The 2025 Honda Pilot Black Edition: A Dark Horse in the SUV Race

The Honda Pilot is one of the most popular and versatile SUVs on the market, offering a spacious and comfortable cabin, a powerful and efficient engine, and a range of advanced features and technologies. But for 2025, Honda has decided to spice things up by introducing a new trim level: the Black Edition. This is a special version of the Pilot that adds a more aggressive and upscale look, as well as some exclusive enhancements that set it apart from the rest of the lineup. In this article, we will take a closer look at what the 2025 Honda Pilot Black Edition offers and how it compares to other SUVs in its class.

What is the Black Edition?

The Black Edition is the new top-of-the-line trim level for the 2025 Honda Pilot, positioned above the TrailSport and Elite models. It is based on the updated Pilot that debuted in 2024, which features a more rugged and off-road capable design, a new 7-mode drive system, and a standard 9-speed automatic transmission. The Black Edition takes the Pilot’s style to new heights with a more aggressive look that includes:

• Gloss Black 20-inch alloy wheels
• Gloss Black grille bar and upper side mirror housings
• Blackout treatments for the front fascia ducts, window trim, door garnishes, and rear bumper garnish
• Black Edition badges on the grille and tailgate

The Black Edition also comes with Honda’s Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) all-wheel-drive system as standard, which enhances the stability and performance of the Pilot on different road conditions. The i-VTM4 system uses a pair of clutch packs that can be engaged separately, so if one rear wheel loses traction, the other helps compensate.

What is the Black Edition’s interior like?

The Black Edition’s interior is designed to match its exterior with

• Black leather seats with red contrast stitching and piping
• Black Edition logo embossed on the front seatbacks
• Red ambient LED lighting
• Black headliner and pillars
• Wireless phone charger
• Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration
• 10.2-inch rear entertainment system with Blu-ray™ player and HDMI input
• 590-watt premium audio system with 10 speakers and a subwoofer

The Black Edition also comes with all the features and technologies that are standard on the Elite trim, such as:

• Panoramic roof
• Heated and ventilated front seats
• Heated second-row captain’s chairs
• Heated steering wheel
• Hands-free access power tailgate
• Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies
• Blind Spot Information System (BSI) with Cross Traffic Monitor
• Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines

How does the Black Edition perform?

The Black Edition shares the same engine and transmission as the 2025 Pilot lineup, a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The engine features Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®), which can deactivate three of the six cylinders under light load conditions to improve fuel efficiency. The engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission that has paddle shifters and a push-button gear selector. The transmission also has a new Idle Stop feature that shuts off the engine when the vehicle is stopped and restarts it when the brake pedal is released.

The 2025 Pilot has a new 7-mode drive system that allows the driver to choose from different settings depending on the road condition and driving preference. The modes are:

• Normal: This is the default mode that provides a balanced performance for everyday driving.
• Snow: This mode adjusts the throttle response, transmission shift points, and traction control to optimize the grip on slippery surfaces.
• Mud: This mode increases the torque distribution to the rear wheels and allows more wheel slip to help the vehicle get out of sticky situations.
• Sand: This mode also increases the torque distribution to the rear wheels and allows more wheel slip, but with a more aggressive throttle response and transmission shift points to help the vehicle traverse loose terrain.
• Eco: This mode reduces the throttle response and transmission shift points to maximize the fuel economy.
• Sport: This mode enhances the throttle response and transmission shift points to deliver a more responsive and exhilarating driving experience.
• Custom: This mode allows the driver to customize the throttle response, transmission shift points, steering feel, and engine sound according to their personal preference.

The 2025 Pilot also has a new Intelligent Traction Management (ITM) system that works in conjunction with the i-VTM4® system to provide the best traction and stability for each drive mode. The ITM system can automatically detect the road condition and adjust the brake force, engine torque, and torque vectoring accordingly.

The 2025 Pilot has a fully independent suspension consisting of a MacPherson strut front and a multi-link rear setup. The suspension has been tuned to provide a smooth and comfortable ride and confident and agile handling. The 2025 Pilot also has a new electric power steering system that offers a precise and natural steering feel and a variable ratio that adapts to the vehicle speed and drive mode.

The 2025 Pilot can tow up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with the all-wheel-drive system and the available towing package. The towing package includes a trailer hitch, a wiring harness, a transmission cooler, and a trailer stability assist system. The system can detect and correct any trailer sway by applying the brakes and reducing the engine power.