2016 Honda Pilot: Most Expensive Honda?

Say hello to the newly-designed 2016 Honda Pilot. And also remember to wave goodbye to the solid incentives found on the current 2015 Pilot (more on that later). After a long six-year run, the old Pilot will make way for the new one, which will hit showroom floors later this summer. So, how much does it cost, and more importantly, should you buy one? Read on...

Complete 2016 Honda Pilot Preview >>

New Pricing

Honda officially announced pricing for the 2016 Honda Pilot: $30,875, That price tag is for the base model LX, which comes in at a scant $125 increase when compared to the outgoing 2015 Pilot LX. Note that the price mentioned above includes a mandatory $880 delivery charge which all vehicles are subject to.

Now, on other side of the price spectrum, a range-topping (and lineup-topping) 2016 Honda Pilot Elite comes in at a whopping $47,300 to start. That represents a steep $4,800 price increase when compared to the current top-of-the-line 2015 Pilot Touring 4x4 model which costs $42,500. That being said, the big increase is not without merit.

Honda brass received strong demand from its current owner base who asked for more upscale features, and boy will they get' em. The new Pilot Elite will eclipse the price of the Odyssey Touring Elite, which is at the moment is the most expensive Honda you can buy at $45,480 before any incentives.

Strong Sales

Sales for crossovers and SUVs alike have increased this year due to lower gas prices and an improving economy. But the Pilot is a special case in terms of the overall sales increase.

The sales stats that jumped out to us when comparing figures year-over-year were those of the current 2015 Pilot. From January - March 2014, sales for the Pilot came in at 22,031. The same period in 2015 saw Honda sell 36,881 Pilots--a whopping 65% increase. The increase is likely to a plethora of factors, but the main one we're seeing is the use of incentives including manufacturer-to-dealer incentives. In laymen's terms, your local Honda dealer is likely more amicable to playing ball when it comes to negotiating a better deal on the 2015 Pilot.

Sales for the Pilot's most comparable competitor, the newly-redesigned 2015 Toyota Highlander saw steady sales year-over-year. In fact, they were almost identical: 35,747 Highlanders sold from January - March of 2014 compared to 35,362 Highlanders sold from January - March 2015.

The Acura MDX Question

So with the official pricing announced, we collectively scratched our heads trying to figure out why someone would fork over $47,300 for a 2016 Honda Pilot Elite. Especially when its based on the more luxurious and up-market 2016 Acura MDX, which starts at $43,785 in FWD and $45,785 in AWD. If it were our money, we'd opt for the MDX.

The only case where we'd have to spring for the Pilot would be seating capacity, as it sees eight passengers whereas the MDX can "only" seat seven.

The Competition

If you're in the market for a large crossover, there's never been a better time to shop. No fewer than nine models are available:

• 2015 Honda Pilot
• 2016 Honda Pilot*
• 2015 Toyota Highlander
• 2015 Ford Explorer
• 2015 Nissan Pathfinder
• 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee
• 2015 Chevrolet Traverse
• 2015 Dodge Durango
• 2015 Mazda CX-9
• 2015 Buick Enclave
• 2015 GMC Acadia

*ETA Summer 2015

Large Crossover Segment Incentives

The segment is ripe with decent incentives, especially if you're looking for low APR financing.