Putting Size into the Crossover: 2015 Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot has received a ton of attention for a long time and been a class leader for crossover SUV’s for size and passenger space. With seating for up to eight to ride comfortably, the Pilot is small enough to maneuver through a parking lot without incident and large enough to make sure its eight occupants can enjoy the ride no matter the destination. Carrying with that the reputation of being a Honda, which means strong resale values and reliability, the 2015 version of the Pilot is poised to be a class leader once again.

As it heads into the new model year, it’s obvious Honda is going to have to redesign this great SUV to add some of the latest safety and technological features, but when competing with the Nissan Pathfinder and Ford Explorer the Pilot has one thing for sure over both of them; eight passenger seating options. Adding a new trim for 2015 the Pilot comes in with a Special Edition trim shortened to SE. The SE trim includes pewter-gray aluminum-alloy wheels, a power moon roof, XM satellite radio, and a DVD rear entertainment system.

Looking at the boxy style of the Pilot might lend the opinion that this SUV is a rough rider, but in reality it takes full advantage of it high center of gravity and carves up curves as well as many sports cars. Honda Miami tells us that this is achieved by use of a fully-independent suspension and smooth rack and pinion steering system that creates a very stable and controlled ride. The suspension takes road imperfections and leaves them behind with ease and the steering offers a predictable and responsive handling that allows the Pilot to whip in and out of city traffic. The cabin while not silent is quiet and refined enough to enjoy music and videos rather than the noises from the outside world allowing an escape for any driver or passenger to enjoy.

The Pilot once again shows its simplicity in design in the engine compartment. With only one engine offered for this SUV the choice has already been made and the only decision is really whether or not to add four-wheel drive to the vehicle. The singular engine is a 3.5-liter V6 that offers 250 horsepower and 253 lb.-ft. of torque. This engine is not the most powerful in the class, but is certainly strong enough to get the job don and handle anything that comes its way. The real interest under the hood comes first in the form of the five-speed automatic transmission that includes Grade Logic Control to maintain the right gear selection with either climbing or descending a hill. Add to this the engine is equipped with Variable Cylinder Management that allows the engine to operate on either four or three-cylinders when six are not needed and help to improve fuel efficiency. Another feather in the cap is the fuel efficiency of the rear-wheel drive version that is the highest for any eight-passenger SUV coming in at 18 city/25 hwy mpg. The four-wheel drive refuses to be left behind and offers the highest rating for any mid-sized 4WD SUV at 17 city/24 hwy mpg.

The Pilot includes a cabin that puts all the controls in very intuitive locations to make it easier to find and drive this nice SUV. The materials are soft and easy to enjoy with plenty of comfort for all passengers with plenty of legroom for all three rows of seats and a cargo area that is large enough to handle all the luggage needed for a week-long getaway. To add to the cargo capacity, a roof rack can easily be fitted to the top of the vehicle for storage of some great lake toys or to transport the mountain bikes.

From the outside the Pilot appears to be a very boring box. The truth could not be further from this at all. Although it is boxy in shape, the wheelbase is long and the shape allows for the generous space inside the vehicle that all eight occupants can enjoy. The front grill is a smiling horizontal style that is flanked by halogen headlights to offer a maximum of visibility at night. The wheels are exceptionally aggressive in their appearance with some of the largest mag-spokes in the industry, making the Pilot look strong and attentive to its occupants.

The Standard features offered for the Honda Pilot include tri-zone climate control, an eight-inch information display screen, a rearview camera and a seven-speaker audio system with Bluetooth connectivity on the LX model. The EX adds a ten-way power driver’s seat, fog lights and automatic on/off headlights. The SE model adds very unique wheels and badging as well as a power moon roof and a rear seat DVD entertainment system. The EX-L adds leather seating, heated front seats and a power lift gate. The top of the line Touring model finishes off the group with memory front seats, a rear sonar proximity sensor and a premium sound system. All models include comprehensive electronic stability controls and a full complement of airbags and other occupant protection features.

The optional features are mostly tied to the differing trim levels that any owner can choose from. Some stand-alone features include the Variable Torque Management 4-wheel drive, a ceiling mounted rear seat DVD entertainment system and voice activated navigation with integrated FM traffic data. All these extras really make the Pilot stand out in its class as more than just a basic SUV.

Starting at the base LX model, the Pilot comes in with a price that comes in around $31,000. An EX-L model with leather and four-wheel drive comes in around $38,000 and a fully loaded Touring model that has the four-wheel drive, navigation and rear entertainment will as for a price that is above $42,000. At the high end this keeps the Pilot under the competition and on the low end it is well in line with the rest and once again is the only one in its class that offers seating for eight.