After establishing itself as one of the most fuel-efficient and accommodating crossover SUVs on the market, the Honda Pilot was in a serious need of a design that complimented the spacious, versatile interior.
Thanks to a complete redesign, the 2009 Honda Pilot got just that.
Bucking the desire to make the Pilot a fashion accessory, Honda designed the all-new Pilot to maximize the midsize crossover’s functionality and utility. While the first generation Pilot looked like an oversized economy car, the 2009 Honda Pilot sports a design that is both rugged and attractive. One of the best all-around SUVs on the market, the second-generation Pilot boasts a refined, comfortable ride without sacrificing off-road capabilities, offers a powerful, yet efficient, drivetrain and a comfortable, luxurious interior.
As effective as the original Pilot was for Honda, the new model builds on that and does so in a more stylish package. First things first, the redesigned Pilot is bigger and more aggressive than its predecessor. Although the Pilot’s width, wheelbase and overall length have increased significantly (1, 2.9 and 2.9 inches, respectively), the curb weight has remained relatively equal (our top of the line test vehicle weighed in at 4,590 pounds). Looking like an updated version of the blocky SUVs of the 1990s, the Pilot’s boxy design gives it a distinct look against its main competitors such as the Mazda CX-9 and Hyundai Veracruz crossover SUVs.
Up front, large rectangular headlights flank Honda’s new corporate grille, which is probably the most prominent exterior design cue. A single crease runs along each side of the Pilot from the front bumper to the D-pillar and noticeable bevels surround the side windows adding stylish touches and helping to prevent the Pilot from looking like a slab-sided minivan. The hindquarters of the Pilot continue the use of angular lines and subtle creases around the rear glass and taillights. The rear hatch also adds the convenience of a separately opening glass panel.
Don’t be fooled by the old school SUV styling, though. The Pilot is a genuine crossover, sharing its chassis architecture with the Odyssey minivan and Ridgeline pickup, and it provides a smooth ride and refined road manners. Despite using underpinnings essentially based off the Accord, the 2009 Honda Pilot is a competent off-road vehicle with short overhangs and a full eight inches of ground clearance for enhanced maneuverability. With approach and departure angles of 27.8 degrees and 24.5 degrees, respectively, the new Pilot easily tackles rough terrain and off-road obstacles. The 2009 Pilot Touring 4WD that we test drove came equipped with Honda’s VTM-4® full-time four-wheel drive system that automatically transfers power to the rear wheels when traction loss is detected and adds the convenience of a low-speed, four-wheel drive lock mode for when road conditions get really messy.
Matching the rugged exterior design, a new interior continues to improve the 2009 Pilot. The Pilot’s boxy design makes room for three rows of seating with spacious seating for up to eight passengers blending luxury and practicality. While the interior dimensions of the 2009 Pilot haven’t changed much compared the outgoing model, the increased wheelbase and width have helped make the seating arrangements comfortable and more inviting.
For the front passengers, Honda gave the Pilot a more truck-like instrument panel without alienating customers in the market for luxury SUVs. There will undoubtedly be those who call out the Pilot for its use of hard plastic on the dash and door panels, but, in the end, Honda got this one right. The white-faced gauges and large digital display stand out from the black background, while the contrasting colors of the plastic-covered instrument panel helps to distract those looking to criticize the use of hard plastic.
The second row bench is split 60/40 and provides fore and aft adjustment, the ability to recline and slides forward for easy access to the third-row seats. Our biggest complaint inside the Pilot is the location of the recline lever for the middle row of seats. The lever is mounted on the side of the seatback about mid torso making recline adjustments from the seated position almost impossible. Once adjusted, though, the rear seating positions provide extensive comfort and support, and with the optional rear-seat entertainment system, the only way a rear passenger can complain of boredom is if he or she picks out a bad movie to watch. Between the remote-controlled operation and the wireless headsets, front seat passengers are not distracted by the entertainment system designed for passengers relegated to second and third rows.
While most third-row seats are reserved for small children and spec sheets, the Pilot offers reasonable accommodations for guests six, seven and eight. The seat bottoms are a little flat and could get uncomfortable on long trips, but there is enough leg-, hip- and headroom to satisfy an average adult. Increasing comfort for third-row passengers, the Pilot offers vents for A/C and hear in the C-pillar trim. Taller passengers venturing back to the third row will welcome the high seatbacks and adjustable head restraints, but at the expense of the driver’s rearward visibility. With a full load of passengers, rearward visibility is severely limited to the driver through the rear window. To help alleviate this problem, the Pilot has the option of a rearview camera, as well as front and rear object detection sensors,
In addition to these convenient items that lead to increased safety, the 2009 Pilot is one of the safest crossover SUVs on the market offering a plethora of standard safety systems including Anti-Lock Brakes, Hill Start Assist and Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control. Solidifying its record as a top pick in its class, the 2009 Honda Pilot received top scores from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for frontal-, side- and rear-impact protection (rear-impact test performed only by IIHS).
When fun time turns to work time, the Pilot is still very capable. The second and third rows of seats easily fold flat allowing for a cavernous 87 cubic feet of cargo capacity. With all the seats up, the Pilot holds 18 cu. ft. of cargo, not including the 2.8 cu. ft. of plastic-lined, sealed storage space (perfect for holding icy beverages or muddy work boots) under the rear cargo area. If more cargo space is needed than what is offered inside, the Pilot has a maximum towing capacity of 4,500 pounds.
Despite the increase in size and weight, the new Pilot is more powerful and more fuel-efficient than the outgoing model. This is due to 2009 Pilot’s 3.5-liter 24-valve SOHC V-6 with i-VTEC® and Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)®. Under full acceleration, the engine peaks at 250 horsepower, but during light driving, the VCM deactivates cylinders to operate on either three or four cylinders, which helps to improve fuel economy numbers. The transition from full power to cylinder deactivation is much less intrusive than General Motors’ Active Fuel Management (which we tested on the 2008 GMC Yukon Two-Mode Hybrid). The resulting fuel economy estimates for the Pilot is 16 miles per gallon in the city and 22 mpg on the highway (2WD version gets 17 city/23 highway).
The base model Pilot LX has a starting MSRP of $27,595, but the Pilot Touring 4WD we tested was fully loaded and started just over $40,000. That hefty price tag provided a luxurious interior that included sunroof, navigation system and rear-seat entertainment system.
Review written by: Jeffrey N. Ross
All photos copyright Jeffrey N. Ross/Autotropolis.com © 2008