Makes · Honda · Honda Pilot
2016 Honda Pilot towing capacity
Trim-level maximum towing capacity — 3,500 – 5,000 lbs across packages. Exact capacity depends on configuration. Payload is separate from towing capacity and is shown where GVWR and curb weight (or manufacturer payload) exist.
Tow Planner
Select your exact configuration and tell us what you're towing. We'll compare trailer weight, payload, tongue weight and the available vehicle limits. Year-level towing and payload answers below are available without selecting a configuration.
Which configuration do you have?
9 configurations
9 possible configurations match your selections.
What are you trying to do?
Choose a job to open interactive tools. Year-level towing and payload answers appear below even before you pick a configuration.
What can a 2016 Honda Pilot tow?
Across 9 configurations with published ratings, 2016 Honda Pilot towing capacity ranges from 3,500 lbs to 5,000 lbs. Exact capacity depends on configuration — not every 2016 Honda Pilot can tow the maximum value.
- Minimum published towing capacity in this dataset: 3,500 lbs
- Maximum published towing capacity in this dataset: 5,000 lbs
- Configurations with a towing rating: 9 of 9
Highest-rated example: Elite 4dr · 4x4 — 5,000 lbs
Lowest-rated example: Touring — 3,500 lbs
Highest towing configurations
Top configurations by published maximum trailer rating for the 2016 Honda Pilot. Payload is shown only when present in the dataset.
| Trim | Cab | Drivetrain | Bed | Axle ratio | Max towing | Payload |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elite 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 4.33 | 5,000 lbs | 1,633 lbs |
| EX 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 4.25 | 5,000 lbs | 1,633 lbs |
| EX-L 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 4.25 | 5,000 lbs | 1,633 lbs |
| LX 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 4.25 | 5,000 lbs | 1,633 lbs |
| Touring 4dr | — | 4x4 | — | 4.33 | 5,000 lbs | 1,633 lbs |
| EX | — | — | — | 4.25 | 3,500 lbs | 1,633 lbs |
| EX-L | — | — | — | 4.25 | 3,500 lbs | 1,633 lbs |
| LX | — | — | — | 4.25 | 3,500 lbs | 1,633 lbs |
| Touring | — | — | — | 4.33 | 3,500 lbs | 1,633 lbs |
Towing capacity by drivetrain
2016 Honda Pilot 4x4 towing capacity
Range: 5,000 lbs (median 5,000 lbs) across 5 configurations in this dataset.
Towing capacity by axle ratio
| Axle ratio | Towing range | Configurations |
|---|---|---|
| 4.25 | 3,500 – 5,000 lbs | 6 |
| 4.33 | 3,500 – 5,000 lbs | 3 |
2016 Honda Pilot payload capacity
Payload is not the same as towing capacity. Where both GVWR and curb weight exist in the catalog, payload is GVWR minus curb weight (or the manufacturer payload field when present). Payload covers people, cargo in the truck, hitch equipment, and trailer tongue weight — not the full trailer weight.
- Observed payload range: 1,633 lbs
- Configurations with payload data: 9
Highest-payload configurations
- Elite 4dr · 4x4 — 1,633 lbs
- EX 4dr · 4x4 — 1,633 lbs
- EX-L 4dr · 4x4 — 1,633 lbs
- LX 4dr · 4x4 — 1,633 lbs
- Touring 4dr · 4x4 — 1,633 lbs
Quick configuration comparison
Observed towing ranges from the 2016 Honda Pilot dataset. Values are min–max of published ratings in each group — not a claim that every unit in the group can tow the top figure.
Axle ratios
| Axle | Towing range | Median | Configs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.25 | 3,500 – 5,000 lbs | 4,250 lbs | 6 |
| 4.33 | 3,500 – 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs | 3 |
Why does towing capacity vary for this vehicle?
Towing ratings vary across configurations. These are configuration differences present in our dataset:
- Axle ratios: 4.25, 4.33
- Published towing range: 3,500 – 5,000 lbs
Compare this vehicle
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Towing capacity by trim
| Trim | Max towing | Curb weight | Payload* | HP | Torque | Axle | Wheelbase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elite 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,317 lbs | 1,633 lbs | 280 | 262 | 4.33 | 111.0 |
| EX 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,239 lbs | 1,633 lbs | 280 | 262 | 4.25 | 111.0 |
| EX-L 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,284 lbs | 1,633 lbs | 280 | 262 | 4.25 | 111.0 |
| LX 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,220 lbs | 1,633 lbs | 280 | 262 | 4.25 | 111.0 |
| Touring 4dr 4x4 | 5,000 lbs | 4,303 lbs | 1,633 lbs | 280 | 262 | 4.33 | 111.0 |
| EX 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 4,074 lbs | 1,633 lbs | 280 | 262 | 4.25 | 111.0 |
| EX-L 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 4,118 lbs | 1,633 lbs | 280 | 262 | 4.25 | 111.0 |
| LX 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 4,054 lbs | 1,633 lbs | 280 | 262 | 4.25 | 111.0 |
| Touring 4dr Front-wheel Drive | 3,500 lbs | 4,140 lbs | 1,633 lbs | 280 | 262 | 4.33 | 111.0 |
* Payload = manufacturer payload when present, otherwise GVWR − curb weight. Towing capacity is a separate rating and is not the same as payload.
What affects the rating
Higher figures usually need the tow package, the right axle ratio, and enough cooling. Passengers, fuel, gear, and tongue weight all eat into what you can safely pull — stay under both the trailer rating and the vehicle’s payload.