The Honda Pilot has long been a favorite for families needing a reliable and spacious SUV. If you’re considering a Honda Pilot 2020, understanding its safety ratings is crucial. This in-depth analysis, based on rigorous testing, provides a comprehensive look at how the 2020 Honda Pilot performs in various crash scenarios, ensuring you’re well-informed about its safety features and overall protection. This review incorporates data applicable to the 2016-2022 Honda Pilot models and the related Honda Passport, offering a broad perspective on the vehicle’s safety performance.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side Assessment
The small overlap front test simulates a collision where only a small portion of the vehicle’s front end impacts an object, like a tree or pole. Let’s examine how the Honda Pilot 2020 fared in the driver-side small overlap test.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The Honda Pilot 2020 achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap test, the highest possible score. This indicates robust structural integrity and excellent occupant protection in this challenging crash scenario.
Action shot from the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating the Honda Pilot 2020’s performance.
Dummy positioning post-test shows the 2020 Honda Pilot maintained driver survival space effectively.
Effective airbag deployment in the 2020 Honda Pilot during the small overlap test, preventing head injuries.
The 2020 Honda Pilot’s footwell integrity in the small overlap test, minimizing lower extremity injury risks.
Technical measurements from the test further illustrate the Honda Pilot 2020‘s strong performance:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 |
| Footrest (cm) | 8 |
| Left toepan (cm) | 7 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 5 |
| Parking brake (cm) | 10 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 2 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Steering column | 0 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 3 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 4 |
| Lower instrument panel (cm) | 4 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 243 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.2 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 17 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.30 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 24 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.1 |
| Right | 0.5 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 3 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.41 |
| Right | 0.41 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 1.8 |
| Right | 1.5 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 80 |
| Right | 62 |
Learn more about the small overlap front test.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side Assessment
Passenger safety is equally important. The passenger-side small overlap test evaluates how well the vehicle protects the front passenger in a similar frontal collision. Here’s how the Honda Pilot 2020 performed:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Acceptable (A) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Acceptable (A) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Acceptable (A) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | Marginal (M) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Hip/thigh | Good (G) |
| Lower leg/foot | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
While the structural performance remained “Good,” the overall passenger-side small overlap rating for the Honda Pilot 2020 is “Acceptable.” The passenger dummy’s head protection was deemed “Marginal” due to airbag performance, which impacted the overall score.
Action during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test of the Honda Pilot 2020 model.
Passenger survival space was well-maintained in the 2020 Honda Pilot during the passenger-side test.
Airbag performance issue in the 2020 Honda Pilot passenger-side test led to head contact with the dashboard.
Elevated lower leg injury risk for passengers in the 2020 Honda Pilot during the small overlap test.
Technical measurements for the passenger-side test are detailed below:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Lower occupant compartment | |
| Lower hinge pillar max (cm) | 5 |
| Footrest (cm) | 11 |
| Right toepan (cm) | 7 |
| Center toepan (cm) | 4 |
| Rocker panel lateral average (cm) | 3 |
| Upper occupant compartment | |
| Center dash (cm) | 5 |
| Upper hinge pillar max (cm) | 4 |
| Upper dash (cm) | 6 |
| Right lower dash (cm) | 5 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 444 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | 77 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.3 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 17 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.22 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 16 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.7 |
| Right | 2.0 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 4 |
| Right | 8 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.35 |
| Right | 0.85 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 0.9 |
| Right | 1.4 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 87 |
| Right | 30 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 65 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 10 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.19 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 26 |
| Femur (kN) | |
| Left | 0.1 |
| Right | 0.1 |
| Knee displacement (mm) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%) | |
| Left | 0 |
| Right | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index | |
| Left | 0.47 |
| Right | 0.18 |
| Tibia axial force (kN) | |
| Left | 0.3 |
| Right | 0.7 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 53 |
| Right | 56 |
Learn more about the small overlap front test.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test: Original Evaluation
The moderate overlap front test simulates a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight. The Honda Pilot 2020 received a “Good” rating in this test, indicating strong frontal crash protection.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Chest | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, left | Good (G) |
| Leg/foot, right | Good (G) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | Good (G) |
The Honda Pilot 2020 excels in the moderate overlap front crash test, ensuring a high level of safety for occupants in a common accident scenario.
Technical measurements for this test underscore the vehicle’s robust design:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Footwell intrusion | |
| Footrest (cm) | 2 |
| Left (cm) | 3 |
| Center (cm) | 3 |
| Right (cm) | 4 |
| Brake pedal (cm) | 9 |
| Instrument panel rearward movement | |
| Left (cm) | 0 |
| Right (cm) | 0 |
| Steering column movement | |
| Upward (cm) | 1 |
| Rearward (cm) | -5 |
| A-pillar rearward movement (cm) | 0 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 145 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.9 |
| Extension bending moment (Nm) | 46 |
| Maximum Nij | 0.24 |
| Chest maximum compression (mm) | 25 |
| Legs | |
| Femur force – left (kN) | 0.2 |
| Femur force – right (kN) | 0.2 |
| Knee displacement – left (mm) | 0 |
| Knee displacement – right (mm) | 0 |
| Maximum tibia index – left | 0.46 |
| Maximum tibia index – right | 0.48 |
| Tibia axial force – left (kN) | 1.4 |
| Tibia axial force – right (kN) | 1.3 |
| Foot acceleration (g) | |
| Left | 61 |
| Right | 97 |
Learn more about the original moderate overlap front test.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original and Updated Evaluations
Side impacts are another significant safety concern. The Honda Pilot 2020 has undergone both original and updated side impact tests.
Side: Original Test
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
| Structure and safety cage | Good (G) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis/leg | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
In the original side impact test, the Honda Pilot 2020 demonstrated “Good” performance across all metrics, ensuring side impact protection for both front and rear occupants.
Technical measurements for the original side impact test:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Test ID | VTS1501 |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -17.5 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 147 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.7 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.4 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 28 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.4 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 26 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 23 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.27 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.25 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 2.8 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 0.9 |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.3 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 0.4 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 37 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | -22 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head HIC-15 | 122 |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.6 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.1 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 34 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 2.0 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 38 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 29 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 3.62 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.61 |
| Pelvis | |
| Iliac force (kN) | 0.1 |
| Acetabulum force (kN) | 1.7 |
| Combined force (kN) | 1.7 |
| Left femur | |
| L-M force (kN) | 1.1 |
| L-M moment (Nm) | 111 |
| A-P moment (Nm) | 19 |
Learn more about the original side crash test.
Side: Updated Test
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | Marginal (M) |
| Structure and safety cage | Marginal (M) |
| Driver injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Good (G) |
| Pelvis | Marginal (M) |
| Driver head protection | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger injury measures | |
| Head/neck | Good (G) |
| Torso | Marginal (M) |
| Pelvis | Good (G) |
| Rear passenger head protection | Good (G) |
In the more stringent updated side impact test, the Honda Pilot 2020 received an overall “Marginal” rating. While head and neck protection remained “Good,” torso and pelvis protection showed “Marginal” results, indicating areas for potential improvement in newer models.
Post-crash view of the 2020 Honda Pilot after the updated side impact test.
Damage to the occupant compartment and deployed side airbags of the 2020 Honda Pilot in the updated side test.
Greasepaint on the driver dummy shows head protection by airbags in the 2020 Honda Pilot updated side test.
Greasepaint on the rear passenger dummy confirms head protection from side airbags in the 2020 Honda Pilot updated side test.
Technical measurements from the updated side impact test:
Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver’s seat (cm) | -12.5 |
Driver injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 206 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 1.5 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.0 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 17 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 0.4 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 31 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 27 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 2.41 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.42 |
| Pelvis | |
| Combined force (kN) | 6.0 |
Passenger injury measures
| Evaluation criteria | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Head | |
| HIC-15 | 206 |
| Peak gs at hard contact | no contact |
| Neck | |
| Tension (kN) | 0.8 |
| Compression (kN) | 0.3 |
| Shoulder | |
| Lateral deflection (mm) | 24 |
| Lateral force (kN) | 1.5 |
| Torso | |
| Maximum deflection (mm) | 52 |
| Average deflection (mm) | 35 |
| Maximum deflection rate (m/s) | 5.33 |
| Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) | 0.86 |
| Pelvis | |
| Combined force (kN) | 3.4 |
Learn more about the side crash test.
Roof Strength Test
Roof strength is vital in rollover accidents. The Honda Pilot 2020 earned a “Good” rating in this test, signifying its roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover scenario.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,219 lbs |
| Peak force | 22,025 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.22 |
The strong roof of the Honda Pilot 2020 contributes to occupant safety in rollover incidents.
Learn more about the roof strength test.
Head Restraints & Seats Evaluation
Whiplash protection is crucial in rear-end collisions. The Honda Pilot 2020‘s head restraints and seats received a “Good” rating, indicating effective whiplash protection.
| Overall evaluation | Good (G) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | Good (G) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | Good (G) |
The design of the seats and head restraints in the Honda Pilot 2020 is effective in minimizing neck injuries in rear impacts.
Technical measurements for head restraints & seats:
| Seat type | Power cloth seat |
|---|---|
| Geometry | |
| Backset (mm) | 50 |
| Distance below top of head (mm) | 35 |
| Seat design parameters | |
| Pass/fail | Pass |
| Max T1 acceleration (g) | 13.0 |
| Head contact time (ms) | 67 |
| Force rating | 1 |
| Neck forces | |
| Max neck shear force (N) | 0 |
| Max neck tension (N) | 470 |
Learn more about the head restraint & seat test.
Headlight Ratings
Visibility is paramount for accident prevention. The Honda Pilot 2020 offers different headlight variations, each with its own rating.
Touring, Elite, Black Edition Trims (LED Reflector Headlights):
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | Good (G) |
These trims of the Honda Pilot 2020 boast “Good” rated headlights, providing excellent visibility in various driving conditions.
LX, EX, EX-L Trims (LED Projector/Halogen Reflector Headlights):
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | Acceptable (A) |
These trims feature “Acceptable” rated headlights, still offering good visibility but with some areas for improvement compared to the LED reflector option.
Learn more about the headlight evaluation.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Crash prevention technology is increasingly important. The Honda Pilot 2020 (for 2019-22 models) features a standard Collision Mitigation Braking System, earning an “Advanced” rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention.
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
|---|
The Honda Pilot 2020‘s front crash prevention system can effectively mitigate or avoid collisions with other vehicles in certain scenarios. However, it’s noted that the system does not meet the requirements for forward collision warning.
Learn more about the original front crash prevention test.
Front Crash Prevention: Pedestrian (Day)
Pedestrian safety is also a key consideration. The Honda Pilot 2020 (for 2019-22 models) pedestrian front crash prevention system received “No Credit.”
| Overall evaluation | No Credit |
|---|
The pedestrian front crash prevention system of the Honda Pilot 2020 did not perform effectively in tests, indicating a need for improvement in pedestrian detection and avoidance capabilities.
Learn more about the pedestrian front crash prevention test.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
For families, child seat anchor ease of use is essential. The Honda Pilot 2020 received an “Acceptable” rating for its LATCH system.
| Overall evaluation | Acceptable (A) |
While rated “Acceptable,” the Honda Pilot 2020‘s LATCH system has some limitations in ease of use, particularly in locating and maneuvering around some anchors.
Learn more about the child seat anchor evaluation.
Conclusion: Honda Pilot 2020 Safety Performance
The Honda Pilot 2020 demonstrates a strong commitment to safety, achieving “Good” ratings in many critical crash tests, including driver-side small overlap, moderate overlap front, roof strength, head restraints & seats, and headlight options on certain trims. While the passenger-side small overlap and updated side impact tests revealed areas for improvement, the Honda Pilot 2020 overall provides a solid level of safety for families. Prospective buyers should consider these safety ratings alongside other factors when making their vehicle purchase decision, prioritizing safety for their loved ones.
