Honda Pilot Ground Clearance

The Honda Pilot’s ground clearance has shrunk over the years, but by how much? To learn more and find out what your Honda Pilot’s ground clearance is, click here.
Written by Cassandra Hamilton
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
background
The 2022 Honda Pilot offers the same ground clearance no matter what trim you choose: 7.3 inches. This is lower than what was offered in previous model years.
You can’t talk about family-friendly SUVs without mentioning the Honda Pilot. This crossover was designed to give anyone looking for a third row of seating an alternative to a dorky minivan. Since you’re looking at an SUV, you’re probably already thinking about seating and cargo capacity, but did you consider ground clearance in your decision? 
If the ground clearance of your Honda Pilot is something you want to learn more about, we've created a guide to all things ground clearance.
Are you overpaying for your car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms
No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms · No fees
icon4.717k Ratings
5M+Drivers Joined
7M+Cars Garaged

2022 Honda Pilot ground clearance

The ground clearance on a 2022 Honda Pilot is 7.3 inches. This is a big change from previous model years, where ground clearance sometimes varied between trims and always offered more clearance than it does now.
The 2022 Honda Pilot offers the same ground clearance no matter what trim you buy. That’s good news if you’re looking for lift on a budget, but not so great if you were hoping a higher trim would get you more off-road capabilities. 

Honda Pilot ground clearance over the years

What was the Honda Pilot’s ground clearance previously? Has it really shrunk that much? 
Here’s a list of what the ground clearance on previous model years looked like in the Honda Pilot:
  • 2003-2005: 8.0 inches
  • 2006-2008: 7.8 inches for 2WD; 8.0 inches for 4WD
  • 2009-2015: 8.0 inches
  • 2016-present: 7.3 inches
The exact clearance of your Honda Pilot will depend on its drivetrain and model year. A 2006 Honda Pilot with 2WD is going to be a little shorter than a 2010 Honda Pilot, but both would be taller than a 2017 Honda Pilot. 

What is ground clearance—and why does it matter?

Should ground clearance be something you take into account when purchasing an SUV though? Does it affect how you’ll be driving your vehicle? Ground clearance is the measurement of the space between the ground and the lowest point of a vehicle’s chassis—basically, it’s the distance between your car and the ground
If you ever encounter a grassy field or other off-road challenges, you’ll want to know your ground clearance—if you have more ground clearance, you can drive confidently and safely over rough terrain. The chance of damaging your vehicle’s undercarriage due to an uneven driving surface is much lower with a higher ground clearance. If you plan to go off-road in your vehicle, you should have at least 8.5 inches of clearance
All this to say that it’s probably not a good idea to take your Honda Pilot off the road, no matter what year or drivetrain it has.
MORE: Honda Pilot: the best three-row SUV according to consumer reports
rating reverse-full
"I’m earning
awesome rewards
every week, just for driving safe!”

Is the Honda Pilot a good off-road vehicle?

If you’re looking for an SUV with three rows of seating, ample cargo space, and excellent handling, the Honda Pilot should be your first choice. It even has top-notch safety features to keep you and your family protected on the road. 
But if you’re more of a rugged and outdoorsy type, you should look elsewhere for a vehicle with higher ground clearance. Some good alternatives to the Honda Pilot are the
Subaru Ascent
(8.7 inches) and the
Mazda CX-9
(8.8 inches).
If you’re not planning to take your Honda Pilot off-road, though, it’s a great option for anyone looking for a crossover that’s fit for the whole family! 

Guard against accidents with the best Pilot insurance

Just because you’re not going off-road in your Honda Pilot doesn’t mean you won’t encounter a situation where you need great car insurance. If you’re not so thrilled with your current policy, or are just curious if you could be saving money, download the
Jerry
app and find cheap
car insurance
quotes in less than two minutes
Jerry is a legitimate insurance broker who’s partnered with over 55 insurance companies across the nation. Thanks to Jerry’s vast network, the app gives you access to more quotes than you’ll know what to do with. That’s why Jerry sorts through them all and only shows you the quotes that will save you money. 
Jerry also frees you from endless paperwork and long phone calls to insurance companies. Everything happens in the app, and when it’s all over, you’ll be saving an average of $800 a year or more on your car insurance!
Jerry
is my new best friend. It was a smooth transaction, and I got the insurance I need to finally purchase my new car!” —JP.
icon
Make safe driving pay
Get rewarded for safe driving. Earn points and unlock benefits. Totally free.
Start earning now
Are you overpaying for car insurance?
Compare quotes and find out in 45 seconds.
Try Jerry

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

√
No long forms
√
No spam or unwanted phone calls
√
Quotes from top insurance companies
Find insurance savings