More power and additional features are offered by the
2005 Honda Pilot sport-utility vehicle. It's based on Honda's upscale Acura MDX sport-ute and thus is above-average in most respects.
Honda was late in offering a mid-size sport-utility because the Pilot didn't arrive until the 2003 model year. The Pilot replaced the Honda Passport sport-ute, which was a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo.
The Rodeo was trucklike and didn't fit Honda's image of smoothness and refinement, but the Pilot sure did -- and has become quite popular.
The Pilot shares its powertrain (engine and transmission) with the sportier, more powerful MDX, but has conservative styling and is a tad shorter, taller and wider than the MDX. Both the Pilot and MDX have only a moderately long 106.3-inch wheelbase and wide track for enhanced stability. For those involved with home remodeling and such, the Pilot is wide enough to accept four-by-eight-foot sheets of building material.
It's fairly easy to get in the front two seating rows, thanks to easily gripped door handles and large door openings. The Pilot has a third-row seat for high eight-passenger seating, instead of seven for the MDX. The Pilot also features more cargo volume than the MDX -- although there isn't a lot of cargo space with the Pilot's third seat in its normal position. That seat is rather hard to reach and best suited to children.
The tailgate has no separate-opening glass area, but the cargo area has a fairly low, wide opening. That area is large, with the second- and third-row 60/40 split seats folded forward to form a flat deck.
The carlike Pilot has a softer suspension and smaller (16-inch) wheels than the MDX. It's got a smooth ride, and handling is decent for a tall, heavy sport-ute. Brakes have a standard anti-lock system, and stopping distances are OK during routine driving, with good pedal feel.
The standard all-wheel-drive system works seamlessly, but has no low-range gearing for rough off-road use. The system mostly works in front-drive mode and shoots torque to the rear wheels when front wheels begin to spin.
All versions of the Pilot are nicely equipped. List prices range from $27,350 for the base LX version $34,120 for the top-line EX-L model with leather upholstery and a navigation system. An EX-L with a rear entertainment system costs a little less at $33,620. Curiously, those two systems are not available together.
Front side air bags are standard, but there are no rear or curtain side air bags. Honda concentrates on structure, rather than air bags, for such things as side-impact protection. Nevertheless, the 2005 Pilot adds a driver-seat position sensor and a passenger seat weight sensor that correlate to front air bag deployment.
The Pilot wasn't changed much for 2004, but horsepower of the latest version's smooth 3.5-liter V-6 has been increased from 240 to 255. The extra punch from the single-overhead-camshaft 24-valve engine makes merging and passing quicker and less effortless.
The Pilot is one of the fastest mid-size sport-utes, although one might think it would be rather slow because it weighs a hefty 4,414 pounds.
The weight does adversely affect fuel economy, which is an estimated 17 mpg in the city and 22 on the highway. However, the 2005 Pilot's fuel tank has been enlarged to 20.4 gallons from 19.2 gallons, providing a Honda-claimed extra 40 miles of driving range.
The engine has a new drive-by-wire system that replaces a conventional throttle-cable arrangement with an electronic system for better throttle response and smoother shifting of the responsive five-speed automatic transmission. Also, revised fourth and fifth gear ratios provide a smoother transition between gears.
If in a hurry, it's easy to overshoot the "drive'' position and accidentally select too low a drive gear on the steering-column-mounted shift lever because of the lever's imprecise action.
The steering has been revised for better on-center feel. It's quick, although a little heavy.
Also new is a vehicle stability assist system for the two top-line EX-L versions, although it really should be offered for all Pilots. The EX-L also gets an improved sunroof with a wind deflector, and EX and EX-L models get a new 6-disc CD changer.
All Pilots now have a tire pressure monitoring system, new magnesium frame steering wheel, driver foot rest and integrated remote key fob. Keyless entry has been added to the LX.
The quiet interior has a revised instrument panel with added ambient lighting and high-grade materials, but still looks a little dull. Large outside mirrors enhance rear visibility from the driver's seat.
Front bucket seats provide good lateral support, and the center console bin is deep. Large climate controls sit above fairly small sound system controls. There are many nicely placed cupholders and half a dozen child seat anchors in the second and third rows. Rear windows lower all the way.
The Pilot isn't exciting, but it's not supposed to be. It can win you over with its superior utility, quality, refinement and general performance.
2005 HONDA PILOT
PRICES
$27,350-$34,120
LIKES
More power. Roomy. New anti-skid system. All-wheel drive. Refined.
DISLIKES
Imprecise shifter. Marginal fuel economy. Third seat mostly for children.