Honda Pilot Review

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2006 Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot is arguably the best SUV on the market, balancing value, features, and performance. The Pilot has three rows of seats and both the second and third rows can split 60/40 to be folded flat. This configuration results in an impressive 86.7 cubic feet of cargo space, which is about 30% more than the Subaru Forester. The Honda Pilot SUV can tow about two tons, and has excellent traction for snow-covered roads or light off-roading.

The Pilot is ranked #1 in several categories for the Mid-Size SUV class on Autos.com, placing it ahead of the Volkswagen Touareg, Nissan Murano, Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet TrailBlazer, and Jeep Grand Cherokee, among others. These categories include Reviews, Resale Value, Passenger Space, and Safety.

See also the main fact sheets for the Honda Pilot.

High Points

• High safety ratings
• High resale value
• Decent towing capacity
• Plenty of cargo space
• 8-passenger seating
• Reduced cabin noise
• Carlike handling

Low Points

• In high demand, which means limited availability
• Certain options are mutually exclusive
• Not as powerful as some of its competitors
• 3rd row seating stifling for larger passengers

Performance and Handling

The 4WD model of the Honda Pilot is equipped with a 3.5L 244hp V6 VTEC engine. Its 240 lb.-ft. of torque allow it to tow 4,500 lbs, not superb for its class, but not too shabby either. The 4WD itself is automatic, designed to kick in when road conditions demand it.

The 2WD version of the Pilot makes use of the same engine as the 4WD model, but with an i-VTEC enhancement, which adds Variable Cylinder Management. What this does is enable three of the engine's six cylinders to be deactivated when their power is not absolutely necessary (such as when cruising), thereby cutting back on fuel consumption and decreasing overall emissions.

Gas Mileage

FuelEconomy.gov lists the gas mileage of 2WD Pilot models at 18/24 MPG and that of the 4WD models at 17/22 MPG.

According to Autos.com, this is enough to rank the Pilot 5th in gas mileage out of 23 vehicles in the Mid-Size SUV category.

Safety

The Pilot performed very well in each of the NHTSA's safety tests. In both Frontal and Side Impact crash tests, it received 5/5 stars, and testing for Rollover earned it a 4/5 star rating.

Several safety features can be found standard on all models. Some of these include electronic stability control, front and rear anti-roll bars, 4-wheel anti-lock brakes, and front and side impact airbags.

Main Competitors

• Toyota Highlander - side-by-side comparison
• Volkswagen Touareg - side-by-side comparison
• Nissan Murano - side-by-side comparison
• Chevrolet TrailBlazer - side-by-side comparison
• Ford Explorer - side-by-side comparison

External Links

• Official Honda Pilot Website

WikiCars Contributor Favorites

• Honda Pilot - reviews, specs, pictures and pricing information
• Honda Pilot Reviews

Community Sites

• News on the Honda Pilot