There are very few occasions when I actually look forward to a large SUV landing in my parking space for the week. Luckily, the week I had the 2009 Honda Pilot was one of those rare occasions: Marathon week.
My family was visiting – with all their large luggage – and it was nice to be able to cart everyone – and their stuff – in a single vehicle.
2009 Honda Pilot
Engine: 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 with Variable Cylinder Management
Horsepower: 250
Torque: 253 pound-feet
Transmissions: five-speed automatic
Drivetrain: 2WD, AWD (available)
Wheelbase: 109.2 inches
Length: 190.9 inches
Width: 78.5 inches
Height: 72.7 inches
Fuel economy: 17/23 (2WD); 16/22 (4WD)
Base price: $28,230
As tested: $40,630
The Pilot is another all-new vehicle from Honda for 2009, and it’s 2.9 inches longer, 1 inch wider and 1 inch taller than the previous model. Total cargo volume behind the first row is 87 cubic-feet, which is down 0.6 cubic feet from 2008, but there are cargo volume gains behind the second and third rows with measurements ringing in at 47.7 and 20.8 cubic-feet, respectively.
The 2009 Pilot is a large vehicle, and there’s no way around that. It felt large, and it drove large, too. I’m not a fan of giant SUVs, and even though it was nice to have some extra passenger space during the test period, I would have preferred something of the crossover variety that provides similar space and cargo volume but doesn’t create such a huge foot print.
It took me a couple days to get used to the sheer size of the Pilot, and initially I was very timid about changing lanes in highway traffic. I was constantly watching the large side mirrors to see if I had enough space, and more often than not I felt like it was more of a guess than a certainty. I found it difficult to maneuver through parking garages and my small condo parking lot. Not to mention the fact that other members of my condo association found it difficult to maneuver around the Pilot. There were several three-point turns going on during the test week – from all of us.
The test vehicle really could have used the optional running boards ($619 – $784) or side steps ($445 - $663) as getting into the Pilot was a bit of a challenge for those who are petite, older … or had just run a marathon. My mom had problems getting into the vehicle because of her height and the fact that she’s not as nimble as she used to be. My dad had to stand behind her and give her a bit of a push on the tush to help her up. I, on the other hand, had issues because of the whole 26.2-miles-running thing. I almost cried the day after the marathon when I had to climb into the driver’s seat. At least there was a hand hold above the door, and I could use upper body strength to lessen some of the leg pain.
In addition to the big step-in height, there are other reasons this car isn’t quite right for someone who’s petite in stature. I was able to adjust the seat and steering wheel to get good visibility out of the front and side windows, but comfort went completely out the door. Because of my far-forward, height adjusted position, I sat too close to the underbelly of the dash. I found that my legs were virtually pinned between the seat and the dash, with little room to move my right leg from gas pedal to brake. Coincidentally, this is also a problem I noticed in the smaller Honda CR-V.
Another size-related issue I had was with the steering wheel. It was incredibly meaty, which made it hard for me to keep a comfortable grip on the wheel during turns and tight maneuvers.
The test vehicle, with a base price of $40,630, was a top-of-the-line four-wheel drive (4WD) Touring model with a DVD rear entertainment system. Because it came equipped with navigation, leather seats, heated front seats, XM Satellite Radio, a 115-volt power outlet, Bluetooth connectivity, an auxiliary input jack and most of the other luxury items you could want in a non-luxury SUV, there weren’t any options added to the test vehicle. Surprisingly, there are a plethora of small accessories that can be added – like running boards, kayak attachments or a towing kit – to customize the vehicle to your tastes and lifestyle.
The Pilot starts as a LX 2WD model with a base price of $28,230 and travels upward in both 2WD and 4WD variations of the LX, EX, EX-L and Touring models.
The Pilot was introduced in 2003 and got a styling refresh in 2006, but 2009 introduces the second generation of the eight-passenger SUV. Along with a complete redesign, the Pilot adds several completely new features. Some are necessary evolutions like the standard tilt/telescoping steering wheel, auxiliary input jack and center stack mounted shifter. Others, like the hill start assist, tailgate with lift-up glass hatch and humidity control as a part of the standard air conditioning, are items you wouldn’t necessarily expect on a Honda.
One my favorite all-new features, however, is the inclusion of Honda’s Variable Cylinder Management (VCM). This enables the 3.5-liter V-6 engine to use all cylinders when power is needed, but it operates on three or four cylinders when decelerating or traveling at a constant speed – like when you engage cruise control while traveling at 65 mph on the highway.
What this means is that Honda can add 6 horsepower and 13 pound-feet of torque to the new Pilot, yet the fuel economy ratings increase at least 1 mpg in both city and highway driving. The 2WD model has city/highway fuel estimates of 17/23 mpg, and the 4WD model rings in at 16/22 mpg. Considering that the Pilot is a 4,590-pound that seats eight, those fuel estimates are actually encouraging. During the test week, I averaged around 18 mpg in the 4WD model during combined driving.
I thought the 250 horsepower and 244 pound-feet of torque being delivered by the V-6 engine were fine for a vehicle of this size. It didn’t feel sluggish, but there wasn’t the smooth, seamless power that I’ve experienced in other large SUVs equipped with a V-8.
Overall, the Pilot is not my kind of vehicle. But if you’re in the market for a large SUV, the VCM alone is a reason to consider this as an option. Another reason is the base price under $30K.
VIDEO: Jill's bloopers
