CARS.COM — When Honda redesigned its three-row Pilot SUV for 2016, the automaker added more family-friendly features, including second-row captain’s chairs. That model did well in our Car Seat Check, but we’ve been waiting to see how a Pilot with a second-row bench seat performs. The answer? Very well. The bench seat increases the Pilot’s capacity to eight passengers and its accessible anchors ease installation. Even better: Three car seats can fit on the wide, flat second row.
How many car seats fit in the second row? Three, but we used a seat belt to install the middle car seat because the middle position’s Latch anchor placement pushed the seat too far to one side.
How many car seats fit in the third row? Two
What We Like
- There are three sets of lower Latch anchors in the second row, one more than usual, and all the anchors are exposed for easy access. The three top tether anchors at the base of the seatbacks are also well marked and easy to use. In the third row, there’s one additional set of anchors and connecting wasn’t a problem.
- In the second row, both the infant and the convertible in rear-facing form installed easily, and we did not need to move the front passenger seat forward to accommodate either one.
- After removing the head restraint, the forward-facing convertible also fit well and was no problem to install in both the second and third rows.
What We Don’t
- Our booster fit well in the second row, but the bench seat’s floppy buckles could make it difficult to buckle up independently.
- Similarly, in the third row, the booster also fit well, but the buckles are on floppy straps that fall behind the booster, complicating connection.
- Although the second row slides forward with the push of a button, the opening is narrow, complicating third-row access.