Our car buying experience:

I did a lot of research before buying my 2003 Honda Pilot. I loved my old sports car (a 1996 Mitsubishi Eclipse), but it simply wasn't practical for my growing family. My father has driven SUVs as far back as I can remember, so I decided that was the way to go. I started looking for a 4x4 with a V6 engine.

My ultimate decision came down to a choice between Toyota Highlander and the Honda Pilot. I had found many excellent reviews of both cars and comparisons of them against each other, plus my trusty Consumer Reports had rated both SUVs very highly -- placing them above pricy SUVs such as the Mercedes and Lexus. The Pilot came in 3rd in the Consumer Reports rankings for Mid-size SUVs (after the Audi and the BMW) and was the highest-ranked "Best Buy". The Highlander, also a "Best Buy", ranked one place lower, coming in 4th.

I went out with my father (who loves to haggle with car salesmen) and test drove both. I honestly expected to like the Highlander better. The Highlander is built on the Camry body, and my husband has a Camry that we both love. After testing both I was quite surprised -- I liked the Pilot better! The ride was smoother, the handling fantastic, you sat up higher, and the engine had more kick. For example, in both cars I drove at a steady 30mph, then suddenly pressed the gas pedal down to the floor. The Pilot took off like a rocket, whereas the Highlander practically ignored me! Perhaps it was just the cars I test drove -- I've read a few reviews that have claimed that the Pilot's engine is nothing very special, however in my opinion it blew away the Highlander's (the Pilot's engine is larger than the Highlander's, but the Pilot is also a heavier vehicle). I found the ride quality and quietness to be quite excellent (my father, who drives a 1999 Ford Explorer, was quite jealous).

Another nice thing about the Pilot -- almost everything is standard (on the EX)! This includes a built-in garage-door-opener, electric seat controls, keyless entry and alarm system, CD player, 3rd row seats, and steering-wheel mounted controls. Surprisingly absent are a seat memory and fog lamps. There are a few optional items -- running boards, vertical rails, mud flaps, and a moon roof (the moon roof is not a listed option but I saw one on the lot that had been special-ordered that way). Feature for feature, the Pilot is a better value than the Highlander. The Highlander's sticker may be a bit lower, but that is because it doesn't have all the standard features of the Pilot. Start adding those features and the Highlander's price easily goes up to a few thousand above the Pilot. Plus we liked the Pilot better after the test drive anyway!

After spending a weekend to think on it, I returned to the dealership to purchase the Pilot I had test driven, only to find it had been sold just that morning! They simply can't keep Pilots on the lot. The only other one they had for sale had a DVD player, and I wasn't willing to pay an extra $1500 for that. This does not bode well for you if you were hoping to get the dealer to come down a bit on the price (most on-line car dealers were selling at $2000 above MSRP). We ended up driving to another town where I test drove a white Pilot that I ultimately purchased. Amazingly enough we did talk them down a little bit ($2000), and I was happy to get anything off at all. note: I put the sticker price in the epinions required "Amount Paid" field

Our second test drive was really cool. After driving it for a bit, we went down a dead-end street where the salesman took over to show off the quick acceleration (from a dead stop to 45mph in what seemed like mere feet), then he jumped on the brakes so we could feel it "hunker down" as it stopped. We also drove in circles in the cul-de-sac to experience the tight turn ratio (it felt like one of the back wheels was planted and we were pivoting on it).

Other Observations:

The available Pilot trim lines are the LX and the EX. The LX model has fewer standard features (see the link to the site or PDF below for more LX/EX information), the EX is the version with additional goodies (such as alloy wheels, keyless entry, power seat controls, automatic climate control, and upgraded radio). I got a Pilot EX-L. The only difference between the EX-L and the EX is that the EX-L has leather seats. Other options include a built-in drop-from-the-ceiling DVD Player and a dashboard GPS -- I did not get either of those options (both are very cool, but each add approximately $1500 to the price tag).

I don't find the exterior to be extremely gorgeous, but I don't think it is ugly either. I find it somewhat plain, but still attractive. My sister originally described the headlights as "cross-eyed", but later admitted that the look grew on her, so now she likes it. The interior is very nice and well thought-out, however I don't find it to be quite as ergonomically styled as the Highlander.

Honda was well-aware that their Pilot would beat out the Toyota Highlander (Limited V6 4x4) in a side-by-side comparison. The dealer printed us out a comparison from an independent site (www.autosite.com) where you can directly compare the vehicles and their standard feature. The site was very helpful in illustrating the differences and similarities between both vehicles, and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in comparing two vehicles of any type.

I didn't think I would need 3 rows of seats (my husband and I only have one child, so far), however those additional seats have come in quite handy and now I'm very glad we have them. A 3rd row seat was not an option in many of the mid-size SUVs I had researched -- it is usually a feature only found in the largest SUVs. I am thrilled that the mid-size Pilot could still offer the additional seating.

Update (1/22/03):
We had a rather severe winter storm blow through last week, and I had to put the 4-Wheel Drive to the test in order to get home from work. Like one of my friends says, it doesn't snow here terribly often, but when it does having a 4x4 more than pays for itself. I let the automatic 4x4 sensors do their job (rather than switching it to all-time 4-wheel drive), and it did a remarkably wonderful job. I only felt the car slip twice -- once going up a steep hill and once making the 90-degree turn into my neighborhood -- and each time I only slid for a split second before I regained traction. Of course, not even 4-wheel drive vehicles travel well when the road is a solid sheet of ice, so please exercise caution! The streets were littered with vehicles (including 4x4s) that could not make it up the steep hills.
End of 1/22/03 update

Features:
See links below for the full LX vs. EX standard feature comparison

My EX-L Pilot came with a 3.5 liter V-6 engine, with 240 horsepower (Highlander's is 3.0 liter V6 w/ 220 horsepower). It is a 4-wheel drive vehicle with 4-wheel ABS brakes and a limited slip differential (which means if a wheel starts to slip, the mechanism will transfer power to the wheel(s) that have traction). The all-wheel drive system shifts automatically from front-wheel-drive to 4-wheel-drive when more traction is needed, and you can push a dashboard button to lock it into 4x4.

The Pilot's basic body design is a conglomeration of the popular Acura MDX and Honda's Odyssey van. The Pilot is shorter and wider than the MDX, and stands taller.

Safety:

As new parents, safety is a major concern in my family. While SUVs are not generally known for their safety, the 2003 Honda Pilot does attempt to overcome the problems found in most SUVs, such as flipping over during high-speed, sharp turns. The Pilot's designers try to limit this by giving its SUV a very wide wheel base (just over 66 inches), making the wheel base practically a square (rather than your typical rectangle).

In addition to the AWD and ABS features listed above, the Pilot has 4 airbags -- driver, passenger, and side airbags. The passenger's seat contains sensors that will automatically deactivate the side airbag should the passenger lean into its deployment path (in an effort to protect children or small-statured adults who sit in the passenger's seat). Should a collision be detected, seat belt tensioners tighten automatically and sensors in the "dual-stage, dual-threshold" airbags determine which of the 2 deployment speeds is appropriate (in an effort to reduce airbag-related injuries).

Unlike many vehicles with 3 rows of seating, the Pilot offers lap AND shoulder belts for ALL 8 seats (including a nifty retractable belt in the ceiling for that middle seat on the 3rd row).

Hondas are known for safety, and the Pilot is no exception. Specially designed bumpers are, according to Honda, "more compatible with the height of most passenger-car bumpers, making them friendlier to cars as they also help protect you". For your youngest riders, LATCH child-seat anchors are provided in the 2nd row, and tether anchors are built into the 3rd row.

Interior:

Something I consider to be a definite advantage over the Highlander -- the Pilot has 3rd row seats! The seats fold away completely if you aren't going to use them (you must remove the 3rd row head rests and store them in a convenient compartment before folding the row away). The 2nd row glides forward to allow access to the 3rd row. Leg room in the 3rd row is not as roomy as the 2nd or front row, however it is still roomier than the back seat in my old sports car, so I have no complaints.

The 2nd and 3rd row seats are 60/40 split-bench seats, meaning you can either fold down 2 seats, 1 of the seats, or the entire row. Another nice feature -- the 2nd and 3rd row seats can also be reclined to the passenger's preference.

The radio includes a single CD player (6-CD changer is optional) and a tape deck, with 7 speakers (including a subwoofer in back -- very cool) and a built-in anti-theft system. The antenna is embedded in one of the rear windows (something I appreciate, since the retractable antenna in my Eclipse had broken). A few radio/CD/tape controls are located on the steering wheel (along with the cruise control buttons).

An anti-theft system is also included. The lights will flash and the horn will honk for approximately 30 seconds should an unauthorized entry be detected.

There is tons of storage available, nine beverage holders (in the EX, 7 in the LX), cargo nets on the backs of the front seats, and a hidden rear storage area (where you keep the headrests when the 3rd row seats are collapsed). With the 2nd and 3rd row seats folded flat, 90 cubic feet of cargo room is available in the rear. There are even 4 12-volt power outlets (2 in front, 1 in the 2nd row, and 1 in the 3rd row/back).

Climate control can be set to automatic (where it maintains the temperature you select) or manual, and there is a separate control unit for the 2nd row seats as well (standard on EX models only).

Although a sunroof/moonroof is listed as "not available" for the Pilot, I saw one with my own two eyes at the dealership where I purchased my Pilot.

I find the Pilot's interior to be extremely comfortable and roomy, with plenty of leg room and cleverly designed storage space.

Exterior:

Because the back-end of the Pilot is taken up with the 3rd row seating, the full-size spare tire is stored under the car. I have seen other SUVs where the spare tire protrudes down below the back bumper and is quite visible -- this is not the case for the Pilot. It is well hidden up underneath the car, and I am very pleased that it is not visible to whomever may be behind me.

There are plenty of exterior standard features as well (many of which are not standard on the Highlander), such as Intermittent rear window wiper, privacy glass, and a rear spoiler. I know that in my Eclipse I managed to scuff the back of my car when loading items into my trunk. The Pilot has a black, hard-plastic barrier (sorry, I don't know the term for it) on the bumper to keep this from happening, while on the Highlander that bumper-cover not a standard feature.

Always a plus for me -- the headlights will turn off automatically after approximately 10 seconds should you forget and leave them on after you turn the vehicle off and remove the key from the ignition. If you intend to leave your headlights on (turn them on after your key is out of the ignition), they will stay on for 10 minutes before shutting off automatically.

Roof rails come standard on the EX (not the LX) -- but these rails only run the length of the car (from the front of the 2nd row window to the rear of the car. Crossbars that run the width of the car (from one side to the other) will cost an additional $170.00. Running boards, fog lamps, and mud flaps are also accessories that can be purchased in addition to the standard features.

Some quickie, minor observations:

Owner's manual is thick, but there is also a very handy quick-reference guide which answers the most common questions.

Things I might change: I would have the back glass open separately from the rest of the tailgate. I would have a seat memory. I would make fog lights standard (just because I like 'em). I would add an interior button that would unlock the tailgate without unlocking the other doors. The fact that the shifting is on the steering column, rather than between the front seats, took some getting used to, but now it doesn't bother me.

There are a variety of niceties I didn't even mention (such as the outside temperature gauge), just because this review would be unbearably long if I went into that much detail.

Final Thoughts:

I look forward to getting into my 2003 Honda Pilot every day. I don't think I've ever had so much fun behind the driver's wheel. All I can say is -- I love it, love it, love it!

Websites/Documents of Interest:

Honda's Pilot site:
http://www.hondacars.com/models/model_overview.asp?ModelName=Pilot
A nice PDF listing Pilot LX/EX Standard Features:
http://www.hondacars.com/images/banners/2003/pilot/pilot_factsheet.pdf
HTML version of LX/EX Features:
http://www.hondacars.com/models/specifications.asp?ModelName=Pilot
Compare vehicles:
http://comp.autosite.com


Amount Paid (US$): 30960
Condition: New
Model and Options: EX-L