Honda Pilot comes loaded with even more premium features

THE PILOT is powered by Honda’s latest version of its 3.5-liter V6 engine.

Honda Cars Philippines (HCP) has developed a small but highly loyal following with its Pilot SUV. It has all the Honda hallmarks: roomy, comfortable, relatively nimble and user-friendly.

Now HCP has launched the all-new Pilot, which pushes the nameplate even higher in terms of features, capability and price.

What is it?

The Pilot is Honda’s largest SUV. It’s been developed primarily for the American market, and it certainly shows in the exterior.

Although it’s one of the more compact three-row SUVs in the United States, it’s still quite long and wide, at 4940 millimeters x 1996 mm: all the better to seat you with.

Styling

Honda plays safe with the Pilot’s exterior, coming up with essentially an enlarged CR-V minus the weird rear window shape.

Details are where the Pilot shines, including its LED projector headlamps and daytime running lights, and LED taillights. The 18-inch alloy wheels are standard.

Interior

As the largest of Honda’s SUVs, there’s seating for eight in the Pilot.

Honda promises comfortable space for all seating positions. The second-row seat split-folds to provide flexibility in carrying various cargo sizes. The second row tilts and slides forward with a one-touch feature, to allow faster access to the third row.

Where most three-row SUVs fall short is in the cargo area, the Pilot carries three additional inches in the interior to provide more luggage space without cramping the third-row space.

There’s at least 467 liters of space behind the third row, and up to 1592 L behind the second row.

The cargo area includes a two-position lid to allow storage in either of two compartments.

The driver enjoys a 10-way power seat with memory features, while the front passenger has a four-way power seat.

Keeping the cabin cool are triple-zone climate control with rear temperature control and rear door sunshades.

Interior surfaces are wrapped in black leather and soft-touch plastics. An ambient lighting system provides a softer nighttime glow for the Pilot’s occupants.

The trademark Honda touchscreen interface is also on the Pilot. The 8-inch system is powered by an Android OS. Connectivity is available via Bluetooth, HDMI and USB port. Seven speakers provide a better listening experience.

The Smart Entry system allows keyless entry as well as remote-control engine start and power tailgate operation.

Engine and transmission

The Pilot is powered by Honda’s latest version of a 3.5-L V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic.

The Earth Dreams branded engine uses direct injection and variable valve timing to produce 280 horsepower and 355 Newton meters. The variable cylinder management cuts fuel to three cylinders at light loads, allowing greater fuel efficiency.

Torque is fed to all four wheels via the all-wheel drive system dubbed Intelligent Variable Torque Management.

There are four all-wheel drive modes: normal, snow, mud and sand. The system also has a torque vectoring function, which selectively feeds torque independently to the rear wheels to aid cornering stability and add a measure of all-weather safety.

Pilot rides on MacPherson struts up front and a multilink setup at the rear.

Safety

Honda deploys its Sensing technology in the Pilot, following its introduction in the new Legend luxury sedan. Sensing includes adaptive cruise control, collision mitigating braking, lane keeping assist, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning.

Also in the active safety list are ABS brakes, hill start assist, vehicle stability assist, blind-spot monitor, and cross traffic monitor.

There’s a full complement of airbags for the front passenger, sides, and curtain. A tire pressure monitoring system features real-time display of individual tire pressures.

The Pilot also jumps up in price, to P3.38 million. It is available in Crystal Black Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Dark Cherry Pearl, and White Diamond Pearl (for an additional P20,000). The Pilot will be on display at the Shangri-la Plaza Mall from Feb. 24 to 28.