The Pilot is an extremely functional and pleasant midsized SUV as long as you don't expect excitement. Instead, it does a commendable minivan impression thanks to its flexible seating for eight; a roomy, versatile, and feature-filled interior; and easy access to all three rows of seats. It also provides a comfortable ride and that cabin is quiet.
In terms of handling, the Pilot doesn’t have any connection with the nimble Hondas of the past. The Pilot's cumbersome cornering makes it feel reluctant to turn, and the vague steering chips away at drivers' confidence. Nobody expects sports car handling from an SUV, but the Pilot falls short compared to more agile competitors such as the Ford Explorer and Mazda CX-9. Plus, the Pilot's mediocre braking on wet pavement trails most peers as well.
The flip side to the Pilot's ungainly handling is a comfortable ride. This SUV's suspension smooths out bumps with composure. Some road imperfections will rock the Pilot from side to side, but overall a trip in the Pilot is uneventful. Honda loaded up on the sound-deadening materials, too, resulting in a quiet cabin.
The 3.5-liter V6 is a gem, smoothly and promptly delivering power throughout its rev range. When we tested an all-wheel-drive Pilot with the six-speed automatic we averaged 20 mpg overall. It’s likely to do slightly better with the now-standard nine-speed automatic transmission.
Interior materials and details are par for the class. All sizes of drivers found plenty of room, and storage bins abound. Windows are big and roof pillars are thin, giving a commanding all-around view from the helm.
Though the front seats are well-padded and supportive, the lumbar adjusts only for pressure, not height. And some drivers felt that the front of the seat cushion didn't lower enough.
The second row is roomy, and the seats can slide fore/aft to give space to third-row occupants. The rearmost seats are best left for kids.
However, another sore spot are the less-than-ideal controls. For example, the push-button gear selector is unintuitive to use. In addition, the touch-screen infotainment system suffers from small text, multiple steps are required for common tasks and it's a far reach, particularly for taller drivers. Thankfully, the radio finally gained a volume knob.
Forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking are standard across the lineup. All trims, except the base get standard blind spot and rear cross traffic warning.