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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
The Honda Pilot might look like a traditional sport utility vehicle, but its tall, boxy styling is just that, styling. Under the sheet metal it rides on a modified version of Honda’s midsize car and minivan platform architecture, a unibody that’s strong and tough enough to live up to 99 percent of SUV buyers’ expectations, which include hauling family and life’s gear over paved roads that are sometimes covered with snow, trekking across the occasional dirt road during summer vacation at which time a small trailer may be in tow, and doing it all in relative comfort without breaking the bank when it comes time to fill up the tank.
To this last end the Pilot gets the best fuel economy of any eight-occupant SUV at a claimed
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
The Pilot can only be had with one engine, Honda’s 24-valve, SOHC 3.5-litre V6 good for 250 horsepower and 253 lb-ft of torque. It’s the last CUV in existence with a five-speed automatic transmission, all of its rivals migrated to six-speed autoboxes or continuously variable types to save fuel, but it’s a reliable gearbox and shifts smoothly. In base trim the Pilot can be had with front-wheel drive, but most Canadian owners opt for its Variable Torque Management 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4) that improves all-weather security, not to
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Incidentally, that AWD system primarily powers the front wheels to save fuel, but during acceleration, when it detects wheel slippage or when put into manual lock mode, useful for more challenging terrain at speeds below 30 km/h, the rear wheels engage.
Back to trim levels, above LX the 2014 Pilot can be had as an EX, EX-L or Touring model, my tester being the latter. Base LX models, which start at $36,863 in FWD or
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
EX trim, at $42,863 plus destination, adds some nice eye-catching extras like fog lights and body-colour door handles and mirrors, a ten-way powered driver’s seat with lumbar support, heated front seats, a second-row folding centre armrest, and a security system.
The EX-L, at $45,363 plus destination, adds leather upholstery, a leather-wrapped steering
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
My $50,623 Touring trimmed tester included the same rear DVD entertainment system, plus an upgraded infotainment system with navigation, an integrated rearview camera, premium 650-watt 10-speaker audio with a 15-gig hard drive for audio storage and 5.1 Surround Sound Theatre Mode, plus two-position driver’s side memory, power-folding side mirrors with memory and integrated turn signals, heated second-row outboard seats, a 115-volt power outlet (although it’s a two-prong
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Missing from the Pilot are any high-end driving aids, such as lane departure warning, cross-traffic warning, pre-collision warning and the list goes on, features that many of Honda’s competition are now offering. There’s no panoramic sunroof option either, while the two-way seat heaters could use at least another setting, as the top temperature might be a bit hot for some (I loved its therapeutic capabilities however). Expect some of these features and more when the next-generation Pilot hits the road later this year. I hope that Honda will upgrade the Pilot with some nicer finishings too, such as a bit of soft-touch plastic instead of
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
I’m guessing that not much will be done with the Pilot’s suspension system and setup when that new model arrives, mind you. Its styling is expected to be sportier than the current one, but there’s nothing at all wrong with the current Pilot’s MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear arrangement as it feels like a luxury SUV when shuffling around town and when the road starts to wind it handles quite well. After all, if it’s good enough for the very capable Acura MDX it should be good enough for the Pilot that shares the same underpinnings. There’s ample passing power and it’s quick enough off the line too, while the dash-mounted shifter has always been a favourite
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
Inside, the Pilot feels a lot larger than its competitors, but it’s mostly due to its squared off design and eight-occupant capability. The front seats are big, fat and fabulously comfortable, although all that interior space meant that I needed to reach a long way to get to the dash-mounted infotainment dial; something similar on the lower console would be welcome. That lower console provides tons of storage, incidentally, along with dual cupholders. The Pilot’s second-row is very accommodating too, and the third row is actually big enough for adults. Its 60/40-split seatbacks fold completely flat into the cargo floor, creating 589 litres of capacity. The second row is split 60/40 too, and also lies completely. Fold all the seatbacks down and it makes for a cavernous cargo hold.
I
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Photo: Trevor Hofmann, Canadian Auto Press |
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