First Drive: 2009 Honda Pilot

Subscribe to BusinessWeek

Up Front

SUVs get a lot of bad press these days, what with the economy faltering and gasoline prices hovering around $4 a gallon. But many car-buyers still want a roomy vehicle that will seat seven or eight people, which is why mid-size crossover utility vehicles are expected to enjoy strong demand. It's also why there's a lot of interest in the Honda Pilot, to which Honda (HMC) has given a major redesign for the '09 model year.



The previous Pilot was starting to look dated. It was a pioneering crossover vehicle with an unusually car-like ride when it first came out in 2002 as a 2003 model, but it hadn't had a major redesign since then. Last year the Pilot had trouble competing with newer and sleeker-looking rivals, including the redesigned Toyota Highlander, which was dramatically improved for the '08 model year, and the all-new Mazda CX-9, and Buick Enclave -- and its twin, the GMC Acadia -- both from General Motors (GM). As a result, despite strong demand for crossovers, the Pilot's sales plunged 23.3%, to 117,146 last year.



The question now is whether the Pilot has been improved enough to merit consideration by non-Honda-loyalists. After heavy focus-grouping, Honda decided not to make huge changes in the model's looks and basic mechanics. The Pilot is still boxy-looking [and, to my eye, stodgy]. The only available transmission is a five-speed automatic, and the only available engine is still a 3.5-liter V6. The main change is that the engine's horsepower has been raised from 244 to 250, and its torque rating from 240 to 253 lb. ft.



What Honda has done, however, is make dozens of mainly small refinements in the Pilot that add up to overall improvement. The '09 has a smoother, more refined ride and is noticeably roomier than the model it's replacing, partly because it's three inches longer and an inch wider. Legroom has been increased for both the second- and third-row passengers. Miracle of miracles, the third-row seat is now spacious enough to seat two good-sized adults in comfort. [Honda says three, but that would be a stretch.] Luggage space has also been expanded.



In addition, Honda has added a new high-end Touring model to the Pilot lineup. It will sell for about $40,000, making it the most expensive Pilot ever, and it comes standard with a navigation system, backup camera, and a bunch of other gear. The previous LX, EX, and EX-L trim lines continue to be offered. Pricing details haven't been announced yet, but the '09 Pilot's base price is expected to be $28,230, up from $27,500 for the '08.



The '09 Pilot is rated to get 17 mpg in the city and 23 on the highway with two-wheel drive, and 16/20 with four-wheel, an improvement over the old Pilot of 1 mpg in the two-wheel drive model and a bit more than that in the four-wheel. The new Pilot is competitive with the '08 Buick Enclave, which is rated at 16/24 with front-wheel drive and 16/22 with all-wheel. However, the '08 Highlander does slightly better: It's rated at 18/24 with two-wheel drive and 17/23 with four-wheel. [And, of course, pay a little more and the Highlander Hybrid is rated at 27/25, even with four-wheel drive.]



The new Pilot hits the showrooms this month, so it's too early to tell how well it will sell. But Honda could use a hit. Sales of the old Pilot fell an additional 6.6%, to 31,424, in the first three months of this year [adjusting for the fact that there were two more selling days in March this year]. By contrast, overall U.S. sales of Honda brand cars and trucks were up 2.8%, to 315,102, in the same period.



Behind the Wheel

I drove the old and new Pilots back-to-back at a press event, something that made the improvements in the new model obvious. The ride is smoother, for starters. The steering is more precise, and the suspension smooths out bumps better. The ride also felt smoother in the Touring version of the '09 than the base model, perhaps because the Touring model is a bit heavier. The stopping power of the brakes is better than in the old model, presumably because Honda increased brake size as part of the redesign.



Honda says the new Pilot has roughly the same acceleration as the old one. Motor Trend magazine estimates the '09 will jump from 0 to 60 in 8.0 to 8.5 seconds, which is average but fast enough for most drivers. [If sportiness is a priority, Honda would like you to move up to the Acura MDX.]



The new Pilot's interior is a marvel of thoughtful design. The company calls it "Business Class" -- which I take to mean not superdeluxe but fancy enough and roomy enough for most people. Overall interior space has been increased by 4.1 cu. ft., with most of the extra room going to the rear seating and luggage areas. I rode for about 20 miles as a passenger in the third row seat and was surprised by how comfortable it is. Foot space is limited, but knee space is adequate for a normal-size adult, and head, hip, and shoulder space is good. Two adults and a child would be comfortable, at least for an hour or two.



The other incremental improvements Honda has made in the Pilot are too numerous to mention, but here are a few: The center console has more storage space; the moon roof is 26% bigger; a tilting and telescoping steering wheel and hill-start assist are now standard; the shift lever has been moved from the steering column to the dashboard, where it's much handier to use; a trailer hitch and heavy duty towing package are now standard [maximum towing capacity is 4,500 lbs]; the second row seats fold down flat at the flick of a lever, even with the headrests in place; and there's a new glass hatch in back that opens at the push of a button. The Pilot can now accommodate up to four car-seats.



On top of all that, the under-floor storage compartment in back is twice as big as before, and its lid opens flush against the back of the third-row seats and locks in place, providing access to grocery bag hooks and creating a deeper rear storage well.



With the under-floor storage compartment open, luggage space behind the third-row seats, which was limited in the previous model, now totals a respectable 20.8 cu. ft., twice as much as in the Highlander. However, the Pilot's 87 cu. ft. maximum cargo space with both rear seats down still lags its main competitors.



Buy It or Bag It

The Pilot is more competitive than before. However, there are numerous excellent alternative midsize SUVs to choose from, each with a distinctive character.



The Enclave and Acadia are distinctly American, with plusher interiors and cushier rides. They're also nearly a foot longer than the Pilot and have the same maximum capacity of eight people. Through early June, GM is offering $500 rebates on both models, plus a $1,000 loyalty bonus if you already own a late-model GM vehicle.



The Mazda CX-9 has curvaceous good looks and is quicker and handles better than the Pilot. It's also slightly longer but is only rated to hold a maximum of seven people. If you want a midsize SUV that stands out from the crowd, it's the one for you. [Mazda is controlled by Ford (F).]



The Highlander is slightly shorter than the Pilot and is only rated to hold seven people. However, it's quicker and has a manual shifting function that makes it sportier to drive. It also has an innovative design that allows you to set up the second-row seats in various configurations.



The takeaway here is that the Pilot's redesign will probably keep Honda loyalists from defecting to other brands. But whether the new Pilot is better than the competition depends on your priorities.



Click here to see more of the all-new 2009 Honda Pilot.