2003 Honda Pilot
 by Cordell Koland

Honda has set its sights on the mainstream SUV market with its new Pilot,
which shares a platform with the highly successful Honda Odyssey minivan and
the Acura MDX sport-utility.

The aggressively priced Pilot is conservatively styled, but will woo buyers
with a 240-horsepower V-6 engine and a generous interior that accommodates
eight passengers. Honda promises that the Pilot will offer the best cargo
space in its class when the two rear rows of seats are folded down. For
families with children, a DVD entertainment system is available. And owners
concerned about SUV safety should consider that the Honda Pilot has earned
the federal government¹s top Five Star safety rating for the driver, front
passenger and rear seat passengers in both front- and side-impact crash
tests, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

An overview of the new Pilot indicates that it will be a strong competitor,
but not without a few shortcomings.

Engine and Transmission: The V-6 engine is capable of accelerating going
uphill and seems to rival its competitors equipped with V-8 engines. While
the transmission performs well, I am not enthusiastic about the
column-mounted shift lever. It is very hard to select precisely the gear you
want as you move the long lever. It often took me several attempts to find
exactly the right slot because the indents for each gear seemed vague. While
many drivers will just set the vehicle in Drive and go, I prefer to shift
manually on long stretches on mountain roads to maximize engine torque.

Ride and handling: The Pilot offers one of the best rides I¹ve ever
encountered in a sport-utility. The vehicle responds accurately to driver
input, and it is poised and easily managed on demanding country and mountain
curves.

Design: The Pilot won¹t win awards for its breakthrough exterior styling. On
the other hand, the interior is a winner. The dashboard and instruments are
well designed and relatively easy to use, particularly considering the huge
number of functions that are accessed through the center console. Between
the driver¹s and passenger seat, Honda has installed a multi-function bin
that holds all manner of cups, maps, CDs and other necessities. Honda also
has installed a cell phone holder in the bin that safely cradled my
standard-issue Nokia phone.

Interior space: Honda is making roominess a major issue in the sport-utility
features battle. As a cargo hauler, the Pilot really does the job. I folded
down all of the seats and filled it with old furniture for a trip to the
recycling site. The huge opening gobbled up our surplus items with room to
spare. 

While the cargo area is a real winner, I¹m less sanguine about the third row
of seating. To test the seating, I actually assigned myself to the third row
for an hour¹s drive. It was very uncomfortable, especially from the
perspective of legroom, which is just about nonexistent. Even a couple of
inches would have made a difference. Unless you are going to transport
preadolescent children, it¹s best to just fold down the third row
permanently. For my money, if you really need to haul a lot of people, go
for a minivan. Adults and small adults at that should be subject to this
kind of discomfort for only very short distances.

Features: Our test Pilot was equipped with Honda¹s DVD Entertainment 
System. The system features a seven-inch LCD screen that folds from the
Pilot¹s headliner in front of the second row of seats. The DVD player can be
controlled from the front instrument panel¹s center stack, from the
ceiling-mounted control panel or from a hand-held device. The system also
has jacks that can accommodate a VCR or game console. Up to five 
headphones can be attached, two by infrared connections and three via 
headphone jacks.

I decided to personally test the system with our latest DVD purchase: the
third season of "The Sopranos". So, while I was sitting in the third row of
seats, I played the now-famous 'Pine Barren' episode. Thanks to the
relatively smooth ride of the Pilot and its quiet interior, the system
really helps to pass the time. I just wish I¹d owned one when my restless
son was growing up.
 

Vehicle: Honda Pilot

Price as tested: $32,480

Engine:

     Type: 3.5-liter V-6

     Horsepower: 240 @ 5,400 rpm

     Torque: 242 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm

Fuel economy, automatic transmission

     City - 17 mpg

     Highway - 22 mpg

Curb Weight: 4,439 lbs.