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Christopher Jackson | 9/6/2007 | Honda
We were surprised to find a number of suburbanites who had never met a Honda Pilot. 'Honda makes an SUV?' they asked, looking around the eight-seater's spacious interior. 'I had no idea.'
It's true, though. The Pilot is Honda's big, brick-like take on a mid-size SUV, and it's actually been prowling the roads since 2003. While the rest of the Honda lineup has gone all smooth and futuristic-looking, the Pilot remains square and mechanical-looking. Although it's got very strong, trucklike underpinnings, the Pilot is in many ways more minivan than sport-ute. For 2006, the Pilot is available with two-wheel drive (2WD) as well as all-wheel drive.
Style-wise, the Pilot is a bit of a wallflower. Front and rear fascias have been tweaked for 2006, but it's not obvious unless you see '05 and '06 models side-by-side. It's big at the curb, with beveled-square lines and a tall stance, but the design is ultimately rather demure compared to other sport-utes. Styling cues (and some underpinnings) are shared with the Ridgeline pickup as well, though the Pilot's resemblance to a rhinoceros is less pronounced.
That wide body and tall, squared-off proportions translate to a large, passenger-friendly cabin. With the standard third-row seat, the Pilot will seat up to eight adults. Up front, there's a convenient and comfortable console with plenty of space for small objects, as well as a pair of tall, broad seats for the driver and front-seat passenger. The column-mounted shifter is awkward but it's the only weak spot in the interior design, which was clearly designed with the many small items required for a day of suburban erranding in mind. The console opens from the front and side, and includes handy places to keep a cell phone and a pen. Umbrella, purse, mail for the post office and bottled water will all quickly find suitable cubbies as well.
Like many minivans, this SUV is equipped to be a rolling suburban command center. Available options include a navigation system, rear backup camera and a DVD entertainment system. Side-curtain airbags are standard.
Since most SUVs this size are rolling with V8 power these days, we expected the Pilot's 3.5 liter V6 to be a bit underpowered. We were pleasantly surprised; the big 244 horsepower V6 offers enough power and torque to keep up with traffic easily. Honda also makes the Pilot available with its Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system. VCM shuts off three of the engine's six cylinders when they're not needed, boosting fuel economy without denting performance. Honda has gone to great lengths to ensure that VCM works without affecting the drive at all. Active engine mounts and noise cancellation systems allow VCM to switch the cylinders on and off without affecting performance at all. The only indicator that it's working is the "ECO" light on the dash. In the 2WD Pilot, this makes for a people hauler that's almost economical, without resorting to expensive hybrid-electric systems. This big SUV will do 24 mpg on the freeway. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard equipment, and a properly equipped Pilot will tow up to 4500 pounds.
The Pilot's suspension is a touch nervous. MacPherson struts up front and a multi-link rear make for a very carlike suspension setup, and it shows. It manages harshness better than a trucky, coil-over-spring suspension arrangement. The downside is that the Pilot feels softly sprung; unloaded, this sport-ute is in a constant state of pitch and bob on pavement. Get five or six adults aboard, and the ride smoothes out considerably. The Pilot is composed in normal travel, but emergency maneuvers bring on a healthy dose of swerve and waddle. Thankfully, Honda's Vehicle Stability Assist stability control is standard. Braking is handled by four-wheel discs, and anti-lock brakes are standard.
The Pilot follows Honda's tradition of never doing things halfway; this SUV is just about perfectly executed for what most SUVs are purchased for. Like Honda's light-duty Ridgeline pickup, the Pilot may not be the hardest-working truck out there, but it's more than able to tackle light suburban chores and nasty weather. Think of it as the spiritual successor to the old Vista Cruiser station wagons of years past, and you won't be far wrong.
Pilot prices start at $26,995 for the 2wd LX model, and $28,195 for the four-wheel drive. We test-drove a top-of-the-line Pilot EX-L 2WD model with a navigation system. Its sticker price of $34,595 included a ton of standard equipment, including leather seats, a six-disc CD changer in the dash, XM satellite radio and a moonroof.
Specifications:
All specs are for the 2006 Honda Pilot EX.
Length: 188.0 in.
Width: 77.5 in.
Height: 71.3 in.
Wheelbase: 106.3 in.
Curb weight: 4341 lb.
Towing capacity: 3500 lb.
Cargo space: 47.6 cu.ft. (all seats folded)
Base price: $34,045
Price as tested: $34,595
Engine: 3.5 liter 24-valve SOHC V6
Drivetrain: five-speed automatic transmission, front-wheel drive
Horsepower: 244 @ 5750
Torque: 240 @ 4500
Fuel capacity: 20.4 gal.
Est. mileage: 18/24
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