Used 2021 Honda Pilot for Sale near North Carolina

Compare 2021 Honda Pilot Trims

The 2021 Honda Pilot offers a range of trims with versatile AWD and FWD options, catering to various budgets and preferences.

• Starting at $23,403
• Best MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Most Popular: EX-L AWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

EX AWD — "Who It's For"

The EX AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded SUV with essential features without paying for luxury extras.

• Avg. market price: $23,480 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 26 hwy
• Inventory: 285 listings
• View EX AWD listings

EX-L FWD — "Who It's For"

The EX-L FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a comfortable ride with premium features without the AWD price tag.

• Avg. market price: $23,403 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 948 listings
• View EX-L FWD listings

EX-L AWD — "Who It's For"

The EX-L AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a blend of luxury and capability without going for the top-tier trims.

• Avg. market price: $24,677 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 26 hwy
• Inventory: 1,991 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View EX-L AWD listings

SE AWD — "Who It's For"

The SE AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a solid mix of features and performance without breaking the bank.

• Avg. market price: $24,767 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 26 hwy
• Inventory: 386 listings
• View SE AWD listings

Touring FWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring FWD is the pick for shoppers who want advanced tech features and comfort for family trips without the AWD cost.

• Avg. market price: $26,057 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 20 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 445 listings
• View Touring FWD listings

Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sporty SUV with all-wheel drive and premium features for a more dynamic drive.

• Avg. market price: $28,283 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 26 hwy
• Inventory: 1,417 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Touring AWD listings

Elite AWD — "Who It's For"

The Elite AWD is the pick for shoppers who want top-tier luxury and advanced features in a family-friendly SUV.

• Avg. market price: $29,327 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 26 hwy
• Inventory: 1,500 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Elite AWD listings

Black Edition AWD — "Who It's For"

The Black Edition AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a stylish, feature-rich SUV that stands out on the road.

• Avg. market price: $28,971 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 26 hwy
• Inventory: 426 listings
• View Black Edition AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — EX-L AWD

With 1,991 active listings, the EX-L AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse EX-L AWD listings

Best Budget Option — EX-L FWD

At $23,403 avg market price — below the lineup median of $25,412 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse EX-L FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — EX-L FWD

The EX-L FWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup at 20/27 MPG.

Browse EX-L FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 12, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

How much does the 2021 Honda Pilot cost?

Prices have softened 5.39% compared to this time last year, making it a favorable time to shop this model year.

There are 2,643 listings available, which gives you a solid amount of inventory to compare before you buy.

Is the 2021 Honda Pilot a good car?

Yes — the 2021 Honda Pilot earns a 4.86/5 user rating and a 7.17/10 expert rating.

The standout strength is Form and function at 9/10.

Owners consistently praise the Pilot’s spaciousness, smooth ride, range of features, and overall value for a large SUV. The review summary also points to its easy-to-live-with nature, especially for shoppers who want a roomy family vehicle with useful technology and strong everyday practicality. In context, that fits a midsize three-row crossover SUV aimed at families who value utility and comfort more than flashy styling.

The trade-offs are that the design can feel a bit outdated compared with rivals, and the expert review calls out fairly pedestrian performance and an irritating transmission.

With 32.1% of listings priced as good or great deals, there’s still room to shop selectively.

Is the 2021 Honda Pilot reliable?

Owners rate it 4.86/5, a strong signal of long-term satisfaction.

The owner summary points to a vehicle that feels dependable in daily use, with buyers highlighting its spaciousness, smooth ride, and overall value. The expert cost-effectiveness notes also describe it as a known quantity that is likely to be reliable, last a long time, and hold value well. That combination suggests the Pilot is the kind of SUV you can count on for family duty over the long haul.

Honda’s reputation for durability and resale value helps reduce long-term ownership risk, especially if you choose a well-kept example.

What should I look for when buying a used 2021 Honda Pilot?

At 74% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.

You should start with a vehicle history report and then prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re considering a higher-mileage or lower-priced example. Focus on body condition, signs of prior repair, and how the transmission and brakes feel on a test drive. Because this model is often bought as a family hauler, you’ll also want to make sure the cabin, seats, and tech features all work as expected.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base LX is the most stripped-down version, while higher trims add more comfort, convenience, and appearance upgrades. The Special Edition adds black 20-inch alloy wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free power tailgate, while the Touring and above bring more premium equipment. If you want the best value, the EX and Special Edition are the trims to compare closely.
• Powertrain: Every 2021 Pilot uses a 3.5-liter V6 with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic. Front-wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available on most trims.
• Safety package: Honda Sensing is standard and includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with EX trim, you also get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning.
• Infotainment: Most trims include an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, text-messaging support, satellite radio, and basic HondaLink connected services. Touring adds navigation, a WiFi hotspot, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and more.
• Fuel efficiency: The AWD model should get 22 mpg in combined driving, and the test vehicle averaged 21.5 mpg on the testing loop.

Which 2021 Honda Pilot trim should I buy?

The 2021 Honda Pilot is offered in 7 trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Special Edition, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition.

Here's the short version:

• LX: This is the entry point, so it makes sense if you want the Pilot’s core space and V6 power at the lowest price, but it leaves out many of the convenience and comfort upgrades found higher up.
• EX: This is the trim to watch if you want the best value, because it adds more everyday usability and also brings blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning.
• EX-L: Choose this if you want a more upscale cabin feel, since it moves the Pilot further into comfort-focused territory.
• Special Edition: This is a smart middle-ground pick if you want extra style and convenience, thanks to the blacked-out exterior treatment, wireless phone charging, and hands-free power tailgate.
• Touring: This trim is the best fit if you want the most family-friendly tech and entertainment features, including navigation, a premium audio system, rear-seat entertainment, and Cabin Talk.
• Elite: This is the more luxurious choice, with AWD standard and a higher-end feature set.
• Black Edition: Pick this if you want the most fully loaded Pilot with the boldest appearance treatment and standard AWD.

Honda Sensing is standard across the lineup, and blind-spot monitoring/rear cross-traffic warning starts with EX trim.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2021 Honda Pilot?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop carefully and still find worthwhile listings.

• Deal availability: 32.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,643 listings available.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.39% compared with last year.
• Clean inventory: 74.0% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $24,748, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

What is the 2021 Honda Pilot's resale value?

The current average of $25,558 sits slightly below last year's $27,014.

That price movement suggests the market has cooled a bit, which can help you as a buyer today but may also mean a future seller has less room to command a premium. Even so, the Pilot’s broad family appeal and reputation for value should help support demand over time. If you keep the vehicle in good condition and maintain it well, it should remain attractive to used shoppers.

Vehicles with strong owner satisfaction ratings, like this model year's 4.86/5, tend to retain buyer demand, which supports resale value over time.

Is the 2021 Honda Pilot safe?

The 2021 Honda Pilot earns a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, despite four-star marks for front-passenger protection in a frontal impact. The IIHS gives it its highest “good” ratings except for an “acceptable” score for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection, and the standard headlights also earn an “acceptable” rating while those on higher trims earn a “good” rating.

It earns a 7/10 safety score from our experts.

Honda Sensing is standard and includes adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with EX trim, you also get blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The main caveat is that the system uses an older version of Honda Sensing, and the lane-departure warning can feel overly obvious.

Should I buy a 2021 Honda Pilot or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2021 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

Choose the 2021 if:

• 32.1% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• At 74% accident-free, a meaningful share of listings has prior incidents — history verification is especially important.
• Price trend: Prices have softened 5.39% compared with last year.
• Owners rate it 4.86/5 — a strong satisfaction signal.
• It stands out for its interior, powertrain, driving dynamics, and simple but useful technology.

Consider the 2020 if:

• At $22,511, the 2020 costs less than the current year's $25,558 average.
• It offers tons of cargo space and an adult-friendly third row.

The bottom line: If you want the stronger all-around package, the 2021 is the better target because it balances space, comfort, and useful tech with a still-reasonable market price. If your priority is spending less up front, the 2020 is the better value play, especially if you find one with the right equipment and condition.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 11, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.