The old Pilot was, to be frank, quite old. Back when it was new, it was quite good, but even back in 2011—the last time a Pilot was in a comparison test—we dogged it for being out of date. I bring this up not to beat up on Honda or the Pilot but to set the stage for this new one. It’s real new. So new that about the only thing it shares with its forebear is the number of seats and cylinders and, you know, the name.
This new one’s got a new everything. New platform, based on the excellent Acura MDX. New engine with more power and better fuel efficiency. Optional new nine-speed automatic transmission with new push-button shifter. New styling inside and out. And not only is it all-new, but it’s also all considerably better. So much so that it was the clear runner-up in our most recent SUV of the Year award voting. This ain’t your mother’s Pilot, but for the next year, it’s ours.
It doesn’t hurt that our long-term tester is a loaded Elite model, a top-shelf trim level only recent introduced to the Honda brand. You probably think it’s pretty expensive at $47,300 as-tested, but the price is very competitive with the rest of the three-row crossover/SUV segment. It’s also worth noting the Pilot outperforms the class, something you’ll appreciate when you’re late to school, a youth sporting event, or another extracurricular activity.
Since no one at the office has a Quiverfull family, we didn’t worry much about giving up the class-exclusive eighth seat for a pair of second-row captain’s chairs. Such a compromise kept us in the Elite model rather than the next-step-down Touring, and those chairs are heated to boot. The front seats, meanwhile, are both heated and cooled. Also heated: the steering wheel.
Other Elite-exclusive features we’ll enjoy include a panoramic roof in the rear to complement the power moonroof up front, automatic LED headlights with automatic high-beams, rain-sensing wipers, and a blind-spot monitoring system. All of this is on top of all the other features standard on the Elite and optional on lesser models. Those include the full Honda Sense suite of driver aids with lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation, lane departure warning, and road departure mitigation, which, when all running simultaneously, create a semi-autonomous driving system under the right conditions. We’re also fond of the 540-watt, 10-speaker stereo and plethora of USB ports, power points, and cupholders.
With its sedan-worthy comfort and performance, weather-beating all-wheel drive, and plenty of space for people and stuff, the Pilot will no doubt find many willing drivers during its tour of duty. The big question is: Will we love it as much in 12 months?
| 2016 Honda Pilot Touring Elite AWD | |
| BASE PRICE | $47,300 |
| PRICE AS TESTED | $47,300 |
| VEHICLE LAYOUT | Front-engine, AWD, 7-pass, 4-door SUV |
| ENGINE | 3.5L/280-hp/262-lb-ft SOHC 24-valve V-6 |
| TRANSMISSION | 9-speed automatic |
| CURB WEIGHT (F/R DIST) | 4,290 lb (56/44%) |
| WHEELBASE | 111.0 in |
| LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT | 194.5 x 78.6 x 69.8 in |
| 0-60 MPH | 6.2 sec |
| QUARTER MILE | 14.8 sec @ 93.9 mph |
| BRAKING, 60-0 MPH | 119 ft |
| LATERAL ACCELERATION | 0.80 g (avg) |
| MT FIGURE EIGHT | 27.5 sec @ 0.63 g (avg) |
| EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON | 19/26/22 mpg |
| ENERGY CONS., CITY/HWY | 177/130 kW-hrs/100 miles |
| CO2 EMISSIONS, COMB | 0.90 lb/mile |
The post 2016 Honda Pilot Touring Elite AWD Long-Term Arrival Review appeared first on Motor Trend.
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