The third-generation Pilot was introduced as a 2016 model, and following a reduction in the number of trims available for 2017 -- which also saw the Pilot ditch its entry-level FWD model -- this mid-size crossover carries over into 2018 unchanged save for a $300 price increase across the board.
Dropping the front-drive model could well have been a nod to this year's arrival of an all-new Odyssey minivan, a car that is outselling the Pilot as we write this despite the ever-increasing popularity of mid-sized crossovers among family-oriented buyers.
Of course, that could have something to do with the all-new Odyssey being the more recent design. The auto industry moves quickly, and by the time a vehicle design reaches its third year there are numerous newer competitors looking to lure buyers away.
The Pilot's carryover status means it remains available in a quintet of trims that begins with LX AWD and goes through EX AWD, EX-L AWD w/ rear-seat entertainment and EX-L Navi before culminating in the Touring AWD.
All versions use a 3.5L V6 engine that puts its 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed automatic in most trims, save for the Touring and its nine-speed unit. The Touring's extra three gear ratios and an engine idle stop/start system help cut fuel consumption to 12.4/9.3 L/100 km (city/highway) versus the 13.0/9.3 ratings that apply to lesser trims.
LX trim boasts standard kit that includes heated front seats, remote engine starter, tri-zone climate control, 8.0-inch display audio system with USB port, multi-angle reverse camera, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, proximity key with push-button start, remote engine starter, automatic headlamps, 18-inch alloy wheels, heated mirrors, wiper de-icer. Also included are emergency autonomous braking, radar cruise control, lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assist, all part of the Honda Sensing suite of active safety features.
EX adds 10-way power driver’s seat, garage door opener, power moonroof, fog lights, roof rails, LED daytime running lights, mirrors with turn signal indicators, and a blind-spot monitoring camera.
The EX-L RES builds on the EX and adds a rear entertainment system with 9.0-inch display, wireless headphones, HDMI input, and 115-volt power outlet. Its other addition is leather seating.
EX-L Navi is similarly named for a high-tech addition but also gets a power passenger seat, heated leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated second-row seats, one-touch second-row seats, auto-dimming rear-view mirrors, satellite radio, power tailgate, and front and rear parking sensors.
Touring trim gains 20-inch alloy wheels, panoramic sunroof, LED headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, auto-leveling headlights, Blu-Ray rear-seat entertainment system, second-row captain’s chairs, perforated leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, driver memory, blind-spot monitoring system, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams.
This vehicle has not yet been reviewed
