2005 Honda Pilot Review: The Best Value 2005 Mid-Size SUV, Hands-Down

The 2005 Honda Pilot is arguably the best mid-size SUV for 2005, and inarguably the best deal you’re going to find in this size-class and this model year.

Is the 2005 Honda Pilot a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – If the Honda Pilot isn’t the best mid-size SUV released in 2005, it’s at least a photo-finish with the Toyota Highlander.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 8/10 – It’s a mid-size that feels like a full-size. One of the most comfortable SUVs on the road today.
• Reliability 8/10 – You might reach 300,000 miles on the original transmission, but, with regular maintenance, you’ll almost definitely pass 250,000 with no major repairs.
• Safety 8/10 – Stability control and anti-lock brakes are included as standard features, which you couldn’t always count on in 2005.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – The 2005 Highlander is a hair more fuel efficient, but 17/22 is pretty good for a mid-size that’s almost twenty years old.
• Value 9/10 – Simply the best deal you’re going to get on a 2005 mid-size SUV.

What Do Critics Say About the 2005 Honda Pilot?

Consumer Reports praised the 2005 Honda Pilot as a perfect blend of SUV, station wagon, and minivan principles. They liked the comfortable ride, zippy acceleration, versatile interior, and fuel-efficient engine, naming it one of the best mid-size SUVs of the year.

Kelley Blue Book users give the 2005 Honda Pilot an overwhelming 95% recommendation, praising the SUV’s low maintenance needs, longevity, fuel economy, roomy interior, and sturdy build. One driver reports using the SUV for everything from camping to moving furniture and even construction equipment for weekend projects.

Edmunds had plenty of praise for the Pilot’s roomy eight-passenger interior, versatile cargo space, generous standard features, and smooth ride. They note that the Pilot’s not a serious contender when it comes to towing, and it may feel a bit unwieldy on city streets.

What Common Problems Does the 2005 Honda Pilot Have?

Braking issues have been one of the biggest concerns for 2005 Pilot drivers, with multiple reports of the brakes locking up or randomly engaging at highway speeds with no input from the driver. A recall was issued in 2013 for inadvertent braking, but a few complaints have been registered since.

118 of the 2005 Pilot’s 664 National Highway Traffic Administration complaints are for problems with the airbags. There have been 9 airbag recalls in total, with the most recent being in 2019. Drivers have reported airbag warning lights as recently as 2021.

Around one in four of the Pilot’s complaints have been for powertrain issues, with drivers reporting transmission lockup and transmission fluid leaks. There have been no recalls for this issue as yet.

The 2005 Honda Pilot has 15 recalls on file with the NHTSA and 664 complaints. These numbers are within reason for a vehicle of this age, but you’ll want to test the car out at both highway and city speeds to make sure you’re not buying into some major transmission problems.

How Long Will the 2005 Honda Pilot Last?

A used Honda Pilot should last around 250,000 miles before the major repairs start to add up. It’s a Honda, so you’ll no doubt see reports of drivers reaching 300,000, or even half a million miles on the original powertrain. That might occur in a used model, but don’t bet on it.

RepairPal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $542 for a Honda Pilot, with the most expensive common fix being a new fuel tank, starting at around $,1804.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2005 Honda Pilot is good for the model year. CD players come standard and the higher trim levels feature 6-disc changers and steering wheel mounted audio controls. The Rear Entertainment System package adds a DVD player to the EX-L model.

Safety technology is, likewise, good for 2005. Anti-lock brakes come standard, which wasn’t always a given in 2005 SUVs. Curtain airbags are optional, but occupant sensors are included in every trim level.

Is the 2005 Honda Pilot a Good Value?

The 2005 Honda Pilot is a very good value. The base LX model typically lists at just $4,784, while a high-end EX-L is just a thousand dollars more, at around $5,743. When you add the low sticker price to the low cost of ownership, you’ve got one of the best deals on the market today.

Honda’s record for longevity is what really makes the Pilot a sweet deal. These prices are for models with around 160,000 miles on the odometer, which would be the final chapter for most cars, but in a Honda you might have another 100,000 miles to go..

What are the Different Models of the 2005 Honda Pilot?

The 2005 Honda Pilot is available in three trim levels, from the base LX to the high-end EX-L.

With the entry-level LX you’re getting:

• Cloth seating
• Manual air conditioning with separate system for the back seat
• CD player with four speakers
• Remote keyless entry
• Power windows and door locks

The mid-range EX adds:

• Automatic air conditioning
• 8-way power driver seat
• 6-disc CD changer with seven speakers and steering wheel mounted controls
• Driver lumbar support

Finally, the top-of-the-line EX-L features:

• Traction control
• Power sunroof
• Heated front seats
• Leather interior trim

The EX-L is also available in a RES model, which adds a DVD player for the backseat, and a NAVI model, which adds a satellite-linked off-road capable navigation system.

What Engines Come In the 2005 Honda Pilot?

• The Honda Pilot comes packed with a 3.5L V6 engine delivering 255 horsepower and 250 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is paired to a 5-speed automatic transmission and configured in all wheel drive, and it averages 17/22 miles to the gallon. The Pilot can tow up to 4,500 pounds.

What Colors Does the 2005 Honda Pilot Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2005 Honda Pilot?

The 2005 Honda Pilot is one of the most comfortable used vehicles in its class. The suspension runs nice and smooth and has held up well over the years, and you’ve got 56.6 inches of hip room in the back, so you should have no trouble fitting eight passengers in the SUV.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2005 Honda Pilot Have?

The 2005 Pilot starts with 16 cubic feet of cargo space in the back, which is comparable to a full-size sedan’s trunk space, packing about five medium sized suitcases. That can expand to 90 cubic feet with the seats folded flat.

Drivers report carrying everything from furniture to construction supplies in the back of their Pilot, so you should have no problem hauling whatever it is you want to haul.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

2005 was the third model year for the Honda Pilot’s 1st Generation, which ran from 2003 to 2008.

2003: The Honda Pilot debuted in 2003 with an all-aluminum V6 engine and one of the most spacious interiors in the mid-size SUV class.

2004: Honda added an adjustable second-row and heated side mirrors for 2004.

2005: Tire pressure monitoring and stability control were added to the 2005 Pilot as standard features, and steering was given an overhaul.

2006: The Pilot got a facelift in 2006, with a whole new front and marked by bolder headlights and grille. The EX-L trim got an automatic moonroof.

2007: New color options for 2007 included Nimbus Gray Metallic, Dark Cherry Pearl, and Formal Black, but there were no major mechanical changes.

How Does the 2005 Honda Pilot Compare to the Competition?

The Honda Pilot is the best overall 2005 mid-size SUV for the price. If money is no object, the 2005 Toyota Highlander is just as reliable and roomy, and a little more efficient, but it lists for around two, three thousand dollars more than the Pilot on average.

A 2005 Ford Explorer is a bit less efficient than a Pilot, and a bit less reliable, and it averages a few hundred dollars cheaper. The Explorer’s a fine vehicle, but the Pilot is more likely to cross 250,000 miles, so it’s the better value in the long run.

2005 was a very good year for mid-size SUVs, and you can’t go wrong with any of the vehicles listed above. But, the Pilot is the hands-down winner if you want the most bang for your buck.

Do Owners Recommend the 2005 Honda Pilot?