Honda Pilot: The Best 3-Row SUV According to Consumer Reports
Serena Aburahma
· 3 min read
There are a lot of options out there these days for anyone interested in purchasing a new SUV. After all, SUVs are steadily replacing sedans as the biggest money-makers for car manufacturers.
The 2021
Honda
Pilot is a prime SUV candidate boasting not only space but comfortability. This sport utility vehicle was recently deemed the best midsize 3-row SUV by Consumer Reports
. 
What does the Honda Pilot offer the consumer?
Consumer Reports gives the Honda Pilot high marks in a number of areas, particularly noting its versatile interior, smooth engine, and comfortability.
The 2021 Pilot also comes with some important standard safety features.
Consumer Reports specifically singles out its forward-collision warning system, which automatically calculates the chances of a collision with a vehicle in front and alerts the driver to brake if necessary.
Consumer Reports also applauds the Pilot's automatic emergency braking, which reduces speed to lessen the impact of a collision if one is deemed unavoidable.
The vehicle's main drawbacks, according to Consumer Reports, are its handling and some controls, including the push-button gear selector. It also scores pretty low on fuel economy, offering just 20 mpg overall.
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The Honda Pilot's third row is hard to beat
MORE: Don't Overlook a Certified Pre-Owned 2018 Honda Pilot
It's clear that the Pilot has a lot going for it, despite the few drawbacks mentioned.
But where it really stands out from the crowd is in the comfort of its third-row seats. In fact, Consumer Reports rates its rear seat comfort a 5 out of 5, and rates it the best midsize SUV for anyone who’s looking for these features.
To determine the best rear seating in a vehicle, Consumer Reports considered access, comfort, and seating capacity. All the recommended vehicles also score high on reliability and safety features, including crash test ratings.
Consumer Reports particularly praises the Pilot's third row for its easy-to-use, one-button release that slides the second row out of the way to create easy access to the third row. It's also possible to slide the third row forward to create more legroom for those in the back.
How does the competition stack up?
While the Honda Pilot came out on top in Consumer Reports' rankings of third rows in midsize SUVs, several other vehicles in the same category received recommendations from the organization as well, including the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Highlander.
The Kia Telluride outscores the Pilot in key categories such as braking, emergency handling, and noise. The Hyundai Palisade, meanwhile, slightly outscores the Pilot on fuel economy.
The Toyota Highlander also scores better than the Pilot in the overall categories of driver experience and comfort.
Nevertheless, the Pilot's impressive third-row engineering shouldn't be overlooked by anyone looking for some extra space in their ride.
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