Top Safety Pick + Top Safety Pick criteria

2023 Honda Pilot

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

2023 Honda Pilot 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Side: updated test

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system
Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)
Standard system
Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use
+

Other available safety features

  • Standard daytime running lights
  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning
  • Standard lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Honda Pilot Elite 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2023 model year. Driver-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 Pilot conducted by Honda as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTN2303
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Footrest (cm) 7
Left toepan (cm) 5
Brake pedal (cm) 5
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 0
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 2
Lower instrument panel (cm) 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTN2303
Head
HIC-15 104
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 23
Femur (kN)
Left 0.4
Right 0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.26
Right 0.42
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.2
Right 2.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 83
Right 50

How the driver-side small overlap front test is conducted

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Honda Pilot LX 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2023 model year. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 Pilot conducted by Honda as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID VTP2304
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 2
Footrest (cm) 9
Right toepan (cm) 6
Center toepan (cm) 5
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 1
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 2
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 1
Upper dash (cm) 3
Right lower dash (cm) 2

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTP2304
Head
HIC-15 78
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.32
Chest maximum compression (mm) 19
Femur (kN)
Left 1.0
Right 1.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 2
Right 4
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.34
Right 0.44
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 1.9
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 43
Right 66

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTP2304
Head
HIC-15 89
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 5
Maximum Nij 0.14
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 0.3
Right 0.4
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.27
Right 0.20
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.1
Right 1.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 34
Right 52

How the passenger-side small overlap front test is conducted

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Honda Pilot LX 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2023 model year. Two moderate overlap frontal tests of the Pilot were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by Honda as part of frontal crash test verification. Ratings are based on both tests.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the Institute's moderate overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the steering wheel and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well (Institute test car shown).

Smeared greasepaint indicates where the dummy's head contacted the side curtain airbag during rebound (Institute test car shown).

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low. (Institute test car shown).

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2321 VTF2305
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3 6
Left (cm) 7 15
Center (cm) 5 17
Right (cm) 7 11
Brake pedal (cm) 13 14
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0 0
Right (cm) 0 -1
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1 2
Rearward (cm) -6 -4
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0 1

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2321 VTF2305
Head
HIC-15 149 172
Peak gs at hard contact no contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8 0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9 8
Maximum Nij 0.19 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28 24
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.6 0.4
Femur force - right (kN) 0.6 1.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 1 1
Maximum tibia index - left 0.25 0.47
Maximum tibia index - right 0.41 0.31
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 2.3 2.2
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.0 4.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52 83
Right 70 109

How the moderate overlap front test is conducted

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Honda Pilot LX 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2023 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head approached the front seatback, which increases the risk of head injuries.

Rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a moderate risk of injury to the head or neck. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt moved from the ideal position on the pelvis onto the abdomen, increasing the risk of abdominal injuries.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2321
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 7
Center (cm) 5
Right (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 13
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 1
Rearward (cm) -6
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2321
Head
HIC-15 149
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.19
Chest maximum compression (mm) 28
Femur (kN)
Left 0.6
Right 0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 1
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.25
Right 0.41
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 2.3
Right 3.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 52
Right 70

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2321
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.1
Compression (kN) 0.0
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 34
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 3.9
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.2
Right femur compression 0.1

How the updated moderate overlap front test is conducted

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2023 Honda Pilot Elite 4-door 4wd

The Honda Pilot was redesigned for the 2023 model year. Side 2.0 ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2023 Pilot conducted by Honda as part of side crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS2309
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -32.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS2309
Head
HIC-15 31
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.5
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 17
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 15
Average deflection (mm) 13
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.10
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.15
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 1.5

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS2309
Head
HIC-15 101
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.4
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 18
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 19
Average deflection (mm) 12
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.54
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.17
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 2.3

How the side crash test is conducted

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the sharp left and both right curves and fair on the gradual left curve.

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and fair on the left side. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right and gradual left curves and fair on the sharp left and sharp right curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway and on the gradual left curve.

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type LED reflector
High-beam headlight type LED reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? Yes
Overall rating
Applies to 2023-24 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 98.3 m None
Straightaway left edge 56.0 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 71.4 m None
250m radius left curve, right edge 55.4 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 60.0 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 60.2 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 146.6 m
Straightaway left edge 139.1 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 79.3 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 76.8 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 63.6 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 63.8 m

How headlights are evaluated

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

  • standard Collision Mitigation Braking System

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2023-24 models

Superior
Superior

Crossing child

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 20 mph.

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision. A warning was issued 2.2 seconds before impact.

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (night)

Night

System details

  • standard Collision Mitigation Braking System

Overall evaluation

Includes high-beam assist credit

This rating applies to all 2023-24 models
Superior
Superior

Crossing adult

  • In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

  • In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision when using its high beams. When using its low beams, this vehicle avoided a collision.
  • In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 34 mph when using its high beams and a warning was issued 2.4 seconds before impact. When using its low beams, impact speed was reduced by 28 mph and a warning was issued 1.6 seconds before impact.

How front crash prevention is evaluated

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration Long enough (90+ seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 60 seconds
Belt disengaged alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
Duration at least 30 seconds
Volume
Audio frequency
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 51 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 70 dB
Difference between background and signal 19.6 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 55 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 71 dB
Difference between background and signal 15.8 dB
Dominant audio frequency 736 Hz

How seat belt reminders are evaluated

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2023-24 models

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim SPORT
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 4 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 2 additional seating positions with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
+
extra LATCH positions
Vehicle trim SPORT
Seat type cloth
1 2 3 6 4 5
G Good
A Acceptable
M Marginal
P Poor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
 Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
 Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
 Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
4
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
5
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
6
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 89
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 87
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes

Seat position 22

2

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 76
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) -2-0
Force (lbs) 5
Clearance angle (degrees) 75
Tether anchor
Location Bottom seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 81
Lower anchor B
Open access rated Yes
Depth Visible
Force (lbs) 0
Clearance angle (degrees) 89
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes

Seat position 31

6

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes

Seat position 32

5

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes

Seat position 33

4

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 10
Clearance angle (degrees) 78
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 7
Clearance angle (degrees) 90
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 Yes

How child seat anchors are evaluated

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