Picture Gallery: 2009 Honda Pilot Touring | Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Discuss
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Honestly, the front isn’t that bad, although it does look kind of like a pig’s snout or something. Some say that Honda has gone mad with their styling lately, while others say they are taking risks that will pay off. I guess we will find out eventually how the chips will fall, but Honda certainly is being bold, modern and high tech with their designs.
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So what do you get in the Touring model? Well, I am not sure there is anything you don’t get: there is power everything (including moonroof), heated front and middle row seats, seating for eight, DVD entertainment centres front and rear as well as navigation, a rear back-up camera with sensors front and rear… I could go on for quite a while.
Starting at $36,820 for the LX 2wd version, all Pilots come with the same underpinnings (minus the 4WD option). They are all powered by the same 3.5-litre V6 engine that produces 250hp and 253lb-ft of torque, and the engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. The 4WD models all boast a 2,045kg (4,500lb) towing capacity, while the lone 2WD model can only pull 1,590kg (3,500lbs).
2009 Honda Pilot Touring
MSRP as tested (including destination): $51,480
For more information on Honda and the Pilot visit Honda Canada
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I spent some time in the Pilot this morning trying to pair my bluetooth phone with the vehicle and download my phonebook. Once I changed the system’s language from French to English I was on my way to pairing my phone. It was a simple process, and the download of my phonebook was quick as well — the system can then read your phone book entries out loud to you so you can keep your hands on the wheel while attempting to make a call.
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The instrument cluster is especially cool at night, with a 3-D look to it, numbers etched onto glass with a needle sweeping behind them. Ambient lighting is provided by blue LEDs, which makes seeing items in cupholders easy at night, while not distracting you from the outside world.
As typical with most seven- and eight-seater vehicles, the front two rows are comfortable, while the third row is a pinch; cargo space with the third row up is virtually nil; only a few bags of groceries would fit, or a gym bag. With the third row folded, cargo space is just fine; with a box-shaped body, the Pilot provides ample room in all directions.
Second-row passengers (on the outboard seats) are pampered with heated leather and climate controls the same as the front row, and can also enjoy a DVD or other entertainment with the rear entertainment system.
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This means the Pilot is bumpy around town and bangs about on harsh pavement. It is not excessive by any means, but in a Honda I was expecting a softer more-refined ride than the one I am being treated to. This suspension tuning also gives the Pilot a very weighty feel while driving it, pushing that truck feeling a little further.
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The Pilot is not slow with the 250hp V6, but at times it does feel sluggish, especially from a stop; like most Honda engines it needs to be prodded for its power. The engine is smooth, although not extremely quiet; you can hear it even on mild acceleration. On the highway the five-speed automatic has the engine turning between 1,500-2,000rpm, providing a relaxing atmosphere.
The Pilot’s AWD system has engaged a few times for me in slick parking lots, but the Pilot is mostly a front driver — with some snow on the ground and a prod of the go-pedal I was able to coax the Pilot into a small skid that was mostly an understeer/plow, unfortunately. Although I’m sure the AWD system is capable, the system in the Ford Edge / Taurus X and Flex is more fun, and their powertrains are smoother as well.
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The Pilot isn’t a true off-roader, but let’s be honest: nobody purchasing a Pilot will be taking it off-road anyway. So the stiff suspension is not really a requirement, although I’m sure some of the stiffness can be attributed to it’s 4,500lb towing capacity and the need to hold up at least 500 pounds of tongue weight.
The Pilot is also a brick, and bricks don’t fly very well. I netted an average fuel consumption of 14.5L/100km over the course of the week and you could achieve the same in a V8 powered truck, which I did in the Kia Borrego just a few weeks ago.
*Rating out of 5:
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*Rating based on vehicle’s classification
2009 Honda Pilot Touring
MSRP as tested (including destination): $51,480
For more information on Honda and the Pilot visit Honda Canada
to our site.
November 20, 2008, 08:37:04 am airbalancer,
do you really think that gas is gonna stay bellow 80 cents for many years. I usually keep my vehicles for 10 years. I can only imagine the price of gas in 5 years.
November 20, 2008, 08:39:49 am Honda needs to steal some Mazda designers right quick. Seems like they can only manage bland or ugly. The front end of this thing looks like it has already run into a brick wall. The rest of it looks like the shipping crate it arrived in. Then you get the now-signature Honda button-itis for the interior. Sad.
Jaeger
November 20, 2008, 12:03:08 pm
Jaeger
Front end looks like a pug.
November 20, 2008, 12:15:17 pm Looks like the designers took the front off an X-Trail and the tail off an old Cherokee, got rid of any remaining curves then threw the whole thing onto the photocopier and hit 110%. Truly inspiring. Honda's gone nuts with this whole oversized-plastic-grille-cover business. It's even made its way onto the facelifted CSX. If they go anywhere near the next S2000 or NSX with this design language, so help me, I'm booking a flight to Japan to kick some ass.
November 20, 2008, 12:56:06 pm Wouldn't wanna see that schnoz in my rear view mirror...
Only 13 buttons on the steering wheel? I'm sure they missed something there...
November 20, 2008, 05:31:21 pm Is that a 3rd support for the hatch?
November 20, 2008, 05:58:34 pm
Only 13 buttons on the steering wheel? I'm sure they missed something there...
November 20, 2008, 06:06:59 pm
That's the linkage for the power tailgate.
November 21, 2008, 08:27:18 am This this is fugly
November 21, 2008, 08:33:39 am Well said Jaeger, well said.
I think Honda/Acura is trying to push the design concept, somewhat like what Cadillac and BMW did a few years back.. only with much, much worse designers.
November 21, 2008, 08:36:28 am I hope Ford uses this article's "pro-Ford" comment in its advertising.
Current media coverage of the "Big 3" concerning their bail-out requests includes some complaints from drivers beefing about their bad experiences with Big 3 cars. I wonder if the media are being over-selective in their choice of comments just to hype the news story.
I've been very happy with the 3 Dodge Caravans I have owned - one of them for 12 years.
My wife owns an '05 Honda Civic. Great vehicle except that:
. the dealer-recommended service schedule calls for over-service
compared to the owner's manual, and the dealer prices are
outrageously expensive
. get your oil changed elsewhere and an annoying "maintenance
needed" message is liable to pop up the instrument panel and
stay there
. the gas cap door is unlocked by an inside lever prone to
repeated failure. The fix at the dealer is $120 a pop once you're
out of warranty
2 of my 3 VW's were unreliable.
An acquaintance spent a fortune on maintenance for a turbo Volvo.
Once I commented admiringly on the beautiful high-end BMW
coupe driven by a business associate. He moaned about its unreliability and astronomical maintenance costs.
Just one old guy's perspective.
November 21, 2008, 11:41:49 am Honda's are reliable for sure, but they are so expensive after the dollar parity throughout the last year. Toyota, Nissan, Mazda, and Subaru are all cheaper with their price adjustments! Don't get me wrong, I drove an Accord, so I value their products! The Pilot never really interested me as I found it to be too minivan or car like. So, with the new redesign, I was interested to see if they could make a rough SUV.
My thoughts now? The exterior really tries to be like traditional truck based SUVs, but the interior is pretty ugly. And now after reading about it's awd drive system and taken into accout the pricing, thumbs down for this Honda minivan-like SUV.
November 21, 2008, 11:45:43 am If you read into the offroad capabilities, you'll find that the GX470 is far superior. As well, I don't think these cars quite in the same class. Pilot has competitors like the Toyota Highlander, Mazda CX7 or CX9, Subaru Tribeca, etc.
Add those on and you're at almost 8 to 10 grand difference.
November 21, 2008, 01:42:26 pm
Reminds me of the Jimmy Durante shnoz makeover they gave the Pontiac Montana/SV6 et al to make it look more 'SUV' than minivan.
November 21, 2008, 06:30:21 pm
My wife owns an '05 Honda Civic. Great vehicle except that:
. the dealer-recommended service schedule calls for over-service
compared to the owner's manual, and the dealer prices are
outrageously expensive
. get your oil changed elsewhere and an annoying "maintenance
needed" message is liable to pop up the instrument panel and
stay there
. the gas cap door is unlocked by an inside lever prone to
repeated failure. The fix at the dealer is $120 a pop once you're
out of warranty
Hondas have always been this way. Back in the 80's a girlfriend bought a new Prelude (and I won't get into the horror story of trying to buy one of those at the time from Colonial Honda in Halifax -- let's just say they took advantage of having a hot product to the maximum extent possible). Anyway, she would take it back there for maintenance and after a couple of years she was getting bills for $500-$800 every time. They would change things based on time, not condition, and she foolishly trusted them. She only got rid of it when they told her the car had rust in the chassis that they couldn't or wouldn't repair.
November 21, 2008, 07:31:32 pm Moby Dick sucking a lemon. Does anyone actually WANT one of these?
November 21, 2008, 07:34:19 pm
Damn, that's funny.
Jaeger
November 24, 2008, 12:11:44 pm How did you manage to get such a low fuel economy? Did you only drive short distance, warm up 15 minutes every time, or drive all week in stop-and-go?
14.5L/100 average for the week is pretty bad and atypical for Honda (so they say)even for a CUV in this class and cold weather (not extremely cold yet).
November 24, 2008, 12:42:46 pm
14.5L/100 average for the week is pretty bad and atypical for Honda (so they say)even for a CUV in this class and cold weather (not extremely cold yet).
Seems quite reasonable for a 4608 lb curb weight (Looks like Porky Pig and weighs like it too!)
Oink Oink.
November 24, 2008, 12:49:05 pm Based on my Odyssey's city use, Wing's 14.5 l/100 km seems on par; the Ody averages 13.5 l/100 km these days, and Pilots usually guzzle another litre on top of that in the real world. You can't expect miracles with more than 4000 lbs powered by 250 hp. On the open road, in summer temps, an Ody will dip below 10 l/100 km, and I doubt the brick-like Pilot will reach that.
November 24, 2008, 12:50:26 pm ..Hope ...McSquinty doesn't charge it PEARSON LANDING RATES......................
November 25, 2008, 11:37:53 am Re. "Sure, it offered every gadget in the book, and to be honest, at $50,000 loaded with every gadget it is a pretty good deal, even if you may think otherwise."
You can put me squarely in the "thinks otherwise" camp.
Jaeger
November 25, 2008, 03:26:36 pm I'd take a VeraCruz and keep the cash for gas
November 25, 2008, 03:28:55 pm No it's not in the same class as the GX470 or LR3; Honda just priced like it.
Almost none of GX470 buyers would take it off-road, BTW.
Add those on and you're at almost 8 to 10 grand difference.
November 25, 2008, 04:11:28 pm
Almost none of GX470 buyers would take it off-road, BTW.
Add those on and you're at almost 8 to 10 grand difference.
But they could.