2018 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity

The Honda Pilot was introduced into Honda’s lineup as mid-size crossover SUV in 2003 and is still made today. The Pilot has many features consumers expect from today’s SUVs, including towing. But what is the towing capacity of a 2018 Honda Pilot?

A 2018 Honda Pilot has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2018 Honda Pilot tow capacity can vary based on a few different factors such as engine size, drivetrain, and others which we’ll cover in this guide.

How Much Can The 2018 Honda Pilot Tow?

The 2018 Honda Pilot has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

The 2018 Honda Pilot tow capacity is affected by other factors like engine type, drivetrain, the weight of cargo and passengers, and whether your vehicle has a towing package equipped or not.

You can always reach out to your local Honda dealership for details to confirm how much your Pilot can tow.

2018 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity Chart
2018 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity Chart

You can check out our guide to Honda Pilot towing capacity by year if you’re looking at a different model year’s max capacity or if you want to compare different years of this vehicle.

How Do I Know If My 2018 Honda Pilot Has An ATF Cooler?

Look through your vehicle’s grill underneath the front bumper, and if your Pilot has an ATF cooler installed, you’ll see it in front of the radiator.

If you don’t see a cooler in front of your radiator, then your Honda Pilot does not have an ATF cooler installed.

You can also read our guide on what makes a vehicle towing capacity to learn all the aspects that go into it.

2018 Honda Pilot Tow Capacity By Trim Level

There are several trim levels for the 2018 Pilot, and some engines and features are not available on certain trims, so they can each have different max towing limits.

Here’s the max tow capacity broken down for each trim level on the 2018 Honda Pilot:

2018 Honda Pilot Trim LevelTowing Capacity
2018 Honda Pilot LX5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg
2018 Honda Pilot EX5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg
2018 Honda Pilot EX-L5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg
2018 Honda Pilot Touring5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg
2018 Honda Pilot Elite5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg
2018 Honda Pilot Tow Capacity by Trim Level Chart

Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain

2018 Honda Pilot Engine Towing Specs

There is one engine option for the 2018 Pilot, which is a 3.5L V6 engine that makes 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.

2018 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6 Engine Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds

2018 Honda Pilot Drivetrain Towing Specs

The 2018 Honda Pilot comes standard with two wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available as an option.

2018 Honda Pilot 2WD Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds

2018 Honda Pilot AWD Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds

Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2018 Honda Pilot engine. Your Honda Pilot may have a lower towing capacity based on the drivetrain, axle ratio, and if your vehicle has a towing package installed.

2018 Honda Pilot Payload Capacity

The maximum payload capacity of the 2018 Honda Pilot is 1,622 pounds.

Note that the max payload capacity of your 2018 Pilot will vary based on factors like the engine type, drivetrain and whether or not a towing package that includes other features like an engine oil cooler or transmission oil cooler is installed.

You can always contact your local dealership for extra details if you’re unsure of your vehicle’s payload capability.

2018 Honda Pilot Tow Package

The 2018 Honda Pilot does not come standard with a tow package, but one is available as an add-on for all trim levels of the Pilot.

The 2018 Honda Pilot tow package includes a trailer hitch receiver, 7-pin wiring harness, and ball mount receiver.

We definitely recommend getting the tow package if you plan on towing anything with your 2018 Pilot.

honda pilot towing a camper
The 2018 Honda Pilot has a max tow capacity of 5,000 pounds, making it capable of pulling medium to heavy loads.

2018 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity Vs Competitors

The 2018 Honda Pilot has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, which makes it capable of doing some heavy duty trailer towing.

This number is a little less than the Pilot’s main competitors which are the 2018 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2018 Toyota Highlander.

Here are some similar vehicles to the 2018 Honda Pilot and their towing capacities below:

2018 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds

2018 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds

2018 Volkswagen Atlas Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds

2018 Honda Models Towing Capacity Chart

2018 Honda SUV ModelTowing Capacity
2018 Honda Ridgeline5,000 pounds
2018 Honda Pilot 5,000 pounds
2018 Honda Odyssey3,500 pounds
2018 Honda CR-V1,500 pounds
2018 Honda HR-V1,500 pounds
2018 Honda Models Towing Capacity Chart

Data Accuracy

We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2018 Honda Pilot Owner’s Manual on Honda’s site and have checked all data thoroughly for accuracy.

Having said that, we still recommend you refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual yourself before towing with a 2018 Honda Pilot.

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