https://www.piloteers.org/threads/does-the-second-row-middle-seat-come-out-and-store-in-the-trunk-floor-on-the-2024-exl-trim.185615/#post-1857146

 

Yes, I read that and all 2023+ posts on the website before I went looking at Pilots at several dealers locally in early February. At the time were plenty of inventory of 2024 EX-L's with the captains chairs, which was my preference. I was not aware of the early introduction of the 2025's and how quickly the 2024's were clearing off the lots. By the time I sold my old Jeep SUV and made it back to the dealer I was planning to purchase from, all the 2024 models with the captains chairs in the color combo I wanted were gone. The dealer sales people, Honda website by model information and YouTube videos on the 2025 features said the EX-L was no longer available with the captains chairs and the center of the middle seat was NOT removable except for the Touring and Trailsport models. The dealer had one 2024 EX-L left on the lot in black/black/middle "bench" seat and that was not a color combo we were interested in. We also verified that the 2025 Sport models with the cloth seats on the lot did not have removable center sections. I have no idea why Honda is doing this, but just saying to check before you buy or order if the feature is important to you. So far happy with the purchase other than a few quirks that are not real issues. Glad this forum exists.

 

I have a 2025 sport model an the center seat is removable. There is a thin looped metal wire under the front center of the seat it is easy to miss. I also thought it wasn't removable because it didn't have the same release spot as the others.

 

I'm sure every model is. It would be more cost for them to design a separate seat attachment design and get it certified for crashworthiness etc for the lower trims

 

Wow thank you very much One more question? There is a cable underneat Will be safe to unplug it?

 

Yeah that wire is for the seatbelt, just unplug the connector and the clip on securing the wire under the seat then tuck it in the floor cover.

 

I attached a soft fabric loop to the wire which makes it extremely easy to locate and then remove the seat.

No issue at all unplugging the wire…have had mine disconnected for the last 6 months and can confirm you will not receive a dash light.

 

Thank you very much!!+for your help

 

We just got a 2025 EX-L and I can confirm the seat is removable but there is no wire to disconnect (not sure if this was a change in 2025).

 

That's interesting

I wonder if they switched to having the transponder in every seat to cut costs, or whether yours is just missing the wire

If the former, then it is really shitty of Honda to pretend that the Touring and Elite are offering added value on this metric, if the EXL has the same

 

Maybe yours isn't an EXL after all, dealer might have given you a wrong trim? From what I know EXL, Sport and '23 LX are wired.

 

No, mine is 100% a ‘25 EX-L and it’s not wired. I’m betting that when they got rid of the 7-passenger option in the EX-L for 2025 they used the same seating system as the Touring and above to cut costs but didn’t communicate that to consumers in order to entice them into buying the higher trims.

 

We are buying a new Pilot 2025 SPORT and noticed when I tried to remove the Center seat it has a wire harness attached to something electrical. What is this for and should I disconnect it if I want to remove the seat?

 

That harness is for the seatbelt to alarm you if your buckled/ unbuckle. Disconnecting it won't do any harm.

 

If you don't mine me asking, what price did you pay?