The word ‘Pilot’ connotes different things. In automotive applications, you’d be expecting the word to mean ‘aviator’—a nod perhaps to every kid’s childhood dream to become an aircraft pilot. However controlling a road-going jet isn’t exactly the best way to describe the Honda Pilot. In fact, as far as I’m concerned, it’s nothing more than an experimentation to enter the luxury SUV fray, and not a very good one at that.
Sold starting in 2002 for the North American market, the Pilot initially left everyone in the dust mainly because it was a car-based (now popularly known as a crossover) rather than a truck-based SUV. This unique twist in the mainstream seven-seater market meant the Pilot was untouchable in terms of refinement, comfort and road holding. However, in the automotive context time flies by almost exponentially, so when Honda Cars Philippines introduced the Pilot here in 2006, it caused more heads to scratch than jaws to drop.
First thing that works against the Pilot is that it commands a hefty price tag over Honda’s next cheaper car—the Accord 3.5 V6 (you know, the one with the high-tech VCM). And that’s further compounded by the fact that the Pilot is carrying less toys onboard too. Lastly, despite all the initial ballyhooed engineering prowess, the Pilot feels is age.
Admittedly, MPVs are still the most ideal vehicle for the family, but a lingering image of soccer moms certainly makes it unflattering to own. Unfortunately, the Pilot is no better. Overall, the Pilot looks bland and will come through as unnoticed and unappreciated. It blends into ubiquity despite selling in limited numbers—and this makes this simply unacceptable to family-oriented big shots.
Whereas the Civic and the Accord polarizes people on its design, the Pilot looks like a CR-V that’s been enlarged—a first-generation CR-V at that. Though it certainly looks alright from just about every angle, there’s nothing to warrant writing another paragraph about. It’s got all the passé SUV styling like the ribbed plastics, squared-off fenders and all that, but no gashes or dashes or character lines that make you say, ‘wow’. Even the wheels, with their 16-inch diameter look anemic.
The cabin suffers from basically the same bland problem. This time though, the Pilot manages to enlarge the second-generation CR-V’s interior. Those who own the 10-seater CR-V will find everything vaguely familiar: the audio system set atop the center vents, the large center bin, etc. Though generally well put together, everything’s made of hard-feel plastic. Even the integrated audio system looks aftermarket and the climate control provides for single zone cooling when others it its class would have dual or triple-zone controls. Perhaps the only saving grace is the high-tech looking gauges and the numerous cubby holes, which rivals American SUVs.
Being a car-based SUV, cabin ingress/egress is particularly good despite the tall ride height. The low floor and square-cut doors offer excellent step-in height. The cabin is comfortably spacious and seats 8 people (other locally available crossovers only seat 7). However, it must be noted that the last row is best left for children. The driving environment is what you’d expect from Honda: spot on, perhaps with the exception of the column-mounted shifter which is unbelievable clunky.
Underneath the Pilot’s hood is a 3.5-liter V6 that’s good for a healthy 244 horsepower and 325 Nm of torque. Though the power figures look good in theory, the way the engine delivers the power is less than ideal. It takes a while for the Pilot to reach its optimal power band and as a result, the Pilot keeps on hunting gears on anything than a straight road. Managing to overshoot the ‘D’ position because of the awkward shifter doesn’t help either. In the North American market, this engine has been given the Accord’s VCM technology, but alas, locally there’s no fancy cylinder shut-off. We weren’t able to extensively test the fuel mileage (the Pilot was only lent for a day), but expect roughly in the 6-7 km/L range.
Taken by itself, the Pilot feels easy to drive and maneuver around time. However next to other cars on the road, it makes itself feel bigger than its size would suggest. The dulled down steering is to blame. It’s a shame since the all-around independent suspension provides for excellent and stable road manners. Honda doesn’t flaunt any serious off-roading credentials, but it doesn’t mean the Pilot lacks any sort of all-wheel drive. The Pilot comes with Variable Torque Management 4WD (VTM 4WD). This system sends power to the front wheels most of the time, sending it only to the back when traction is needed. There’s a ‘Lock’ button on the dash to force distribute the power 50/50. Vehicle Stability Assist or VSA is standard.
Despite being largely friendly for families of 8 with at least one geriatric (credit the spaciousness and good ingress for that), the Honda Pilot fails to impress because of one important reason: the lack of character. Of course, age is a contributing factor, but even as new it severely lacks the “got-to-have-it” factor that the rest of the Honda line-up, let alone its other market competition has. The prohibitive price tag and lack of features also stack up against it as well.
Hopefully, this isn’t the end of the Honda Pilot locally. Remember the Odyssey from the 1990’s? Honda Cars Philippines certainly had the guts to introduce it here, but just when it’s getting better (and bigger), they deemed it a failure and dropped it from the line-up. The Pilot may indeed be company-wide experimentation in penetrating the luxury SUV market, but hopefully with lessons learned, we’ll see the all-new one here. Maybe that one will provide a more aircraft-like experience.
By Ulysses Ang | Photos by Ulysses Ang
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