This review of the 2009 Honda Pilot EXL is based on a "mom's" view. Please, don't expect anything about torque power or anything technical in this review. This review is purely based on my love of my new car & all it's great features as a mom and not someone mechanically inclined.
I had looked at the Honda Pilot for several years. I loved the boxy design & the fact it sat 8 people. My sister bought last years 2008 model. I was hesitant. The back seat in the 2008 model was too small for my teenagers. I have 6 kids, so I need an 8 passenger vehicle. I was tired of a minivan & so started looking into different 8 passenger vehicles, comparing features & prices. 
For us, the honda pilot was one of the most economical suv's we could afford. We checked out many other similar vehicles, but either weren't impressed, or couldn't afford them. The honda pilot was a happy medium for us. I feel "chic" driving it when the kids aren't in the car & comfortable when the kids are in the car. I have a white pilot & we have a dvd in the back. The dvd is an upgrade, but my hubby talked the salesperson down & it's a great thing to have with kids. It also helps resale value. 
The 2009 pilot has a MUCH larger 3rd row seat than the 2008 version. When testing the pilot, I had my 6'3" 17 year old son sit in the back. Plenty of room for him & he's tall! I'm all about the cup holders. Silly little thing, but in my windstar my coffee would tip, sometimes fall. It was flimsy. The cupholders in this car are amazing! They're deep, hold large or small mugs & sturdy so cups don't tip. They're set into the storage compartment in the middle of the 2 front seats. There are numerous cupholders throughout the car, enough for everyone to be confortable. My kids even remarked on this, they're spacious & deep enough. In the back seat, you can sit 3 on one bench & 3 on the next, but if you only have 2, you can pull the middle seat down & have a little area for snacks & cups. Great feature! 
MUSIC/STORAGE: Other great features that I love are the 6 cd player. You can load 6 cd's in, there's fm1/fm2/satellite radio/am/cd/dvd. You can control the music from the steering wheel, which is another great feature. This keeps your eyes on the road where they belong! The middle storage compartment between the 2 front seats is also great. The cup holders I mentioned, another compartment where I put movies & change. You can cover this compartment if choose & can also cover the cup holder part with a sliding tray. Right at my elbow is another compartment which you can flip open & I store CD's there, whatever you want though & it has an outlet & outlets for phones, ipod, computer etc. All that technical stuff, concealed. The side doors have 2 storage areas, on up high which is small, I keep pens there. Another larger one below where I keep an umbrella & ice scraper. PLENTY OF STORAGE! The center console has a little tray for whatever, I put my sunglasses - even though there's a holder for them in the ceiling. There are also divided shallow storage area's for the passenger side. Convient! The trunk storage is a little small for my taste, but works. If I go grocery shopping, you can lift the back easily up & put the storage net. This way, there are deeper conpartments for groceries (place which is usually covered - I keep blankets here always for kids sports games). You can put groceries here AND in the net you attach across the back. Another neat & simple feature!
I LOVE the heated seats in the 2009 pilot! The 2 front seats are heated! How GREAT for New England weather! I love this! It's so great going on a ride with heated seats, the kids watching a movie (silently...there are headphones) and putting my head back on the cozy headrest, listening to oprah radio on XM satellite radio. How great is that!!!??!! It's like heaven for Moms on wheels! 
The Pilot is a little high off the ground, which I love. I feels so safe. It's not enough of a step to need a rail to help me up or the kids. We all do fine getting in & out. We NEEDED the step in the yukon, but ok here. The steering wheel is so cozy & it drives so effortlessly, it's great. One MINOR drawback is you can sometimes feel the bumps. This is outweighed by all the great features & the comfort. I also LOVE the look. I have the white as I mentioned, & it looks great! It's so stylish, clean looking & classy. I feel great driving it. I wasn't crazy about a lot of the other colors though, honestly, I think they should re-do almost their entire color line except the white & black. That is a drawback if you like a certain color. My interior is blue. I don't generally like blue for a color, but with this car it's perfect. Not too bright, not too dark, just classy looking & calm, clean. 
To put gas in, you have to 1st pull the gas button near the pedals. THis took a little getting used to. The gas mileage is less than my windstar also & I have to fill up more often. It doesn't take too much money to fill up though, not like my husband's yukon did, so this is a plus. In NE, it costs me about $40.00 currently to fill. It does have an green light that goes on when you're driving & using less gas. 
You can also tow with the pilot. It's a very safe car with high safety ratings & air bags all around. The entire back seat folds down if you buy anything large, or parts of it fold if you need just a portion for carrying items. Estimated miles per gallon are 17/23 for city/highway.There is a bumper to bumper 3 years/36,000 mile warranty. When I bought the car, honda was also amazing & took time to show me how to work all the buttons & all the special features. Amazing sales staff!
Pilot is 4WD if you live where it snows. It can really haul through a snowstorm, take it from me! We've had a rough winter & even though I've only had it a short time, it's been so stable & safe. It also has another safety feature: the car beaps at you if someone doesn't put their seatbelt on. Sometimes annoying if you're just going up the street, but guess it's better to be safe anyway. A small, but nifty feature is one touch windows & moonroof. You touch the window & it rolls up & down for you, same with moonrood. Great if you're driving & trying to get out of a tight spot. Just touch & it goes up or down! Another small feature that I love, hooks on the trunk back, to hang grocery bags! How great is that! On top of the net, also hooks. Definately designed for active moms or Dad's!!! 
I will write more as I experience this car further, or if you have any questions. This is not technical, but I LOVE, LOVE this car! It's advantages over last years 2008 model: more 3rd row headroom, 6 cd player, more storage compartments & better gas mileage (slightly, but any is an improvement), make this a great buy for our family! 
Amount Paid (US$): 34,000.00
Condition: New
Model Year: 2009
Model and Options: LX