I spent several weeks reading all the SUV ratings and recommendations and ended up with a Pilot. I couldn't be more pleased.

My Pilot EX-L has Honda's top trim package, and has every major option (rear cargo cover, day/night mirror, 6-CD changer, etc.) except the optional navigation system/DVD player. I paid about $31,000 out-the-door, which I think means I was able to cut a pretty good deal.

Keep in mind I am a layperson, not an auto expert. So, with that in mind, here are the pros and cons:

PROS:

Driving Experience - the Pilot is a pleasure to drive. The seats are comfortable and easy to adjust, and the drivers side has lumbar support. Visibility from the driver's seat is excellent. Brakes are certain and stop the vehicle in a short distance relative to its size. The turning radius is very tight for a vehicle this size (I can make U-turns my wife cannot in her small Volvo!). The 240-h.p. engine is responsive and muscular enough for most any driving conditions, though I confess I would sometimes like just a little more under the hood - especially when carrying a full load.

Interior Design - fit and finish are excellent. The dash and controls are clean and crisp, spartan perhaps when compared with more upscale (and expensive) luxury SUVs, but still very nice. Controls are easy to find and operate, and I like little touches like volume and audio system control in the steering wheel.

2nd-row passengers will appreciate rear seats with leg room that rivals the biggest SUVs on the market, and seem higher than vehicles like the Ford Explorer - which greatly improves comfort for tall passengers.

The 2nd and 3rd row seats fold up easily, and collapse nicely into the floor for extra storage capacity.

Storage room - the Pilot is designed to take full advantage of its size, and has more storage room than some SUVs with more more shapely designs (BUT, see my comments below about exterior design).

Value - Any equivalent SUV I looked at was at least $5,000 more.

CONS:

Exterior Design - this is not the sharpest SUV on the road. I much prefer the look of the Pilot's upscale (and more expensive) cousin, the Acura MDX. Its somewhat boxy design maximizes storage capacity, but at the expense of style.

3rd-Row Seats - Yes the Pilot has a 3rd row, but I would not recommend buying it if you need that row on a regular basis. It is somewhat clumsy to climb in and out of it, and legroom is cramped and uncomfortable. The 3rd row is great in a pinch for 3 kids or 2 adults, but if you're going to need the extra room more than a couple times a month, buy something bigger.

Road Noise - Some auto publications ding the Pilot for excess road noise, and I agree. Is it a big deal? No. But highway driving does indeed raise the noise level above what you'd find in the MDX and other luxury SUVs.

No Door Guards - Honda inexplicably does not offer door guards on the Pilot - that strip of rubber than runs vertically along the edge of the door to prevent parking lot dings. My dealer installed some non-Pilot after-market door guards, but they fell off and were a waste of money.

SUMMARY: My wife and I are really pleased with our Pilot for all the PRO reasons listed above. Yes, there are downsides, but they are relatively minor and we can live with them. Overall this is a great vehicle at a really good price.


Amount Paid (US$): 31,500