This week offers a drive in the 2025 Honda Pilot Trailsport, Honda’s most off-road focused SUV to date. Since its debut in 2023, the TrailSport trim of the three-row Pilot continues to impress with its enhanced capabilities, increased ground clearance, and a comfortable, adventure-ready interior. Positioned as the third of six Pilot trims, the TrailSport distinguishes itself through specialized equipment designed for both on and off-road excursions.
Rugged Exterior Design
The Honda Pilot underwent a significant redesign in 2023, evolving into a larger, more athletic, and decidedly rugged-looking SUV. This transformation has been widely praised, and the 2025 model year reinforces this robust aesthetic.
The test model, finished in Diffused Sky Blue Pearl, is complemented by exclusive 18-inch Shark Gray Alloy wheels featuring the TrailSport logo and black lug nuts, all wrapped in all-season tires. The TrailSport stands alone in the Pilot lineup by including standard underbody skid plates and prominent front and rear recovery points, emphasizing its off-road intentions. Distinctive orange TrailSport badging is displayed on the front grille and tailgate, further highlighting its special status.
Additional exterior features specific to the TrailSport include gloss black, power-folding, and heated side mirrors, body-colored door handles, gloss black roof rails, heated windshield wipers, and noise-reducing acoustic laminate windshield glass.
Across the entire 2025 Honda Pilot range, LED lighting is standard, encompassing the headlights, daytime running lights, fog lights, as well as the taillights and brake lights. A body-colored roofline spoiler adds a final touch to the vehicle’s streamlined appearance.
Powertrain and Performance
Powering the 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport is a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine provides ample power for the SUV, which weighs in at over 4,500 pounds, ensuring confident performance in various driving conditions. The engine incorporates an idle stop/start system for efficiency and is paired with a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission featuring shift-by-wire technology and paddle shifters for a more engaging driving experience.
The Pilot TrailSport offers seven distinct drive modes: Normal, ECON, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand. Remote engine start is accessible via the key fob for added convenience. Critically, the TrailSport comes standard with all-wheel drive and is the exclusive Pilot trim to feature Trail Torque Logic, enhancing its off-road prowess by intelligently managing torque distribution.
Interior Comfort and Technology
Inside, the Honda Pilot TrailSport earns high marks for its comfortable and well-designed interior. TrailSport exclusive synthetic leather seats are both stylish and durable, built to withstand the rigors of outdoor adventures. All-season floor mats, also featuring the TrailSport logo, add to the interior’s rugged appeal and practicality.
Unique orange stitching on the seats, steering wheel, and trim pieces provides a sporty accent to the cabin. The driver’s seat offers 10-way power adjustability and is designed for exceptional comfort, complemented by equally comfortable headrests. The front passenger seat is four-way power adjustable. Heated front seats are standard across all Pilot trims. The leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel is another premium touch. Behind the steering wheel is a partially digital instrument panel featuring a 7-inch digital screen displaying key vehicle information, graphics, and speed limit sign recognition, alongside a traditional analog speedometer.
The infotainment system is anchored by a 9-inch multimedia screen (a larger 10.2-inch screen is available on higher trims). It supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, HD Radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. Honda’s navigation system, which includes lane guidance, is user-friendly. The screen also integrates TrailWatch, Honda’s camera system designed to aid in off-road driving, a feature also found on the top-tier Pilot trims.
The center stack features traditional physical controls for the air conditioning system. Below, a large center console houses controls for drive mode selection, the electronic parking brake, automatic stop/start, automatic brake hold, and the push-button shift-by-wire gear selector. A conveniently placed vertical wireless charging pad is also included.
The TrailSport model is equipped with second-row reclining captain’s chairs. While comfortable and well-cushioned, they are slightly smaller to accommodate a pass-through to the third row. The armrests in the second row are noted to be positioned somewhat high.
The durable synthetic leather upholstery throughout the cabin contributes to a premium feel. The substantial door handles add a touch of quality, and the inclusion of a one-touch panoramic sunroof enhances the sense of spaciousness.
The third row of the Pilot TrailSport is genuinely adult-sized, offering practical features like USB-C ports and multiple cupholders. Accessing the third row is made easy with a pass-through from the second-row captain’s chairs, or via a power button on the second-row seat for simpler egress.
Family-friendly features include the CabinTalk in-car PA system, manual second-row window sunshades, and USB-C ports in all three rows, catering to the needs of modern families. Standard features also include tri-zone climate control, a nine-speaker sound system, a lockable glove compartment, and a wireless phone charger.
Utility and Cargo
The Honda Pilot excels in utility. A power tailgate provides access to a generous cargo area even with the third-row seats in use. The cargo space is thoughtfully designed with a reversible, dual-level cargo floor, four tie-down anchors, and cargo area bag hooks. Folding down the third-row seats is easily accomplished using straps located on the seatbacks, creating a larger, flat cargo floor.
Notably, the TrailSport trim is the only Pilot model to come standard with an integrated Class III trailer hitch, further enhancing its utility and readiness for adventure.
Ride, Handling, and Off-Road Capability
The 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport proves to be a comfortable and capable daily driver with well-tuned on-road dynamics and impressive handling. The off-road tuned suspension excels in varied terrains. The ride quality is also commendably quiet, even at highway speeds. Despite its size, the Pilot TrailSport exhibits surprising acceleration and maneuverability.
A key differentiator for the TrailSport is its increased ground clearance, measuring 8.3 inches compared to 7.3 inches for other Pilot trims. This additional inch is crucial for off-road driving and navigating uneven terrain.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Honda Sensing, a comprehensive suite of safety and driver-assistance technologies, is standard on the 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport. This includes Adaptive Cruise Control with low-speed follow, Collision Mitigation Braking, Lane Keeping Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Traffic Sign Recognition, Driver Attention Monitor, Blind Spot Information System, and Cross Traffic Monitor, as well as Road Departure Mitigation. Rear Seat Reminder and Seat Belt Reminder systems, along with a rearview camera, are standard across the Pilot lineup.
The TrailSport trim further benefits from standard front and rear parking sensors and low-speed braking control, adding extra layers of safety and convenience.
Options, Pricing, and Value
The Diffused Sky Pearl Blue paint option adds $455 to the vehicle’s price. Using Honda’s online configurator, the MSRP for the 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport as tested comes to approximately $51,000.
Verdict: A Capable and Comfortable Adventure SUV
The 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport once again impresses with its well-appointed interior, comfortable ride, capable handling, and genuine off-road enhancements. It offers exceptional equipment for its price point, making it a compelling choice in the three-row SUV segment. The TrailSport is not just about rugged aesthetics; it delivers genuine capability to back up its adventurous appearance, making it a truly versatile and recommendable SUV for families and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Pros:
- Comfortable and durable interior
- Strong V6 engine with ample power
- Smooth ride and capable handling
- Enhanced off-road features and ground clearance
- Comprehensive suite of safety features
Cons:
- 9-inch infotainment screen smaller than some competitors (larger screen available on higher trims)
- Second-row armrest height may be less comfortable for some
2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport Specifications (As Equipped):
- Base MSRP: $49,110
- MSRP as Equipped: $50,950
- Color: Diffused Sky Blue Pearl ($455)
- Fuel Economy: 18 city/23 highway/20 combined mpg
- Odometer Reading at Test: 137 miles
- Curb Weight: 4,685 pounds
- Spare Tire: Full-size spare
- Dimensions (L/W/H): 200.2″ / 78.5″ / 72″
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 18.5 gallons
- Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
- Warranty: 3-year/36,000-mile Basic Warranty; 2-year/24,000-mile complimentary maintenance
- Final Assembly Location: Lincoln, Alabama
- Manufacturer Website: Honda
In a Few Words: The 2025 Honda Pilot TrailSport: A genuinely enjoyable and capable SUV with a comfortable interior that’s easy to love.
