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TwitterPilot Touring among best crossovers
Car buyers who don’t like choosing options one by one tend to jump to the top of the line.
In the world of crossover vehicles, the Pilot Touring holds that prestigious position for Honda.
With a base price of $40,245, the Touring edition comes with advanced amenities such as Satellite-Linked Navigation System with rearview camera, premium audio system, Bluetooth HandsFreeLink, power tailgate, heated side-mirrors with turn indicators and all the features usually found on a luxury vehicle.
The Touring version also comes with all-wheel drive and a host of safety features such as side-curtain airbags for all three rows of passengers.
“The combination of spacious eight-passenger seating, a comfortable ride and advanced fuel-saving technology help make the Pilot one of the most accommodating vehicles for children, work, errands and for longer trips with family and friends,” said Vicki Poponi, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda Motor Co.
Categorized as a “crossover” vehicle because it bears the body of a sport utility on the chassis of a car, the Pilot was introduced in 2002 and revised when Honda’s Lincoln, Ala., plant began producing the 2009 model.
The Pilot was listed on Car and Driver magazine’s “5 Best Truck” list for six straight years.
While South Korea’s Hyundai has encroached on Honda’s quality turf in recent years, the brand still carries exceptional equity in the American market.
People who still think of Honda as a maker of small cars will be surprised at the Pilot’s size. The vehicle is maneuverable but still requires careful checking in tight parking situations. Nonetheless, Honda claims more appropriate proportions than some of its key rivals, measuring 10 inches to 2 feet shorter.
Pilot’s only available engine is a 250-horsepower V6 that provides respectable torque for varied uses. Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management saves fuel by deactivating up to three of the engine’s six cylinders when cruising or lightly accelerating.
Fuel economy is rated at 16 city miles per gallon, 22 mpg on the highway for an estimated fuel cost of $1,585 based on gasoline at $1.90 per gallon.
Variable Torque Management on the four-wheel-drive system enhances traction in rain, snow and slippery terrain. All models are equipped with a standard towing receiver and a maximum tow rating of 4,500 pounds on 4WD models and 3,500 pounds on 2WD models.
The five-speed automatic transmission features Grade Logic Control to help maintain the right gear when going uphill or downhill. The VTM system includes a lock mode in first or second gears up to 18 mph. The system locks with the push of a button on the instrument panel, sending maximum torque to the rear wheels to prevent the vehicle from getting stuck or slip-sliding away.
Parents will appreciate the roomy interior, with 152.7 cubic feet of passenger space. Adjustable storage compartments in the center console can accommodate handbags and other portable devices.
The instrument panel’s wide center stack group controls for the audio system, climate controls and the Satellite-Linked Navigation System. All models provide an auxiliary audio input jack for digital music players.
The front bucket seats are comfortable, with a high and mighty view of the road.
The 60/40-split, second row seats three and slides forward to ease access to the third row. The third row, also split 60/40, offers sufficient knee room for a typical adult. There are four Lower Anchor and Tether for Children attachment positions that accommodate three child seats in the second row and one in the third row.
Behind the third row, you’ll find 20.8 cubic feet of cargo space, more than a large sedan might offer. To convert the passenger car into a cargo carrier, fold the second and third rows flat into the floor to create 87 cubic feet of capacity. You’ll even have room for the 4-by-8-foot piece of plywood you’ve been wanting to buy.
The Pilot is also sold in LX, EX and EX-L trim, each offered in 2-wheel or 4-wheel-drive. The 2-wheel drive LX is priced at $27,695, while the EX rises to $30,495. The EX-L in 2-wheel-drive is $30,495. The 4-wheel-drive option adds about $1,600 to each trim level.
Honda’s American bona fides include its design and development in Raymond, Ohio, and Torrance, Calif.
WHAT’S NEW: Second year for Alabama-built crossover.
PLUSES: Versatility, quality, capacity, comfort.
MINUSES: Fuel economy, maneuverability.
BOTTOM LINE: Top of the line.
• TYPE: 4-wheel-drive, 4-door, 8-passenger, midsize SUV.
• PRICE: $40,245 base, $40,995 as tested.
• WHERE BUILT: Lincoln, Ala.
• KEY RIVALS: Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano, Hyundai Santa Fe.
• POWER: 3.5-liter, 250-hp, i-VTEC V-6; 5-speed auto transmission.
• FUEL ECONOMY: 16/city, 22/highway, 18 combined mpg; 21-gallon tank; estimated annual fuel cost $1,585.
• CHASSIS: Macpherson front strut, multilink rear suspension; power disc brakes with ABS; power rack-and-pinion steering; 17-inch alloy wheels; Michelin all-season P245/65/R-17 tires.
• LENGTH X WIDTH X HEIGHT: 190.9 x 78.5 x 72.7 inches.
• WHEELBASE X TRACK: 109.2 x 66.3/66.5 inches.
• CURB WEIGHT: 4,504 pounds.
• GROUND CLEARANCE: 8 inches.
• STANDARD: Class III hitch; hill start assist; lift-up glass hatch; telescopic steering column; AM/FM/CD audio system; three-row side curtain airbags with a rollover sensor; dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags; a driver’s front side airbag, and a front passenger’s side airbag; power accessories; keyless entry; air conditioning; cruise control; trip computer and compass; second-row sun shades; multi-information display; power tailgate with lift-up glass; power moon roof with tilt; auto headlamps; fog lights; roof rails; rear privacy glass; chrome exhaust finishers.
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