What is the difference between the Honda Pilot Touring and Elite?
The Elite is the higher-grade Pilot trim, adding premium seating options, extra interior luxury, and additional technology beyond the Touring, which is already well-equipped but sits one tier below Elite.
The Honda Pilot is a three-row SUV that appeals to families and buyers who value space, comfort, and safety. Touring and Elite sit at the top end of the lineup, sharing core capabilities while differing in seating arrangements, interior materials, and feature sets. The following overview compares what you typically get with each trim to help you decide which fits your priorities and budget.
Core similarities
Shared powertrain, safety and technology
Both the Touring and Elite trims generally share the same fundamental architecture, including the same engine and transmission, available all-wheel drive, and a common suite of safety and driver-assistance features. They also offer similar connectivity and convenience capabilities, such as smartphone integration and climate control, with variations mainly in levels of luxury and optional equipment.
Key items commonly found in both trims include the following.
- 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission
- Available all-wheel drive for enhanced traction
- Three-row family seating with flexible configurations (7–8 passengers, depending on second-row setup)
- Honda Sensing safety and driver-assistance features (such as adaptive cruise, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, and collision mitigation braking)
- Tri-zone automatic climate control
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration
- Similar cargo space and interior versatility for everyday use
Both trims aim to balance practicality and comfort, with differences mainly in luxury touches and seating configurations rather than core capability.
Key differences between Touring and Elite
Seating and interior layout
The Elite typically emphasizes seating versatility, with second-row captain’s chairs often standard or more readily available, which can reduce total passenger count to seven but improve comfort and access for rear-seat passengers. The Touring usually offers a second-row bench or captain’s chairs depending on year and option packages, affecting how many people can ride in the back and how cargo space is used.
- Seating configuration: Elite commonly leans toward 2nd-row captain’s chairs; Touring offers multiple seating configurations, including a second-row bench in some setups.
In practical terms, Elite is geared toward buyers who want easier access to the third row and a more premium interior feel, while Touring provides flexibility for larger families or those who prioritize maximum passenger capacity.
Interior materials and comfort features
Interior upgrades are a hallmark of the Elite. Expect higher-grade leather or leather-like materials, richer trim accents, and features that enhance long-trip comfort. The Elite often includes options such as memory seating for the driver and additional comfort amenities that raise the overall cabin feel compared with the Touring.
- Upgraded interior materials and trim accents
- Driver’s seat memory and other premium comfort features
- Potential enhancements to front-row comfort, such as heated steering wheel
These refinements contribute to a more luxurious feel in the Elite, particularly for drivers who spend a lot of time behind the wheel or passengers who inhabit the rear seats on long trips.
Technology, features and refinement
The Elite typically earns more advanced technology and convenience gear. This can include a larger or upgraded infotainment display, built-in navigation on models equipped with it, a premium audio system, wireless charging, and sometimes additional rear-seat entertainment or cabin tech options that aren’t standard on Touring.
- Upgraded or larger infotainment display
- Built-in navigation (availability varies by model year and package)
- Premium audio system and wireless smartphone charging
- Possible rear-seat entertainment options or enhanced in-cabin tech
Technology and refinement upgrades in the Elite are designed to enhance convenience and cabin enjoyment, especially for families who value entertainment and easy usability on longer trips.
Exterior details and wheels
Exterior styling and wheel options differ between the two trims. The Elite often rides on larger wheels with a more premium appearance, along with distinctive trim detailing, which can include extra chrome or unique grille treatments that give the Elite a more upscale look compared with the Touring.
- Higher or different wheel designs (often larger wheels on Elite)
- Additional exterior chrome and styling cues on Elite
These cosmetic upgrades contribute to the perceived premium status of the Elite, even before stepping inside.
Pricing and value considerations
As expected, the Elite carries a higher price tag than the Touring, reflecting its added seating flexibility, interior luxuries, and technology advancements. For buyers weighing value, consider how often you’ll use the extra seating configurations, premium comfort features, and navigation/entertainment options when deciding between the two.
- Elite generally commands a higher MSRP than Touring
- Value depends on how much you’ll use captain’s chairs, premium interior, and advanced tech
If the priority is maximum luxury and seating flexibility for a family that travels long distances or frequently hosts rear-seat passengers, Elite is typically the stronger choice. If you want strong overall capability and a well-equipped package at a lower price, Touring remains an excellent option.
Choosing between Touring and Elite: practical guidance
Consider your daily needs, such as how many passengers you regularly carry, how important rear-seat accessibility is, and whether you value premium interior materials and enhanced tech. If you routinely transport adults in the second row and want a touch more cabin refinement, the Elite is worth considering. If you prioritize passenger capacity, budget, and solid all-around features, the Touring provides strong value with many of the same core capabilities.
Summary
Both the Honda Pilot Touring and Elite share the same powertrain, safety suite, and general versatility, making them solid choices in the three-row SUV segment. The Elite stands out with seating flexibility (often captain’s chairs in the second row), richer interior finishes, and added tech and comfort features, while the Touring focuses on core capability and value with fewer premium extras. Your best pick depends on how much you value interior luxury and seating arrangements versus cost and broad practicality.
For the most accurate, year-specific details, confirm exact features, seating layouts, and option availability with your local Honda dealer or the official Honda website for your model year.
What is the difference between Honda Pilot Elite and Touring?
The main differences are that the Honda Pilot Elite is a more luxurious trim with standard all-wheel drive and features like ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic sunroof, and a head-up display. The Pilot Touring lacks these specific luxury features but is still a high-end trim with features like heated front and second-row seats, captain's chairs, and premium audio.
| Feature | Pilot Touring | Pilot Elite |
|---|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive with optional all-wheel drive | All-wheel drive (standard) |
| Front Seats | Heated front seats | Heated and ventilated front seats |
| Steering Wheel | Not specified | Heated steering wheel |
| Sunroof | Standard moonroof | Panoramic sunroof |
| Driver Display | Not specified | 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster |
| Head-Up Display | No | Yes |
| Cameras | Not specified | Multi-View Camera System with TrailWatch |
| Wipers | Not specified | Heated wiper zone, rain-sensing wipers |
| Power Outlet | Not specified | 110-volt power outlet |
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Which Honda Pilot is the most luxurious?
The most luxurious Honda Pilot is the Black Edition, which builds on the features of the Elite trim with exclusive blacked-out styling and premium accents. Both the Black Edition and Elite trims are considered the most luxurious, offering premium features like heated and ventilated front seats, a head-up display, heated second-row seats, and an advanced audio system.
Black Edition
- Includes all the features of the Elite trim.
- Adds exclusive styling, such as 20-inch gloss black wheels and black exterior trim.
- Features Black Edition leather seats and red ambient LED lighting.
Elite
- Widely considered the most luxurious trim before the Black Edition.
- Includes perforated leather-trimmed seating, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, and a premium audio system.
- Offers heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and acoustic laminate glass to reduce road noise.
- Comes with a head-up display, heated wiper zones, and a one-touch power panoramic moonroof.
What does the Honda Elite have that the touring doesn't?
So like I said this is a 2025 Honda Pilot Touring. And this particular one has been painted in lunar silver metallic. I wanted to preface this video by saying Honda has made no changes to the Touring
What is the difference between touring and touring elite?
The Touring trim is a well-equipped premium trim, while the Elite takes it a step further, adding additional luxury-oriented features such as ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an 11-speaker audio system, and a hands-free power tailgate.
