Vehicle Tested
| 2016 Honda Pilot Touring
Base Price: $42,820
As-Tested Price: $43,700
Built in Lincoln, Alabama.
Options
None
Engine: 3.5-liter V6, 280
horsepower
Transmission: 9-Speed Automatic
Drive Wheels: All-Wheel Drive
|
Fresh off its Chicago Auto Show introduction last February, the completely redesigned Honda Pilot hits the streets ready to do battle in the highly competitive family crossover segment. Pilot is a three-row wagon that seats either seven or eight passengers and competes with vehicles like the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, GMC Acadia, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Mazda CX-9, Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Highlander.
Where the previous Pilot boasted styling that was upright and traditional SUV, the 2016 model sports sleek and flowing lines that are more in line with its competitors. The new Pilot gains a few inches in overall length and wheelbase and drops about 250 pounds compared to the outgoing model.
Five trim levels are offered: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Elite. All are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A 6-speed automatic is standard on LX and EX models. Touring and Elite get a new 9-speed automatic. All models are available with front- or all-wheel drive except for the Elite, which comes only with all-wheel drive. Towing capacity is 3500 pounds with front drive and 5000 pounds with all-wheel drive.
Standard safety features include antilock brakes, traction and stability control, dual-front, front-side and curtain airbags and a rearview camera. Honda's innovative LaneWatch blind-spot camera is standard on the EX and above, while the Elite adds a blind-spot warning system with rear cross traffic alerts. The Touring and Elite also come with front and rear parking sensors. Also available are forward collision warning, forward collision mitigation with automatic braking, road departure intervention, and lane departure warning and intervention systems.
The LX model starts at $29,995 and comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, rear privacy glass, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, active noise cancellation, and a 60/40-split folding third-row seat. Electronic features include a seven-speaker sound system, a rearview camera, Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, an auxiliary audio jack and a USB port.
The $32,430 EX adds to the LX automatic headlights, fog lights, LED running lights, heated mirrors, keyless ignition and entry, the Honda Lane Watch blind-spot camera, three-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power adjustable driver seat (with two-way power lumbar), the 8-inch touchscreen interface, HondaLink smartphone-enabled features and an upgraded seven-speaker sound system with two additional higher powered USB ports, satellite radio and Pandora Internet radio control.
The EX-L lists for $35,905 and adds to the EX sunroof, a power tailgate, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, leather upholstery, one-touch sliding second-row seats, a four-way power adjustable front passenger seat, heated front seats and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Available for both the EX and EX-L is the Honda Sensing package. It adds adaptive cruise control, a forward collision mitigation automatic braking system, a road departure intervention system, a forward collision warning system, and lane departure warning and intervention systems. EX-L models can also be equipped with a navigation system or a rear entertainment system that includes a single overhead screen, HDMI and RCA ports, two additional USB ports for the second row, and a 115-volt power outlet.
All of these EX-L options come standard on the Touring which lists for $41,020. Additional standard features include roof rails, a nine-speed automatic transmission, automatic engine start/stop, front and rear parking sensors, driver memory settings, second-row sunshades and a 10-speaker sound system.
The line-topping Elite has an all-in price of $46,420 and adds to the Touring 20-inch wheels, LED headlights, automatic high-beam headlight control, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross traffic alerts, automatic windshield wipers, a panoramic sunroof, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs (reduces maximum seating to seven people), a heated steering wheel and HD radio.
Keeping with Honda tradition, there are no factory options available on Pilot. The Pilot is built in Lincoln, Alabama and has a destination charge of $880 destination charge.
Get Up and Go - Honda's ubiquitous V6 is smooth and powerful. Improvements for 2016 net a 30 horsepower gain over the previous model. That, in conjunction with a 250 pound diet, help the 2016 Pilot run from 0 to 60 in just a tick over 6 seconds. Quick for the class. More importantly, the engine has enough grunt to keep the Pilot in the fast-lane when carrying a full load of passengers or cargo.
The new 9-speed automatic isn't as smooth as the transmissions offered in some competitors. While it's not exactly harsh shifting, the transmission sometimes hesitates when downshifting and can get caught between gears in rush-hour slogging. The 6-speed automatic on the LX and EX does not exhibit this behavior.
EPA fuel economy numbers for the front-drive Pilot with 9-speed automatic are 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway and 23 mpg overall. Numbers for all-wheel drive models and 6-speed automatic models are slightly lower. Regardless, Pilot is one of the more fuel-efficient vehicles in the class. Routine suburban commuters will likely average 22-24 mpg over all. If you throw in a large dose of highway driving, you might be able to bump that number to 27 mpg overall. Straight highway driving with a light load at legal speeds is likely to net close to 30 mpg. Some models of Pilot include a start-stop feature for the engine that helps save fuel in stop-and-go driving.
Pilot's all-wheel drive system is not designed for heavy-duty off-road use, but it is one of the more sophisticated on-road systems offered. Not only can it vary power delivery fore and aft, the Honda system has the ability to shuttle power left and right to help the Pilot round corners and get the best traction on slippery roads. EX and above get an Intelligent Traction Management system that adds a Snow mode for the front-drive version and Snow/Sand/Mud modes with AWD.
On the Road - The 2016 Honda Pilot strikes a great ride/handling balance, providing a comfortable and composed ride. The redesigned rear suspension, stiffer chassis and improved electronically assisted steering all work together providing a ride that is never queasy or bounding while, at the same time, never harsh or irritating.
All models save the Elite, with its 20-inch wheels, have a compliant and forgiving ride over any surface. Elite's larger wheels impart more harshness, so you'll want to take that model for a long test drive before buying. If you find that it's a trifle too busy for Chicago's frost-heaved roads, a dealer will certainly swap them out for you - likely at no cost.
When the road grows twisty, Pilot more than accounts for itself compared to most others in the class. The suspension stays composed and limits body lean and unnecessary bounding. The steering comes off as slightly overboosted at slow speeds but firms up nicely at highway speeds. The brakes have good stopping power and an easy-to-modulate pedal.
All of Honda's active and passive safety features work well and give Pilot a leg up on most competitors. It's unfortunate that they aren't available all trim levels, but doing so makes Pilot available to more shoppers. The lane assist is particularly nice on longer highway drives.
Interior noise levels are class competitive. Engine and wind noise are well muted, but sometimes tire roar intrudes - especially for rear-seat passengers. All told, the Pilot isn't as smooth riding or quiet at the class-leading Buick Enclave, but its pleasant demeanor will please most buyers and its controlled and competent road manners make it a pleasure to drive.
Behind the Wheel - Pilot's striking new exterior are matched by an equally fresh interior design. Gone are the vast expanses of hard plastic and angular lines. The 2016 model's interior is awash in soft-touch materials and sweeping curves. The overall effect creates a fresh, user-friendly interior with lots of family-friendly features.
Driver's face a deeply hooded instrument cluster with a traditional twin-cluster gauge setup that features a customizable large display screen. Center stack houses a large touch screen surrounded by a host of conventional buttons and knobs for climate and radio control. The most unique feature is Honda's new gear shift that isn't a gear shift at all. Rather it is an arrangement of buttons that's designed to save some space and also be very familiar to use.
Overall the effect is modern and tasteful. In operation, most functions are easy to operate and the new navigation screen boasts gesture controls and a suite of connectivity apps.
Front seats are extremely comfortable and boast lots of leg and head room. There's also a lot of storage bins - as you might expect in a vehicle in this class. Second-row seats are also quite nice and well bolstered. Head and leg room are again ample. Third-row seats are roomier than some in the class, but, with a low bottom and short backrest, far from full-size adult friendly. At least getting in and out is aided by a one-touch tilt-and sliding second-row seat.
Second- and third-row seats fold nearly flat to create a long and wide load floor. When all seats are in use, cargo space is still acceptable. There are plenty of cupholders and power outlets throughout.
Bottom Line - Honda's new Pilot is a certain winner and with five models to choose from, there's likely to be a Pilot for nearly every shopper. This class is very competitive, though, so make sure you shop around. The Pilot is a jack of all trades and comes with Honda's excellent record for reliability.
|
|