When it’s time to gear up for family adventures that don’t stop where the pavement ends, the Honda Pilot stands out as one of the best all-around options. Comfortable enough for daily life, capable enough for dirt trails, and packed with smart features, it’s no wonder families across Greenville, NC, turn to the Pilot when weekend plans include a little more mud and a lot more memories.
But picking the right Honda Pilot trim can make a big difference, especially if your crew has serious off-roading ambitions. Let’s walk through your best choices and see which one fits your family’s style.
The Pilot EX-L: Great for Light Adventure Duty
If most of your family road trips stick to the occasional gravel road or beach entrance, the Honda Pilot EX-L might be all you need. It’s loaded with comfort features – think leather-trimmed seats, a power tailgate, and a one-touch power moonroof – but don’t let the plush interior fool you.
When equipped with available all-wheel drive (AWD), the EX-L gives you solid capability for light off-roading, dirt roads, or those tricky rainy-day conditions. Plus, the added Snow Mode in the Intelligent Traction Management system keeps you confident when the weather decides not to cooperate.
The EX-L is a great pick if you want a well-rounded family hauler that can handle a little bit of everything without going full backwoods warrior.
The Pilot TrailSport: Built for the Trailhead and Beyond
Now we’re talking serious trail-readiness.
If your version of “weekend fun” involves rutted dirt paths, rocky inclines, or getting way off the grid, the Honda Pilot TrailSport is your family’s new best friend. Honda didn’t just give it a fancy badge and call it a day. The TrailSport gets real hardware upgrades that matter, like:
- Standard all-wheel drive
- Specially tuned off-road suspension
- Increased ride height
- Trail-tuned torque-vectoring AWD system
- All-terrain tires mounted on tough-looking 18-inch wheels
- Steel skid plates protect the underbody
Inside, it’s just as family-friendly as the rest of the lineup, with seating for eight and a wipe-clean interior that’s ready for muddy boots and spilled snacks alike. It’s the sweet spot if you want serious trail chops without sacrificing Pilot comfort or space.
The Pilot Touring: Luxury Meets Capability
Sometimes you want a little more polish with your performance, and that’s where the Pilot Touring comes in. While it leans more toward luxury than rock-crawling, it still holds its own when the adventure calls, especially when you check the all-wheel-drive box.
The Touring trim comes with upscale features like:
- Hands-free power tailgate
- Panoramic roof
- Wi-Fi hotspot capability
- Premium BOSE® sound system
Add in the intelligent AWD system with multiple drive modes (Snow, Sand, Mud), and you’ve got an SUV that’s just as happy gliding down a rough trail as it is pulling up to soccer practice.
Families who want to balance daily luxury with light off-road ability will feel right at home here.
The Pilot Elite: Maximum Comfort, Maximum Confidence
For those who want to roll deep into adventure country, but also deep into creature comforts, the Pilot Elite is hard to beat.
The Elite comes standard with AWD and cranks up the comfort and tech to full blast. You get ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a head-up display that keeps key information right in your line of sight.
But beyond the high-end amenities, the Pilot Elite’s real star is its readiness for rougher conditions, thanks to:
- Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ AWD system
- Hill descent control
- Off-road-tuned drive modes
- All the safety tech you could want, standard
This trim is perfect for families who refuse to compromise between rugged capability and total luxury.
You might also like: Tips To Keep Your Pilot Running Smoothly
Find the Right Pilot Trim for Off-Roading for You at Barbour Hendrick Honda
How far off the beaten path do you and your family want to go? You’ll find the right Honda Pilot trim for off-roading waiting for you at Barbour Hendrick Honda in Greenville, NC. Our team can help you compare trims side by side, take a few for a test drive, and get your family road-trip-ready in no time.
Ready to get started? Visit us today or schedule your test drive online and start planning that first family adventure behind the wheel of your new Honda Pilot.
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