2003 New Car Review: Honda Pilot EX-L
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS
A master's degree thesis in sociology could probably be written
on the American sport-utility vehicle phenomenon. Urban and
suburban people who may never meet a more difficult off-road
challenge than a less-than-optimally paved stadium parking lot buy
huge truck-based vehicles capable of strenuous wilderness travel,
but at the price of poor maneuverability in city traffic and parking,
and with the fuel economy of the classic 1960s large station wagon.
Fashion is undoubtedly a major component of SUV popularity, but
there is more than merely trendy style at work.
Size is important, and contemporary cars are smaller than their
ancestors while people are larger. Put a family of four or five in a
mid-sized sedan and, unless three of them are very small children,
they'll be cramped. Minivans and the few full-sized sedans available
turn some people off. And, in a large part of the country, winter
means rain, snow, and slush. Even sun-belt denizens travel to ski
slopes, and road ``maintenance'' in many places is a case of not-so-
benign neglect. A sturdy vehicle with good ground clearance and
four-wheel drive is functional daily transportation, not merely urban
vanity.
Fortunately the modern SUV is not necessarily a big, thirsty
truck. Honda's newest, the Pilot, is an excellent example of the
genre. Developed and built for the American market, it has the style
and all of the features that make SUVs popular, but is built with
car-like unibody construction for strength, rigidity, refinement, and
space efficiency. A 240-horsepower V6 engine matched to a five-
speed automatic transmission gives it plenty of power, and Honda's
sophisticated ``VTM-4'' electronically-controlled four-wheel drive
system is standard on all models. Two basic variations, LX and EX,
are available, with further EX models offering a leather interior,
leather and a rear-seat DVD system, or leather and a DVD-based
navigation system.
I've just spent a week with a new Pilot EX. Honda is right on
target for the modern urban SUV market. It's very roomy, with
easy access, and combines good power with very reasonable fuel
economy for its class. While not meant for serious off-road use, it is
designed for all-season, all-weather use in the real world, and just
may be the perfect vehicle for today's poorly-maintained city
streets.
APPEARANCE: If the Pilot isn't quite a CR-V made bigger on the
designer's CAD-CAM computer, there is a definite family
resemblance. Both are two-box SUVs, with rounded corners and
edges, but the Pilot is considerably larger. Its large chrome-trimmed
trapezoidal grille and bright faired-in multi-element headlights are
similar but not identical to those of the CR-V, and, together with
the high belt line, establish the Honda SUV look. In the manner of
the contemporary urban SUV, plastic-capped bumpers are
integrated with lower side cladding. The Pilot does not follow the
CR-V's styling lead at the rear, with conventional taillights instead
of its smaller sibling's vertical ones.
COMFORT: Honda says that the Pilot was designed from the
inside out, and it shows. There is no shortage of interior space, and
efficient design gets even better utilization of that room. Step-in is
higher than a car, but less than a conventional SUV. The interior is
stylish but functional, with a very functional instrument panel and
plenty of storage space and spaces. There is seating for up to eight,
with supportive and comfortable front buckets and 60/40 split
bench second and third rows. The second row is designed for
adults, with room equivalent to that found in the new Accord, while
the third row is best for children. Both rows have adjustable
seatback angle and easily fold flat, for cargo versatility. Each
second row side moves forward for access to the third row. Unlike
the CR-V, the Pilot has a console between the front seats, with
plenty of open and covered storage.
SAFETY: All seating positions in the Pilot, even the second- and
third-row centers, have headrests and three-point safety belts. A
strong safety cage surrounds the passenger area, and is augmented
by front and rear crumple zones. Dual-stage, dual-threshold front
airbags and front-seat side airbags and standard four-wheel antilock
disc brakes add more protection.
ROADABILITY: With rigid car-like unibody construction, the
Pilot has a lower center of gravity than a conventional body-on-
frame SUV with equivalent ground clearance. Its fully-independent
suspension provides ride and handling characteristics that are closer
to ``car'' than ``truck.'' The suspension is tuned for a firm but
comfortable ride, with minimal body motion in corners for very
good control. In normal operation, the VTM-4 automatic four-
wheel drive system operates in front-wheel drive mode, for
maximum efficiency and familiar steering and handling properties.
Power is transferred to the rear wheels under acceleration or when
wheelslip is detected by the electronic control system. VTM-4 Lock
mode can be engaged at low speeds to deliver maximum torque to
the rear wheels, useful in very slippery conditions or when stuck in
snow or mud. Other than in the manually-selected lock mode, the
VTM-4 system works very smoothly, unobtrusively, and
transparently. The Pilot has eight inches of clearance and, without a
dual-range transfer case, is rated for medium-duty off-road use,
meaning that forest service roads to campgrounds and slippery boat
ramps shouldn't present any problems at all. Towing capacity is
3500 lbs for a trailer and 4500 for a boat. Honda says the better
aerodynamics of a boat allow this. Note, too, that these are
conservative ratings that allow for four people and luggage in the
Pilot.
PERFORMANCE: At nearly 4500 lbs, the Pilot is no lightweight.
But, with peak horsepower of 240, and 242 lb-ft of torque, its 3.5-
liter single overhead cam V6 has no problem moving it. Honda's
VTEC variable valve timing system helps increase low- and
midrange-rpm power, along with providing very low emissions
levels and good fuel economy. The five-speed electronically-
controlled automatic transmission also helps performance and
economy, and features Honda's ``Grade Logic Control'' technology
to eliminate ``hunting'' between gears on hills.
CONCLUSIONS: The new Pilot is Honda's definition of mid-sized
real-world SUV.
SPECIFICATIONS
2003 Honda Pilot EX-L
Base Price $ 32,020
Price As Tested $ 32,480
Engine Type single overhead cam 24-valve V6
Engine Size 3.5 liters / x cu. in.
Horsepower 240 @ 5400 rpm
Torque (lb-ft) 242 @ 4500 rpm
Transmission 5-speed automatic
Wheelbase / Length 106.3 in. / 188.0 in.
Curb Weight 4439 lbs.
Pounds Per Horsepower 18.5
Fuel Capacity 19.2 gal.
Fuel Requirement 87 octane unleaded regular gasoline;
91 octane premium for towing
Tires P235/70 SR16 Goodyear Integrity
m+s
Brakes, front/rear vented disc / solid disc,
antilock standard
Suspension, front/rear independent strut /
independent multilink
Ground clearance 8 inches
Drivetrain front engine, automatic four-wheel
drive
PERFORMANCE
EPA Fuel Economy - miles per gallon
city / highway / observed 17 / 22 / 19
0 to 60 mph est 9.5 sec
Towing Capacity 3500lb trailer, 4500lb boat
OPTIONS AND CHARGES
Destination and handling $ 460
