Honda Pilot Towing Capacity
The 2026 Honda Pilot is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs, according to Honda's published specifications. Rated configuration: Any AWD trim, with accessory towing equipment. Other configurations are rated lower, so confirm your exact rating by VIN or on the door-jamb label.
By CarWhere Research · Updated 2026-11-05 · 12 manufacturer sources
2026 max towing
5,000 lbs
2026 max payload
—
Years covered
2016–2026
Honda Pilot towing capacity by year
| Model year | Generation | Max towing | Max payload | Max-tow configuration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4th gen (2023–present) | 5,000 lbs [1] | — | Any AWD trim, with accessory towing equipment2WD trims (Sport, EX-L) rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2025 | 4th gen (2023–present) | 5,000 lbs [2] | — | Any AWD trim, with accessory towing equipment2WD trims rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2024 | 4th gen (2023–present) | 5,000 lbs [3] | — | Any AWD trim, with accessory towing equipment2WD trims rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2023 | 4th gen (2023–present) | 5,000 lbs [4] | — | Any AWD trim, with accessory towing equipment2WD trims rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2022 | 3rd gen (2016–2022) | 5,000 lbs [5] | — | Any AWD trim, with accessory towing equipment2WD trims rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2021 | 3rd gen (2016–2022) | 5,000 lbs [6] | — | Any AWD trim, with accessory towing equipment2WD trims rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2020 | 3rd gen (2016–2022) | 5,000 lbs [7] | — | AWD models with Honda accessory towing kit, trailer harness and hitch ball2WD models rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2019 | 3rd gen (2016–2022) | 5,000 lbs [8] | — | AWD models with Honda accessory towing kit, trailer harness and hitch ball2WD models rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2018 | 3rd gen (2016–2022) | 5,000 lbs [9] | — | AWD models with Honda accessory towing kit, trailer harness and hitch ball2WD models rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2017 | 3rd gen (2016–2022) | 5,000 lbs [10] | — | AWD models with Honda accessory towing kit, trailer harness and hitch ball2WD models rated 3,500 lbs |
| 2016 | 3rd gen (2016–2022) | 5,000 lbs [11] | — | AWD models with dealer-installed towing package plus ATF coolerTowing package alone rated 3,500 lbs; adding the dealer-installed ATF cooler raises AWD models to 5,000 lbs (s12) |
— = not published in a manufacturer source we could verify; we leave it blank rather than estimate.
2026 Honda Pilot towing capacity by configuration
| Trim | Engine | Drive | Package | Max towing | Payload | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport | 3.5L V6 (285 hp) | FWD | Accessory towing equipment required | 3,500 | — | [1] |
| Sport | 3.5L V6 (285 hp) | AWD | Accessory towing equipment required | 5,000 | — | [1] |
| EX-L | 3.5L V6 (285 hp) | FWD | Accessory towing equipment required | 3,500 | — | [1] |
| EX-L | 3.5L V6 (285 hp) | AWD | Accessory towing equipment required | 5,000 | — | [1] |
| TrailSport | 3.5L V6 (285 hp) | AWD | Accessory towing equipment required | 5,000 | — | [1] |
| Touring | 3.5L V6 (285 hp) | AWD | Accessory towing equipment required | 5,000 | — | [1] |
| Elite | 3.5L V6 (285 hp) | AWD | Accessory towing equipment required | 5,000 | — | [1] |
| Black Edition | 3.5L V6 (285 hp) | AWD | Accessory towing equipment required | 5,000 | — | [1] |
Ratings in lbs, as published by the manufacturer for the 2026 model year.
What lowers your Pilot's real towing limit
- Drivetrain sets the rating: Honda rates AWD Pilots at 5,000 lbs and 2WD (front-drive) Pilots at 3,500 lbs.
- Honda states towing requires accessory towing equipment; earlier spec sheets specify the Honda accessory towing kit, trailer harness and hitch ball.
- For 2016, the 5,000-lb AWD rating also required a dealer-installed ATF cooler; the towing package alone was rated 3,500 lbs.
- Trim level does not change the tow rating; the 2026 TrailSport, Touring, Elite and Black Edition are AWD-only and all rate 5,000 lbs.
The maximum rating assumes a specific, lightly loaded configuration. Three other limits apply on every tow, and the first one you hit is your real limit:
- Payload. Passengers, cargo, accessories and the trailer's tongue weight all count against payload. The payload figure on your door-jamb Tire and Loading Information placard is the one for your exact vehicle.
- Tongue weight. A conventional trailer typically puts 10–15% of its weight on the hitch, so a 5,000-lb trailer adds roughly 500–750 lbs to the truck or SUV. The hitch receiver has its own tongue-weight limit, printed on the receiver label.
- GCWR. The gross combined weight rating caps the loaded vehicle plus the loaded trailer. Every pound of passengers and cargo added to the vehicle comes off the trailer weight you can pull at GCWR.
Always stay within the lowest of these limits for your specific vehicle.
Check your exact Pilot tow rating by VIN
The table above shows the range. Your VIN pins down engine, drivetrain and cab; your window sticker adds the axle ratio and tow package.
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FAQ
What is the towing capacity of the Honda Pilot?
The 2026 Honda Pilot is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs when properly equipped (Any AWD trim, with accessory towing equipment). Source: 2026 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features. Lower-rated configurations tow less — the by-configuration table on this page lists each published rating.
Which Honda Pilot model year tows the most?
Among the model years on this page with a manufacturer-published rating (2016–2026), the highest maximum is 5,000 lbs, first published for the 2026 model year (Any AWD trim, with accessory towing equipment).
How do I find my Honda Pilot's exact towing capacity?
Check the certification label on the driver's door jamb for GVWR and the Tire and Loading Information placard for payload, then match your engine, drivetrain, cab/bed and axle ratio to the manufacturer's table. CarWhere's VIN lookup resolves engine, drivetrain and cab from the VIN; the window sticker lists the axle ratio and tow package.
Sources
- Honda News (American Honda), "2026 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-14c469388b7fed5af247fc02e2009aa7-2026-honda-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2025 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-16f7afa1eda16f08561d54be9a01e83e-2025-honda-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2024 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-5003aaa39c009393f5d06d620f07211a-2024-honda-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2023 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-4e58b4e0fcd795affa5685a66a1953ae-2023-honda-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2022 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-f8bfb43dd94cc82c09a8314c0b1422af-2022-honda-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2021 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-6c8f365baeb2f83cfe863e5284001b4f-2021-honda-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2020 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-84197a508e1244bda90703a9fe913733-2020-honda-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2019 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features Press Kit" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-c864618c65814fffb89c0e642fcddac7-2019-honda-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2018 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-6ba8946164644879a545e796b38d248c-2018-honda-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2017 Honda Pilot Specifications & Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-33a3dcae78d04dd8a569ed625806fa9f-2017-pilot-specifications-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2016 Honda Pilot - Specifications and Features" https://hondanews.com/en-US/honda-automobiles/releases/release-15b0c1766f454753a1f02db004937d1f-2016-honda-pilot-specifications-and-features (accessed 2026-11-05)
- Honda News (American Honda), "2016 Honda Pilot - Chassis" https://hondanews.com/en-US/releases/2016-honda-pilot-chassis (accessed 2026-11-05)
Methodology: ratings transcribed from official manufacturer specifications, press materials and towing guides; figures we could not verify in a manufacturer source are left blank. Cite this page: CarWhere Research, "Honda Pilot Towing Capacity," carwhere.com/towing-capacity/honda/pilot, updated 2026-11-05.