SPARTA, KENTUCKY — It’s longer, lower and
not much wider, but more importantly, it’s no longer ugly.
Like an
Emperor Dragonfly, the 2016 Honda Pilot has transformed from icky nymph
to sleek and sinewy beauty after a remake from the wheels up. And the
beauty is not limited to the surface, but goes deep into the interior,
covering technology and mechanical too.
That buzzing sound you hear? That’s the midsized SUV market about to feel Honda’s teeth.
Gone is the chiseled, boxy shape and cubist
interior, which, although great for its countless cubbies and storage
bins, had more hard plastic than a Hasbro playhouse. The new interior
can still feel solemn in models other than the top-line Touring, which
benefits from a wider range of materials and contrasting colours; but
the overall improvement across the board is huge. Outward visibility is
excellent. Side mirrors reflect a generous view.
Under a glorious spring sun in rural Kentucky, the Pilot and its LED
running lights cut a quiet path past verdant lawns and forests as full
of promise as this new SUV. The cabin is remarkably hushed. The Pilot is
easy to drive — reactive, manoeuverable, almost sporty. No rattles or
squeaks.
Sleek and athletic exterior meets interior elegance for a commanding yet sophisticated presence
Top-of-the-line Elite trim introduces a premium look, feel and experience with highest level of standard features
Direct injected 3.5-liter i-VTEC® engine with more horsepower and torque than outgoing model
Smartest Pilot ever with new Intelligent Traction Management system, Honda Sensing™ technologies and i-VTM4 AWD system
The all-new, third generation 2016 Honda Pilot will go on sale this
summer ready to take the mid-size SUV segment by storm, with more of
what active families seek in a three-row SUV – sleek and athletic
styling, outstanding power, sophisticated technology and, new for 2016,
an all-new Elite model with a panoramic roof and a vast array of other
standard features.
Building on the solid reputation established from the fall 2002
introduction of the first generation 2003 model, the 2016 Pilot brings a
whole new level of refinement and available content to the segment.
This includes a more powerful direct injected 3.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC®
Earth Dreams™ Technology engine producing 280 horsepower1 and 262 lb-ft of torque2,
and new 6-speed and 9-speed automatic transmissions. Providing
outstanding dynamic handling are a new Intelligent Variable Torque
Management™ (i-VTM4™) AWD System and all-new selectable Intelligent
Traction Management system featuring Normal, Mud, Sand, and Snow modes
on the AWD model and Normal and Snow on the 2WD model. Also
significantly upgraded are the Display Audio and navigation systems. The
available Honda Sensing™ suite of safety and driver assistive
technologies brings available features that include Collision Mitigation
Braking System™3 with Forward Collision Warning4, Road Departure Mitigation System5, Lane Keeping Assist System6 with Lane Departure Warning7 and Adaptive Cruise Control8.
Providing customers with a greatly increased range of trim levels,
the 2016 Pilot is available in a new top-of-the-line Elite trim together
with LX, EX, EX with Honda Sensing™, EX-L, EX-L with Honda Sensing™ and
Touring trims. Honda Sensing™ is standard on both Touring and Elite
trims. The Pilot Elite offers an extensive feature content list,
including a panoramic glass roof, heated and ventilated front seats,
second-row heated captain's chairs, LED headlights with auto high-beam,
rain sensing windshield wipers and much more. And these are in addition
to a long list of standard features throughout the Pilot trim range.
Model Trim Summary
Pilot LX Prominent Features
Direct-injected 3.5-liter SOHC i-VTEC engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM)
6-Speed Automatic Transmission
Hill Start Assist
Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VTM4™) AWD System (available)
18-inch aluminum alloy wheels
Brake Assist
Multi-Angle Rearview Camera9 with guidelines
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)10 with Tire Fill Assist and Location and Pressure Indicators
Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure
LED Brake Lights
Remote Entry
Push Button Start
5-Inch Color LCD Screen
200-Watt Audio System with 7 Speakers, including Subwoofer
Earth Dreams™ Technology Powertrain
The 2016 Pilot delivers more refined, powerful and fuel-efficient
performance than ever before courtesy of its new 3.5-liter,
direct-injected i-VTEC® V-6 engine with Variable Cylinder
Management™ (VCM™) cylinder deactivation technology. The engine's peak
output of 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque is up 30 hp and 9
lb.-ft. over the previous model. The engine is matched to a choice of
two new advanced transmissions – a Pilot-first 6-speed automatic
transmission or, on upper trims, a Honda-first 9-speed automatic
transmission – both delivering more refined, responsive and
fuel-efficient performance.
Intelligent Variable Torque Management for all Four Wheels (i-VTM4) The
Pilot's available new Intelligent VTM4 (i-VTM4) is the most
sophisticated and technologically advanced all-wheel-drive system
offered in a mainstream, three-row SUV. This entirely more capable
system progressively distributes optimum torque between the front and
rear axles and, for the first time ever in a Honda vehicle, dynamically
distributes engine torque between the left and right rear wheels using
the new, lightweight rear drive unit. Benefits include superior
all-weather handling and neutral, accurate steering under power that is
unmatched by front-drive, rear-drive or conventional all-wheel-drive
systems.
Intelligent Traction Management
This new Pilot features a new button-operated Intelligent Traction
Management System that offers different operating modes, for the AWD:
Normal, Mud, Sand and Snow; and for the FWD: Normal and Snow. Reflecting
Pilot's role as a key U.S. export model, this system was developed,
tuned and tested at various locations in the U.S. and around the world –
including in Imperial Dunes “Glamis”, California; Moscow, Russia; and
Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Intelligent Traction Management system
allows the driver to select the operating mode that best suits the
driving conditions by simply pushing a button on the vehicle's center
console. Based on the setting selected, the system adjusts the drive-by
wire map, transmission shift map, Vehicle Stability Assist™ and i-VTM4
torque distribution for AWD equipped models for optimal performance in
varying road or surface conditions.
Display Audio and Navigation Honda's latest
thinking for advanced, family-friendly technology is embodied in the new
Pilot. New features include the available 8-inch capacitive touchscreen
Display Audio telematics interface with Android operating system and
all-new Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ developed in
cooperation with the experts at Garmin®24.
Exterior Colors All 2016 Pilot
trims are available in eight exterior colors including three metallic
and five pearl colors. All colors have a strong character, offering
expressive contrasts that complement the Pilot's body-panel curves and
angles, while also exhibiting a smart luxury appearance. The colors are:
