The boxy Pilot is proving versatile and reliable.BY JOHN PHILLIPS, PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY G. RUSSELL AND JORDAN BROWN June 2009
Current Mileage/Months in Fleet: 13,000 mi/5 months
Average Fuel Economy/Range: 17 mpg/357 miles
Service: $144
Normal Wear: $0
Repair: $0
A Honda Pilot won a six-SUV comparo last November, in part because it possesses the torsional rigidity of an Arctic icebreaker. No surprise that this long-termer was hugely popular during last winter’s numerous blizzards, ably assisted by the locking function of its VTM-4 all-wheel drive, which can send max torque to the rear wheels at speeds up to 18 mph. Speaking of cool, the Pilot’s 50-button center stack allows the cabin temp to be set as low as 58 degrees. Which means the parka you were wearing when you first climbed in doesn’t have to come off 20 minutes into your commute.
So far, nothing has broken, nor have any rattles made themselves known. The needlessly complex center stack has drawn attention, and this SUV’s perceived bigness—not so much a perception, in fact, given its 4538 pounds—translates into a kind of awkwardness in urban environments, a trait we little noticed in previous one- or two-week-long Pilot samples. Sixty mph arrives in 8.1 seconds. Patience is a virtue.
The Pilot has required only one trip to the dealership, at 8664 miles, for routine service—oil and filter, tire rotation, plus fresh differential fluid. Cost: $143.53.
Our Tony Swan was the first to use the Pilot as a tow vehicle, pulling his Honda S2000 race car to T.C. Kline’s shop in Columbus, Ohio. Race car and trailer together weighed 4600 pounds. “The Pilot does a good job with that kind of load,” Swan reported, “and is happy at speeds up to 75 mph. But there’s little power left over for passing on two-lanes. When we had our long-term Honda Ridgeline, it was the same story, understandable since both are pretty much the same powertrain and weight. I’d put its towing performance nearly on par with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Sierra hybrids.”
The Pilot, based on the Acura MDX, is fitted with Honda’s cylinder-deactivation system, able to vary between three, four, and six slugs under differing loads. When the engine switches over, a green light on the dash illuminates. We don’t have any hypermilers on the staff, but the light does have the effect of subtly tempering fuelish driving behavior.
As summer arrives, we expect the Pilot will be reserved for vacations on a steady basis right through the fall. It’s already been reserved for a two-week Montana fishing trip in August—signed out by a driver who makes that trip annually and is notably picky about which all-wheel-drive wheels are most appropriate to the Bitterroot Mountains. Notable is the Pilot’s ability to wade through 19 inches of water.
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