“The rear windshield wiper auto working when backing up in the rainy day. Smooth and quiet on highway The system helps to keep the vehicle in the lane while driving Auto correcting side view mirrors for driver 1 or 2”
2016 Honda Pilot: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The biggest change for 2016 is a full redesign that launches the third-generation Honda Pilot. It has a smoother shape, a stronger V6, a roomier and more flexible cabin, and more modern technology than the 2015 model.
About the 2016 Honda Pilot
3rd generation Pilot (2016-2022), first year of the redesign.
Honda positions the Pilot as a modern family SUV: a three-row vehicle that blends minivan-like passenger and cargo usefulness with SUV styling, available all-wheel drive, and stronger towing and foul-weather confidence. The key appeal is everyday family duty without giving up road-trip comfort or a more upscale feel. In this generation, Honda leans hard into roomy seating for up to eight, flexible cargo space, family-friendly technology, and a quieter, more premium cabin than the older Pilot.
The 2016 Pilot lineup ranges from the straightforward eight-seat LX to the new seven-seat Elite, which has standard all-wheel drive, second-row captain’s chairs, a panoramic roof, and ventilated front seats. EX is the practical middle ground with remote start and an 8-inch touchscreen, while EX-L adds leather, heated front seats, and easier third-row access. Touring focuses on family road trips with navigation, Blu-ray rear entertainment, parking sensors, and the Honda Sensing safety suite.
What changed, by category
Powertrain
A new direct-injected 3.5-liter V6 raises output from 250 to 280 horsepower. LX moves from a 5-speed to a 6-speed automatic, the EX and EX-L also use the 6-speed, and Touring gets a 9-speed automatic.
Styling
The Pilot gets a complete exterior and interior redesign, replacing the boxier look with a smoother, more car-like shape and a more premium cabin.
Safety
A multi-angle rearview camera becomes standard across the lineup. The Honda Sensing driver-assistance suite appears on mid-level versions and is standard on Touring and the new Elite; Elite also adds blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic monitoring.
Tech
Push-button start becomes standard on every trim. Remote start becomes standard on EX, EX-L, and Touring, while EX gains an 8-inch touchscreen and Touring adds Blu-ray rear entertainment.
Structural
The third-generation redesign brings a roomier, more flexible passenger compartment and revised cargo packaging. A new Elite trim joins the top of the range, while the previous SE trim is dropped.
2016 Honda Pilot specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | V6, i-VTEC, 3.5 Liter | V6, i-VTEC, 3.5 Liter | V6, i-VTEC, 3.5 Liter | V6, i-VTEC, 3.5 Liter | V6, i-VTEC, 3.5 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 6-Spd | Automatic, 9-Spd | Automatic, 9-Spd |
| Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD | AWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | 19 mpg | 20 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | 27 mpg | 26 mpg | 27 mpg |
| Horsepower | 280 hp | 280 hp | 280 hp | 280 hp | 280 hp |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft | 262 lb-ft |
| Max Towing | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb | 5000 lb |
| Trunk/Cargo | 83.8 cu-ft | 83.9 cu-ft | 83.8 cu-ft | 82.1 cu-ft | 83.8 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 31.9 in | 31.9 in | 31.9 in | 31.9 in | 31.9 in |
| Seats | 8 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 8 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||||
| Alarm System | |||||
| Automatic Emergency Braking | |||||
| Automatic High Beams | |||||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||||
| Front & Rear Parking Sensors | |||||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||||
| Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers | |||||
| Rear Parking Sensors | |||||
| Alloy Wheels | |||||
| Fog Lights | |||||
| Heated Mirrors | |||||
| LED Daytime Running Lights | |||||
| LED Headlights | |||||
| Memory Exterior Mirrors | |||||
| Power Moonroof | |||||
| Panorama Moon Roof | |||||
| Power Liftgate/Trunk Release | |||||
| Roof Rails | |||||
| Bluetooth | |||||
| Front DVD Entertainment System | |||||
| Navigation System | |||||
| Premium Audio | |||||
| Rear DVD Entertainment System | |||||
| Satellite Radio | |||||
| USB Ports | |||||
| 115V Power Outlet | |||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | |||||
| Dual Power Front Seats | |||||
| Heated Front Seats | |||||
| Heated Rear Seats | |||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | |||||
| Integrated Garage Door Opener | |||||
| Interior Ambient Lighting | |||||
| Leather Seats | |||||
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | |||||
| Memory Driver's Seat | |||||
| Power Driver Seat | |||||
| Proximity Keyless Entry | |||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | |||||
| Rear Window Shades | |||||
| Remote Start | |||||
| Tri-Zone Automatic Air Conditioning | |||||
| Ventilated Front Seats | |||||
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Honda Pilot a full redesign?
Yes. The 2016 Honda Pilot is the first year of the third generation, with a new body, a redesigned cabin, a stronger V6, new transmissions, and updated family and safety technology.
What engine and transmissions does the 2016 Honda Pilot have?
Every 2016 Pilot has a 280-horsepower, direct-injected 3.5-liter V6. LX, EX, and EX-L use a 6-speed automatic, while Touring uses a 9-speed automatic.
Does the 2016 Honda Pilot have Honda Sensing?
Some 2016 Pilots have Honda Sensing, but it is not standard on every trim. The driver-assistance safety suite was offered on mid-level versions and came standard on Touring and Elite, so equipment should be checked on the individual vehicle.
What is different about the new 2016 Pilot Elite?
The 2016 Pilot Elite is the new top trim and seats seven instead of eight because it uses second-row captain’s chairs. It also has standard all-wheel drive, a panoramic roof, LED headlights, ventilated front seats, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic monitoring.
Is the 2016 Honda Pilot a major change from the 2015 model?
Yes. The 2016 Pilot is a much larger update than a routine equipment change because it begins a new generation, raises V6 output from 250 to 280 horsepower, modernizes the cabin, and adds new technology and safety features.
2016 Honda Pilot Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2016 Honda Pilot.
4.2
2016 Honda Pilot
(677 reviews)
“My pilot is the perfect car for my family. Big interior, easy to drive, handles well, great fuel economy and dependable.”
“I like that my 2016 has AWD and sunroof. There is tear in the leather on the back seat that apparently cannot be repaired and I hate that. The battery died within 6 months and the air conditioning just went out. The engine sounds like a helicopter and I've taken it 2 mechanics and all they can say is that nothing is broken. I've always driven Hondas, but I'm not keeping this one.”
Sources
- automobiles.honda.com — Home / 2016 / Pilot
- global.honda — Newsroom / News / 2015
- automobiles.honda.com — Pilot / Pilot Brochures / Pilot 2016 Brochure
- automobiles.honda.com — Pilot / Shop / Pilot Specs full
- automobiles.honda.com — 2015 / Pilot / 2015 Pilot Brochure
- automobiles.honda.com — Pilot Brochures / V2 / MY17 Pilot Online Brochure