2019 Pilot - Review

The Honda Pilot is the largest SUV offered from the Japanese brand. This three-row, seven or eight passenger midsize SUV is built for customers that are looking for a vehicle that can handle all of the tasks a minivan could, without actually being a minivan. Honda will happily continue to sell its well-rounded minivan, the Odyssey, but for some consumers, the image of driving a minivan just won't do. This is where the Pilot steps in, granting the appearance of a proper SUV with all of the capability of a minivan. That's considered a win-win.

The pilot comes with one sole engine configuration, a 3.5L naturally-aspirated V6 with 280 horsepower and 262lb/ft of torque with Honda's AWD system. Depending on the trim level, the Honda Pilot will have a 6-speed or 9-speed automatic transmission. The 9-speed will feature the push-button gear selector and paddle shifters behind the steering wheel with a noticeable improvement in fuel economy. When optioned correctly, the Pilot has a maximum towing capacity of 5000lbs. Standard equipment on the base level LX trim include the HondaSensing safety technology, a touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a digital instrument cluster, off-road driving modes, and heated front seats. Other trims will feature ambient lighting, wireless charging, a heated steering wheel and outside second row seats, ventilated front seats, a power assisted tailgate, and leather-trimmed seats.

The light steering and tall driving position make the Pilot an effortless car to drive. Although this is a very large vehicle, the car seems to shrink around the driver by offering great visibility and the ability to hide away a lot of this SUV's mass. The front row of seats have holding armrests where the driver and front passenger can quickly find their perfect driving position with a lot of space to spare. The second row of seats fit three people in the lower trims of the Pilot and the higher trims will have a seven seater configuration, with a captain chair middle row setup. The floor is very flat with lots of space in every direction. Third row access is easy with a handle on the outside second row seats that requires one tug to move them out of the way.

Despite the obvious comparison against the Odyssey, the Pilot stands its own ground and is a solid choice for the midsize family SUV segment. To check out the Pilot in multiple specifications, head over to Heritage Honda in the southeast of Calgary.