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 2021 Honda Pilot?
A 2021 Honda Pilot has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The 2021 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 2021 Honda Pilot Tow?
The 2021 Honda Pilot has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
The 2021 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.
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 2021 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.
2021 Honda Pilot Tow Capacity By Trim Level
There are several trim levels for the 2021 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 2021 Honda Pilot:
2021 Honda Pilot Trim Level | Towing Capacity |
2021 Honda Pilot LX | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
2021 Honda Pilot EX | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
2021 Honda Pilot EX-L | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
2021 Honda Pilot Touring | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
2021 Honda Pilot Black Edition | 5,000 lbs / 2,267 kg |
Towing Capacity By Engine Size & Drivetrain
2021 Honda Pilot Engine Towing Specs
There is one engine option for the 2021 Pilot, which is a 3.5L V6 engine that makes 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.
2021 Honda Pilot 3.5L V6 Engine Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Honda Pilot Drivetrain Towing Specs
The 2021 Honda Pilot comes standard with two wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is available as an option.
2021 Honda Pilot 2WD Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds
2021 Honda Pilot AWD Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
Note that these are the max towing limits for each 2021 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.
2021 Honda Pilot Payload Capacity
The maximum payload capacity of the 2021 Honda Pilot is 1,625 pounds.
Note that the max payload capacity of your 2021 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.
2021 Honda Pilot Tow Package
The 2021 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 2021 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 2021 Pilot.
2021 Honda Pilot Towing Capacity Vs Competitors
The 2021 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 2021 Nissan Pathfinder and the 2021 Toyota Highlander.
Here are some similar vehicles to the 2021 Honda Pilot and their towing capacities below:
2021 Ford Explorer Towing Capacity: 5,600 pounds
2021 Hyundai Palisade Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Kia Telluride Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Subaru Ascent Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Toyota Highlander Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Volkswagen Atlas Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds
2021 Honda Models Towing Capacity Chart
2021 Honda SUV Model | Towing Capacity |
2021 Honda Ridgeline | 5,000 pounds |
2021 Honda Pilot | 5,000 pounds |
2021 Honda Passport | 5,000 pounds |
2021 Honda Odyssey | 3,500 pounds |
2021 Honda CR-V | 1,500 pounds |
2021 Honda HR-V | 1,500 pounds |
Data Accuracy
We’ve gathered all data represented here from the official 2021 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 2021 Honda Pilot.