First Drive: 2009 Honda Pilot

The redesigned Honda Pilot offers better interior styling and mileage, but it still faces stiff competition from Buick, Mazda, and Toyota

by Thane Peterson

Editor's Rating:

The Good: "Business Class" interior, better fuel efficiency, new high-end Touring model

The Bad: Boxy exterior styling, only one choice of engine

The Bottom Line: Much improved—but it still doesn't blow away the competition

Reader Reviews

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Up Front

SUVs get a lot of bad press these days, what with the economy faltering and gasoline prices hovering around $4 a gallon. But many car-buyers still want a roomy vehicle that will seat seven or eight people, which is why mid-size crossover utility vehicles are expected to enjoy strong demand. It's also why there's a lot of interest in the Honda Pilot, to which Honda (HMC) has given a major redesign for the '09 model year.

The previous Pilot was starting to look dated. It was a pioneering crossover vehicle with an unusually car-like ride when it first came out in 2002 as a 2003 model, but it hadn't had a major redesign since then. Last year the Pilot had trouble competing with newer and sleeker-looking rivals, including the redesigned Toyota Highlander, which was dramatically improved for the '08 model year, and the all-new Mazda CX-9, and Buick Enclave—and its twin, the GMC Acadia—both from General Motors (GM). As a result, despite strong demand for crossovers, the Pilot's sales plunged 23.3%, to 117,146 last year.

The question now is whether the Pilot has been improved enough to merit consideration by non-Honda-loyalists. After heavy focus-grouping, Honda decided not to make huge changes in the model's looks and basic mechanics. The Pilot is still boxy-looking (and, to my eye, stodgy). The only available transmission is a five-speed automatic, and the only available engine is still a 3.5-liter V6. The main change is that the engine's horsepower has been raised from 244 to 250, and its torque rating from 240 to 253 lb. ft.

What Honda has done, however, is make dozens of mainly small refinements in the Pilot that add up to overall improvement. The '09 has a smoother, more refined ride and is noticeably roomier than the model it's replacing, partly because it's three inches longer and an inch wider. Legroom has been increased for both the second- and third-row passengers. Miracle of miracles, the third-row seat is now spacious enough to seat two good-sized adults in comfort. (Honda says three, but that would be a stretch.) Luggage space has also been expanded.

In addition, Honda has added a new high-end Touring model to the Pilot lineup. It will sell for about $40,000, making it the most expensive Pilot ever, and it comes standard with a navigation system, backup camera, and a bunch of other gear. The previous LX, EX, and EX-L trim lines continue to be offered. Pricing details haven't been announced yet, but the '09 Pilot's base price is expected to be $28,230, up from $27,500 for the '08.

The '09 Pilot is rated to get 17 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway with two-wheel drive, and 16/20 with four-wheel, an improvement over the old Pilot of 1 mpg in the two-wheel drive model and a bit more than that in the four-wheel. The new Pilot is competitive with the '08 Buick Enclave, which is rated at 16/24 with front-wheel drive and 16/22 with all-wheel. However, the '08 Highlander does slightly better: It's rated at 18/24 with two-wheel drive and 17/23 with four-wheel. (And, of course, pay a little more and the Highlander Hybrid is rated at 27/25, even with four-wheel drive.)

The new Pilot hits the showrooms this month, so it's too early to tell how well it will sell. But Honda could use a hit. Sales of the old Pilot fell an additional 6.6%, to 31,424, in the first three months of this year (adjusting for the fact that there were two more selling days in March this year). By contrast, overall U.S. sales of Honda brand cars and trucks were up 2.8%, to 315,102, in the same period.