Honda Pilot gets a sleek facelift
What is it? In 2003, the original Honda Pilot was the first eight-seat crossover to be based on a car platform. Now comes the third-generation, 2016 model.
As before, it is offered in both seven- and eight-seat models. This time around, however, the Pilot is sleeker yet it has more substance to its look. Up front, the brighter LED headlights and available LED daytime running lights and taillights give it much more presence. It will also be available with 20-inch wheels and a Honda first — a panoramic moonroof option.
Why does it matter? The new Pilot arrives with an equally new 3.5-litre V6 engine. As well as adopting direct injection it now comes with Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management. It allows the engine to run on three of its six cylinders when loads are low, which improves highway efficiency. To further the economy cause the Pilot is offered with idle stop/go. Sadly, Honda did not announce any horsepower/torque numbers, but with the engine’s internal improvements it should produce more than the current 250 horsepower and 253 pound feet of torque while delivering better fuel economy. The fact the new Pilot is around 140 kilograms lighter than the outgoing model certainly helps matters.
While the base models feature a six-speed automatic transmission, the up-level model comes with Honda’s new nine-speed automatic transmission — it arrives complete with push buttons for gear selection and paddle shifters for manual operation. The Pilot will be available in both front- and all-wheel-drive models. The latter, as with the rest of the Pilot, is new.
Inside, the cabin takes some big strides forward. The soft-touch materials lend an upscale feel, as do the new technologies. To begin with there are no fewer than five USB ports, four of which have enough power to charge an iPad. Likewise, a new eightinch touchscreen anchors the infotainment system and the optional navigation system features better graphics and a new 3D view of the Pilot’s surroundings. Elsewhere, cross--
traffic alert joins other driver aids including Honda’s clever LaneWatch system.
When is it coming? The 2016 Honda Pilot will launch this summer. No word on pricing at this point.
Should you buy it? The outgoing Honda Pilot was criticized for its lack of some key convenience and high-tech features, as well as the iffy interior plastics and so-so performance. All that goes by the wayside with the 2016 model. It promises to deliver a more dynamic drive and a comfortable ride. It also has surprisingly roomy third-row seating (I actually managed to sit back there comfortably). The advanced powertrains and improved efficiency only cement the Pilot’s new-found appeal.