If you are looking for comfort, style, roominess, power, comfort and decent interior design, The Pilot has everything you may need. In fact, on the company's web site, you will read that if you have a picky teenager, he/she won't hesitate to have you pick him/her up in front of the high school. In fact, these kids and their buddies will be attracted by the cool style and features which this 2003 Honda Pilot comes equipped with.

Everything depends on you. The 2003 Pilot is everything a large family wanted to have. With lots of safety features and a seating capacity of 8, the Pilot is the ultimate SUV that you can often take off-road. No big deal. Still true to the history of this company, the Pilot is the company's answer to all the naysayers who thought that it could not come with a decent SUV that can compete head to head with the likes of Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer, Chevrolet TrailBlazer, Envoy and Bravada. Honda is good at beating the competitors are their own game. This company is also good at taking its time to design or spring something new from an existing platform. No wonder this Pilot looks like the Acura MDX. (Please see my MDX review!)

How did I get to test-drive this new darling of Honda?

Backgrounds

In 2000, upon the moderately aggressive marketing of my wife's uncle who works for the local dealer, we bought a Honda Civic. At the time, we were truly in the market for a Toyota Corolla. The Corolla we had was wrecked to the point of complete usefulness. (See my Toyota Corolla's reviews) After testing that honda, my wife fell for it. Ever since, whenever there is a new, hot Honda model at the dealership, the uncle calls her to inform her. Even when we bought the Civic, he was trying to get me to trade in my Jeep for the newer model of Odyssey.

So, knowing how hot the 2003 Honda Pilot is at the dealership, he called us to check it out. Obviously, we took our kids to really have the best complete feedback possible. Maybe my wife's uncle is right this time. There is so much buzz about the Pilot that already dealers are getting ready to capitalize on it. This new midsize sport utility is getting everybody to talk curiously about cars. It's the in, the chic thing to do these days.

There we went on our drive of the Pilot

Before we knew, the uncle/car salesman wanted to describe the SUV to us. He acknowledged that we may have already done some research on the vehicle. In fact, we knew it was listed at $27,360, but finding it at that price would be like hitting a lottery. He warned us that it's already going up in price and that they could not order and keep enough on the lot. The first things I noticed when I found my corner seat in the mid section was that the truck was larger, roommier than it appears on the outside. It's kind of trademark of Honda. And I could not wait to convince my wife to be the first one behind the wheel. In the meantime, the kids went to the last row when they started messing with the heating and ventilation controls. Rear seat passengers have access to the separate A/C compressor blowing air. That's independent of the front A/C system

As soon as we left the dealership, I managed to get behind the wheels of the EX model.

Here is what I found out: Maybe the reasons why you should buy this SUV

Let's run the numbers, see the standard safety features and talk about security equipment

1. First thing first, if you buy this SUV, thanks to its Immobilizer Theft-Deterrent System and remote entry system with panic alarm, you will be in complete control. You will have this SUV around to pass on to your kids. A Honda is built to last an eternity!

2. As a driver, you will be in full view of the road. The Pilot's high seating position puts you in command. At night, you will have better visibility thanks to the bright multi-reflector halogen headlights

3. Some of the standard features include but are not limited tot he following: Dual-stage front airbags (SRS), front side airbags with a passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS). This feature is truly great in that it deactivates the side airbag when a passenger is either too small in stature or is out of position

Many industry watchers and critics are saying that this new Honda Pilot is going to be adopted as the car of the suburbs. Honda is touting it as the "Pilot Family." There appears to be some justice in these statements when you consider the various amenities and features that this SUV comes equipped with. In addition to the safety and security features, the Honda offers the following.

4. Taking your kids' safety into account, the Pilot offers "LATCH (Lower anchors and Tethers for Children) mounting positions in the 2nd row and upper tethers in 3rd-row positions for extra stability for their safety"

5. The Pilot comes with 4-wheel disc bakes, ABS with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD), an available rear back up sensor and VTM-4 wheel drive.

6. Taking care of your thirst and space issues: Space and storage are important to any kids-hauling parent. Don't worry about that. Honda takes care of it in many ways. Unlike the LX model, the EX offers 9 beverage holders. As in our case, we did not need the extra back seat. So we folded them down to create more cargo space. The kids will make great use of the 2nd-row fold-down activity tray as they engage in coloring their drawings. Let them use their hands and mind while traveling! If you need lots of headroom, legroom and whatever other organ room, the Honda offers lots of it too.

7. We did not have the chance to test-drive this Pilot on snow, ice and muddy trails since we are in the midst of the Summer season around here. Thanks to the VTM-4 or Variable Torque Management system, you should have peace of mind. Most weather conditions will leave you alone to pilot your new Pilot to destination.

Recommendations

If you can get this truck for a reasonable price, lay your hands on it. Honda delivers on this SUV and should go head to head with most of the competitors out there. Why not?

Amount Paid (US$): 39, 678
Condition: New
Model and Options: EX automatic