” signifying excellent protection in this common type of frontal collision. Driver restraints and dummy kinematics also earned a “Good” rating.
Side Crash Test: Original Test
The original side crash test simulates a typical intersection collision where another vehicle impacts the side of the Honda Pilot.
Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good |
| Structure and safety cage | Good |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/leg | Good |
| Driver head protection | Good |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis/leg | Good |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good |
The Honda Pilot 2020 performed admirably in the original side crash test, achieving a “Good” overall rating. Both driver and rear passenger injury measures for head/neck, torso, and pelvis/leg were rated “Good.” Head protection for both front and rear occupants was also rated “Good,” indicating comprehensive side impact safety.
Side Crash Test: Updated Test
An updated, more stringent side crash test was introduced, using a heavier barrier and higher impact speed to better represent severe side-impact scenarios, particularly involving larger vehicles.
Rating: Marginal
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Marginal |
| Structure and safety cage | Marginal |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Torso | Good |
| Pelvis | Marginal |
| Driver head protection | Good |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good |
| Torso | Marginal |
| Pelvis | Good |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good |
In this more challenging updated side crash test, the Honda Pilot 2020 received an overall “Marginal” rating. While driver and rear passenger head/neck injury measures and driver head protection remained “Good,” torso protection for both driver and rear passenger, as well as driver pelvis protection, were rated “Marginal.” The structure and safety cage also received a “Marginal” rating in this updated test, indicating areas for potential improvement in severe side impacts.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses the structural integrity of the roof in a rollover accident.
Rating: Good
| Overall evaluation | Good |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,219 lbs |
| Peak force | 22,025 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.22 |
The Honda Pilot 2020 demonstrated “Good” roof strength, with a strength-to-weight ratio of 5.22. This signifies that the roof can withstand over five times the vehicle’s weight before significant crushing, offering good protection in rollover scenarios.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection in rear-end collisions is evaluated through dynamic tests and seat geometry measurements.
Rating: Good
| Overall evaluation | Good |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good |
The Honda Pilot 2020’s seats and head restraints earned a “Good” rating for whiplash protection. Both the dynamic performance during simulated rear impacts and the geometric design of the seats and headrests were deemed effective.
Headlights
Headlight performance is crucial for nighttime visibility and accident prevention. The Honda Pilot 2020 has two different headlight systems depending on the trim level.
LED Reflector Headlights (Touring, Elite, Black Edition trims): Rating: Good
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| High-beam headlight type | LED reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | Good |
The LED reflector headlights available on higher trims received a “Good” overall rating. They provided good visibility on straightaways and most curves with both low and high beams, and feature high-beam assist.
LED Projector/Halogen Reflector Headlights (LX, EX, EX-L trims): Rating: Acceptable
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Low-beam headlight type | LED projector |
| High-beam headlight type | Halogen reflector |
| Curve-adaptive? | No |
| High-beam assist? | Yes |
| Overall rating | Acceptable |
The LED projector low beams and halogen reflector high beams found on lower trims earned an “Acceptable” rating. While offering good straightaway visibility, performance on curves was more varied, and the low beams produced some glare. High-beam assist is also included in this system.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Forward collision prevention systems are tested for their ability to avoid or mitigate collisions with other vehicles.
Rating: Advanced (for 2019-22 models)
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
The Honda Pilot 2020’s standard Collision Mitigation Braking System earned an “Advanced” rating in vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. It avoided a collision in the 12 mph test and significantly reduced impact speed in the 25 mph test. However, the system does not meet the requirements for a forward collision warning.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian crash prevention systems are increasingly important for urban safety.
Rating: No Credit (for 2019-22 models)
| Overall evaluation | No Credit |
The Honda Pilot 2020’s pedestrian front crash prevention system received “No Credit.” It failed to slow down in tests involving both child and adult crossing scenarios and only provided minimal speed reduction in the parallel adult scenario.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Ease of use of LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) systems for child seat installation is evaluated.
Rating: Acceptable
| Overall evaluation | Acceptable |
|---|---|
| Vehicle trim | EX |
| Seat type | cloth |
The LATCH system in the Honda Pilot 2020 was rated “Acceptable.” While providing a sufficient number of LATCH positions, some lower anchors were not the easiest to maneuver around, and some tether anchors were difficult to locate or had confusing surrounding hardware.
Conclusion
The Honda Pilot 2020 demonstrates a strong overall safety performance, particularly in frontal and side crash scenarios based on original testing. It earns “Good” ratings in several key evaluations, including driver-side small overlap front, moderate overlap front, original side crash, roof strength, and head restraints & seats. However, the “Acceptable” rating in passenger-side small overlap and the “Marginal” rating in the updated side crash test indicate areas where safety could be improved. Headlight ratings vary by trim, with higher trims offering “Good” LED reflector headlights while lower trims have “Acceptable” LED projector/halogen reflector systems. Vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention is “Advanced,” but pedestrian front crash prevention receives “No Credit.” The LATCH system is rated “Acceptable” for ease of use.
For families prioritizing safety, the Honda Pilot 2020 remains a generally safe choice, but it’s important to consider the nuances of each safety evaluation and the specific needs of occupants, especially concerning side impact protection and pedestrian safety features. Prospective buyers should weigh these safety ratings alongside other factors when making their vehicle purchasing decision.
