How safe is the Honda Pilot?
Drivers of the 2019–2020 Honda Pilot died at a rate of 9 per million registered vehicle years, 74% lower than the average of 38 for all vehicles. That makes it one of the safest vehicles on the road for its driver: it ranks 24th of 127 vehicles, safer than 82% of them, whether they're small cars, SUVs, pickups or minivans.
This is the most recent IIHS data for this model, covering 2019–2020 models. It doesn't appear in the newer 2023 study, often because it was redesigned or discontinued.
Where the Honda Pilot sits among all 127 vehicles
Honda Pilot (bar is the 95% range)Every other ranked vehicleDashed line: average of 38
The rate is based on plenty of data, so this ranking is reliable.
2WD vs. 4WD
IIHS rates each drivetrain separately. The score above combines them, weighting the version with more data more heavily.
| Version | Deaths* | 95% range |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Pilot 2WD | 7 | 0–20 |
| Honda Pilot 4WD | 13 | 0–30 |
Vehicles ranked near the Honda Pilot
These are the vehicles just above and below it on the all-class ranking. Notice they aren't all the same type: the ranking compares every vehicle against every other one. Ranks use each rate after adjusting for how much data is behind it, so a rate of 0 from a few vehicles can rank below a slightly higher rate from many. Why.
| Rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | Lexus NX 300Luxury SUV · Midsize | 8 | 84 |
| 22 | Chevrolet BoltCar · Small | 8 | 83 |
| 23 | Chevrolet TraverseSUV · Midsize | 9 | 83 |
| 24 | Honda PilotSUV · Midsize | 9 | 82 |
| 25 | GMC AcadiaSUV · Midsize | 10 | 81 |
| 26 | Chevrolet TahoeSUV · Large | 11 | 80 |
| 27 | Nissan PathfinderSUV · Midsize | 10 | 79 |
How it compares with other SUVs
Among the 37 SUVs ranked, the Honda Pilot is 6th. The safest SUVs are below. See all SUVs.
| SUVs rank | Vehicle | Deaths* | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota C-HRSUV · Small | 2 | 99 |
| 2 | Nissan MuranoSUV · Midsize | 6 | 90 |
| 3 | Subaru AscentSUV · Midsize | 6 | 90 |
| 4 | Ford EdgeSUV · Midsize | 8 | 85 |
| 5 | Chevrolet TraverseSUV · Midsize | 9 | 83 |
| 6 | Honda PilotSUV · Midsize | 9 | 82 |
Common questions
Is the Honda Pilot a safe vehicle?
By real-world driver deaths, the Honda Pilot is one of the safest vehicles on the road for its driver. Its driver death rate of 9 per million registered vehicle years is 74% lower than the average, and it ranks 24th of 127 vehicles across all classes.
How does the Honda Pilot compare with other SUVs?
It ranks 6th of 37 SUVs. The safest is the Toyota C-HR, with a rate of 2.
Is the 2WD or 4WD Honda Pilot safer?
The 2WD version had the lower driver death rate (2WD: 7, 4WD: 13). Their ranges overlap, so the difference may be down to chance.
Why is this different from the Honda Pilot's crash-test rating?
Crash-test stars only compare vehicles of similar size and weight, so a 5-star small car and a 5-star SUV aren't equally safe. This ranking uses real-world driver death rates, which can be compared across every class.
* Driver deaths per million registered vehicle years. A registered vehicle year is one vehicle registered for one year.