Only 2 years old, the Honda Pilot remains basically unchanged for 2004. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It came right out of the chute as a top contender among crossovers and it is still a top competitor in its second year.
Honda pitches the Pilot as an SUV, but that is stretching things. Based on the popular Odyssey minivan, Pilot is more car than truck. Its unibody construction and lack of a low-end gear for hard-core off-roading really place it among crossover vehicles such as the Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Equinox and Ford Escape — that in spite of its size.
Larger than most of its crossover peers, Pilot offers three rows of seats with the capacity to haul as many as eight persons.
Its luggage capacity is 16.3 cubic feet; but with the second- and third-row 60/40 split seats folded down (they fold flat), it provides a whopping 90.3 cubic feet of cargo room. That’s nine more cubic feet than the Highlander and 24 more than the Escape.
Basically, the trim levels are LX or EX. Neither determines any differences in the mechanicals. Both come with a 240-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 that also churns out 242 foot-pounds of torque.
A five-speed automatic transmission transfers the engine’s output to the pavement via an intuitive all-wheel-drive system. This is an impressive package that accelerates with gusto. On slippery surfaces the AWD senses which wheels have grip and sends power there. Pilot tips the scales at more than 2 tons, so its fuel economy isn’t quite what it could be. The Environmental Protection Agency has rated its in-city miles per gallon at 17, and its highway estimate at 22.
The ride is pleasant thanks to a suspension capable of soaking up most anything the pavement sends its way. Despite ride quality, the four-wheel independent suspension delivers decent handling for such a large (and heavy) vehicle. It corners without excess body lean. Its four-wheel antilock brake system comes with electronic brake force distribution that spreads the brake force evenly between the front and rear wheels.
Inside, the Pilot is roomy and comfortable. Both front- and second-row-seat passengers have plenty of head, leg and shoulder room.
The third row is short on legroom, making it most suitable for smaller children. The second and third rows are theater style, meaning they are elevated for a better view.
The layout of the dashboard and its instrumentation is exceptional. All of the parts and pieces fit snuggly and the materials are attractive. Honda has managed to place the audio controls even higher up on the instrument panel than normal by placing the center air vents beneath them. Below them are controls for the ventilation system.
This all changes, though, if the navigation system is ordered. In that case, a 6-inch screen moves to the top of the dash and the audio system is relocated to below the ventilation system controls.
A thoughtful touch that should be on every vehicle is a cell-phone cradle.
Without the destination charge, the Pilot LX retails for $27,100. It is adequately equipped with air conditioning, cruise control, power windows/door locks, four-speaker audio system with CD changer and front side-impact air bags. Another $2,370 moves you up to the EX and add such amenities as heated outboard mirrors, eight-way power driver’s seat, outside temperature gauge, upgraded audio system with seven speakers and redundant steering-wheel-mounted audio controls and a cargo net.
The Pilot provide for this review was the EX-LRES with leather, heated front seats and the DVD-based entertainment system. Its base price was $32,370. After adding the $460 delivery charge, the total as tested came to $32,830.
There are crossovers that do certain things better than the Pilot, but you’d be hard-pressed to find one that exceeds it across the board.
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