Honda Pilot Review

At its debut, the Honda Pilot essentially defined the emerging midsize crossover SUV market. Offering decent V6 power, above-average fuel economy, easy maneuverability, plenty of interior comfort and versatility, and seven-to-eight-passenger seating, it was exactly the kind of vehicle that families leery of the minivan stigma were looking for.

Of course, a lot more crossover SUVs have come out since the original Honda Pilot. Honda responded with a full redesign, and we've found the second-generation Pilot to be a little off the mark. It no longer offers a smorgasbord of strengths in this increasingly competitive segment. But a used example of the original Honda Pilot is one midsize crossover you'll definitely want to look at.

Current Honda Pilot
The current Honda Pilot has moved away from its cheerful previous-generation look toward something more rugged. It's available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and in four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L and Touring. Third-row seating capacity used to be a problem for the Pilot, but that's been remedied by the addition of extra room for adults. Its boxy shape and maximum cargo capacity of 87 cubic feet mean that the Pilot can handle just about anything the average family can cram into it.

All Pilots are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that generates 250 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic is the only available transmission. The LX comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel, full power accessories, cruise control and a seven-speaker CD/MP3 audio system. The EX adds 17-inch alloy wheels, a power driver seat, an in-dash six-CD changer, tri-zone automatic climate control and satellite radio. The EX-L upgrades to leather upholstery, heated front seats, a sunroof and a rearview-mirror-mounted back-up camera. The high-end Touring model includes a 10-speaker audio system, Bluetooth, a rear entertainment system and a navigation system (optional on the EX-L).

In reviews, we've found that the latest Honda Pilot offers a comfortable ride as well as plenty of adult-friendly interior room. But the extra burliness on the outside hasn't been matched under the hood. In short, the Pilot lacks giddy-up, and it also fails to deliver good fuel economy as compensation. Handling is merely adequate, and braking performance is subpar. Furthermore, Honda has gone a little overboard with the instrumentation, as there are many similar-looking buttons on the center stack that are hard to decipher at a glance.

Used Honda Pilot Models
The current second-generation Honda Pilot debuted for the 2009 model year, and no significant changes have occurred since.

The first-generation Pilot was introduced for the 2003 model year, making this Honda one of the first midsize crossover SUVs available with a third-row seat. A 240-hp 3.5-liter V6, matched to a five-speed automatic transmission, was always the only available power source. From 2003-'05, all Pilots sold were all-wheel drive; a front-drive version was offered alongside AWD after that.

Honda originally offered the Pilot in three trim levels: LX, EX and EX-L. The Pilot LX came with a respectable collection of convenience features, while the EX added upgrades like a power driver seat and automatic climate control. The EX-L had leather seating and could be ordered with an optional navigation system or rear-seat entertainment system. Alas, the nav and entertainment systems couldn't be ordered together.

Changes for this generation Pilot were minor, though some important safety features became more readily available as the years went on. For 2005, the V6 was revised, and horsepower increased to 255. This was also the year that stability control became available, but only on the EX-L.

In 2006, some minor changes were made to the Honda Pilot's exterior design. The adoption of revised SAE certification procedures also saw this model year's horsepower rating dropped to 244, but performance was unaffected. ABS and front-seat side airbags were always standard on Honda's midsize SUV, but 2006 models gained a three-row side curtain airbag system with a rollover sensor. Honda also made stability control standard on all Pilots for this model year. For the final model year, the LX trim was replaced by the Value Package, and a new SE trim debuted that slotted above the EX and added a sunroof and DVD player.

In reviews, we found the original Honda Pilot to offer good handling and a smooth ride for a midsize SUV. We also enjoyed its well-organized instrumentation and the quality of interior materials -- both hallmarks of Honda. Although seating accommodated seven to eight passengers, we considered the third row uncomfortable for adults. Cargo capacity, on the other hand, was always sufficient to handle what most families required.