The Honda Pilot is a rugged midsize SUV with three rows of seating and a hard-won reputation for being spacious, delivering a smooth and responsive ride, and providing a wide range of standard features. But even with a base trim that comes standard with a powerful V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, full LED headlights, heated front seats, a modern infotainment system, and a wide array of driver assistance and safety tech, the most affordable trim of the 2025 Honda Pilot isn’t for everyone. Many drivers want to go all-out when it comes to comfort features, cutting-edge technology, and style.

If you prefer a high-end look and feel, then you’ll be excited to learn that the Pilot is gaining a new top-tier trim for the 2025 model year. The Black Edition sits at the very top of the trim ladder. While that does make it the most expensive option, it delivers plenty of bang for every buck in its price tag. If you’re wondering what, exactly, this new trim has to offer, then read on for a run-down of what the 2025 Pilot Black Edition brings to the table.

Exclusive Style

There’s a reason this trim is called “Black Edition,” of course. It comes standard with exclusive black accents that give the exterior a unique and appealing look. The 20-inch alloy wheels, grille, and side mirror housings are all gloss black, reflecting light nicely with their shiny finish. The window trim, door garnishes, rear bumper garnish, and front fascia ducts all get blackout treatments, helping spread the dark and elegant accents across all four sides of the vehicle. The grille and tailgate are adorned with Black Edition badges, letting everyone on the road know that you’re driving a top-of-the-line Pilot. You can either let the black accents blend in with a Crystal Black Pearl paint job or let them stand out and act as a contrast against Modern Steel Metallic, Platinum White Pearl, Sonic Gray Pearl, or Radiant Red Metallic II.

The aesthetic continues inside the cabin, which features leather-trimmed seats with red accents that are unique to this trim. Red accents playing against the black backdrop aren’t just on the seats, either. The steering wheel and door panels also have red contrast stitching, and the dashboard, center console, and doors all feature red accent lighting that sets the mood at night. Finally, the front seats and floor mats are embossed with the Black Edition logo, rounding out the exclusive touches. The bright red contrasted against black throughout the interior conveys a sporty attitude that not only looks good but can make driving feel more fun.

Luxury

Since the Black Edition is the top-tier trim for the 2025 Pilot, it comes standard with all of the same luxury features you’ll find on the Pilot Elite. That means a premium interior that will keep you comfortable in any weather, with heated first and second-row seats, a heated leather-wrapped steering wheel for chilly mornings, ventilated front seats for hot summer days, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a tri-zone automatic climate control system with first and second-row controls to keep every passenger happy, even when there’s a disagreement about what the ideal temperature is. A one-touch power panoramic moonroof lets the sun shine in when the weather is nice, giving the cabin even more of an open feel.

Everything is easy to adjust, so you don’t have to spend your precious time fiddling with the vehicle’s settings. For instance, the two-position memory feature lets you save the settings for the 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with two-way power lumbar and the side mirrors just the way you like them, so you can switch off with another driver seamlessly. Those side mirrors are also heated to keep frost at bay and have integrated turn indicators to make your intentions crystal clear to other drivers. The power liftgate can be programmed to open to just the right height, and Hands-Free Access with Walk Away Close comes standard, so you don’t have to try to open or close it manually when your hands are full. All of the doors have Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock for your convenience.

Performance

Every trim of the 2025 Pilot comes standard with a powerful V6 engine, and the Black Edition is no exception. The powertrain can produce 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, giving you responsive driving dynamics and allowing you to tow up to 5,000 lbs so you can bring a trailer along for the ride. The Pilot Black Edition comes standard with Honda’s second-generation Intelligent Variable Torque Management all-wheel drive system, which uses cutting-edge technology to optimally distribute torque both between the front and rear axles and between the left and right wheels, so you have the grip you need to brave bad weather and tackle loose surfaces like dirt roads and gravel driveways. While the Black Edition isn’t as off-road capable as the Pilot TrailSport, it does have features that can help if you need to do some light off-roading, for example:

• TrailWatch streams a live feed of the terrain around you to the touchscreen so you can get a good look at the ground ahead.
• The Multi-View Camera System gives you even more angles, including front, rear, left, right, and ground views, with a front camera washer to prevent mud and dirt from blocking your view.
• Hill Start Assist and Hill Descent Control help you drive with confidence, even on steep inclines.

Technology

No luxurious cabin would be complete without the latest tech to help you stay informed and entertained while you’re en route. While the 2025 Pilot’s base trim has a seven-inch touchscreen and seven-inch digital gauge cluster, the Black Edition sports a large nine-inch touchscreen in the center of the dashboard and a 10.2-inch driver information interface screen behind the wheel. On top of that, it also has a four-inch head-up display that can project directly onto the lower windshield, so you can see things like the speedometer, navigation directions, compass, and driver assist warnings without taking your eyes off the road, even for a fraction of a second.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard, as does a wireless phone charger, so you can leave unsightly cords behind and still enjoy all the benefits connecting your smartphone can offer. You don’t need to connect your phone to the Pilot for turn-by-turn directions, though, since a built-in navigation system is also standard. If you like to stream music from your phone, you’ll be sure to appreciate the 12-speaker Bose premium sound system, which features a subwoofer and multi-zone audio for a truly immersive experience.

The Black Edition Is the Best of the Best

You don’t need to upgrade all the way up to the Black Edition to enjoy the 2025 Honda Pilot. Plenty of great features come standard across all trim levels, so you’ll get a capable and comfortable SUV that’s ready to take you on some great adventures, no matter which variant you choose. But between its exclusive style and its laundry list of luxury features, the Black Edition does have something special to offer drivers who are not just looking for an amazing SUV but for the absolute best of the best.