2009 Honda Pilot, Part One - Jalopnik Comments

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Eric Merrill — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:14:23 EDT

@athodyd: The Mazda5 is one of the sexiest non-sports cars being produced today, in my opinion. It's just got something about it. I have no idea what that something is. I imagine it's too small, though, for Jalopnik's needs.

Eric Merrill

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

athodyd — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:25:33 EDT

The best people-carrier for my money is the most recent generation Mazda5. Slow-car-fast performance, look-at-me-I'm-a-grownup-racer manumatic, and best of all, it looks like an Odyssey had a kitten. D'awwww.

athodyd

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

camp6ell — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 20:26:03 EDT

i like ugly, in a cube, xb, element, transit courier, and now pilot kind of a way.

also, wes, does this really take 4x8 sheets of plywood in it? flat, with the tailgate closed? any pictures to prove, as i'd like to see. yes, i'm that interesting.

camp6ell

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Al Navarro — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:58:32 EDT

@Citroen_SM:
Read that again...I guess I could have been more precise and said that they take one seat from the third row...meaning the MDX only has 2 seats in the way way=7 passenger capability. Vs. my Pilot's 8.

I know the MDX looks different...and I like it compared to the current Pilot. But I also know it's built on the same platform. Read, people.

Al Navarro

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Citroen_SM — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:25:17 EDT

@Al Navarro: Actually, MDX has 3 rows of seats too, and looks completely different. Especially on the inside.

Citroen_SM

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

stu-rock — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:14:56 EDT

@badco/LoJ, @Preferredcustomer: I agree that all of the CUVs you listed look better and are more desirable, but they're all a foot longer than the Pilot.

stu-rock

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Mad_Science — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:53:16 EDT

@Wes: Are those the Mud Caves at Anza Borrego?

Next time you guys are in SoCal and need pictures of cars on dirt, give me a call. I know a few good places.

Mad_Science

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Lerxst — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:32:37 EDT

Looks like the marketing department knows it's ugly...in most of the pictures there can't be more than a few hundred pixels actually devoted to the Pilot.

Lerxst

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Preferredcustomer — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 12:18:59 EDT

@badco/LoJ: Amen to that. The Acadia and Outlook are both much nicer looking vehicles. So, frankly, is the Taurus X. And the Flex.

Preferredcustomer

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

badco/LoJ — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:35:32 EDT

@ash78:
"I challenge anyone to come up with an 8-passenger, 2-box SUV design that looks better on the same footprint."

Acadia.

This one follows the same script as the Accord. Great powertrain technology, meh dynamics, and atrocious design.

badco/LoJ

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

weatherman — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:33:51 EDT

I've changed my mind about giving up my Jeep: Wert, if you want a '98 with less than 100k miles I'd happily trade you mine for the keys of this Pilot. One thing though - you have to replace the grill on the Pilot first.

weatherman

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Al Navarro — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:25:05 EDT

@elwood:
Having gone from an Audi wagon that was extremely fun to drive but which also occasionally left me stranded (or at least in limp home mode) I can appreciate the boring reliability of the Pilot.

We test drove the WRX recently and my folks both have Subes...but we're just not smitten. And I want so much to like them...

But yes, I think having the Se7en in the garage (though for who knows how long!?!) makes it a bit easier to go with boring for the daily drivers. I'm pretty sure the next new car coming in for us will also be a, yawn, Honda.

Al Navarro

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Preferredcustomer — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:22:18 EDT

That 649 word review contained 263 words about the Pilot. That is probably about 260 too many.

In your next review of a Honda product, please omit all mention of the product, and talk about something else that might be interesting. Did any of you guys get new shoes or something recently? Read any good books lately? Any of these topics = better than a review of a Honda Pilot.

Thanks.

Preferredcustomer

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

elwood — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 11:03:54 EDT

@Al Navarro: I would consider you an enthusiast too, but you also own a Seven as a not so much daily driver. If I was getting a car which was to be my ONLY car, and I needed a significant amount of utility, I'd be looking at some sort of Audi or Subaru wagon, and not so much this.

elwood

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Al Navarro — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:46:18 EDT

I really like the looks of the current MDX built on the same platform, but they charge a big premium and take away one 3rd row seat.

Al Navarro

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Al Navarro — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:42:51 EDT

@elwood:
I would consider myself an enthusiast and we have a Pilot. I prefer the original styling the best, before they messed around with clear corners and chrome/brushed metal grills and the like.

It holds 8 people (best if the 3 in the way way are kids, though), tows the Seven on an open trailer (it would be pushing the limits to tow in an enclosed...and make sure to get an airlift kit to compensate for squat when you load it up or suffer some very irregular tire wear), and has been extremely reliable and comfortable.

I hated it when we first got it, because it is totally a driving appliance, especially compared to the MTM'd A4 Avant it replaced. It is also the first car we special ordered and waited for. But over the years and miles (over 140k now), the car has really grown on me. So much that I plan on taking it over as my daily driver...my wife can get the next new car that comes in.

Al Navarro

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

John_W_KCMO — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:40:42 EDT

If you can look past that grill, the Pilot offers a lot of car for the money, the gas mileage is good for its size and the features offered compare well with SUVs that cost a lot more.

John_W_KCMO

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Mad_Science — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:36:22 EDT

Didn't like the previous one as it looked silly and like they threw too much "truck" on a lighter-duty platform.

This one has the classic proportions and kinda ugly front end that an SUV should have in my eyes. Of course, that also means it looks like every other SUV (but with a weird grille).

@Wes: I'm curious what it'll tow. It looks lighter-duty than a 1/2 ton pickup, which is generally the minimum for things like boats or track-cars.

Mad_Science

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

dudeman2323 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 10:16:44 EDT

So, exactly like the Accord Coupe review of yesterday, what you are saying is that you wish you had a JDM Honda Stream. Preferably in Diesel. In other words, that Honda sold a 6 seater wagon in the US of A. But they don't. So you use a 4x4 to get to the auto show and hold the flowerpots on your lap when you go to IKEA.

dudeman2323

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

elwood — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:50:00 EDT

Yeah, I don't think it looks that terrible either. And sure, it's not a car for enthusiasts, but most of the driving public aren't enthusiasts.

elwood

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

TonySmash — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:48:27 EDT

@ buyj3llo:

i agree! i thought it looked nice. its a bit more boxy then the last iteration. then again, i drive a late 90's pathfinder, and her face certainly ain't the prettiest thing to look at either.

TonySmash

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

The Name's Ash78, Housewares — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:39:00 EDT

@buyj3llo: I challenge anyone to come up with an 8-passenger, 2-box SUV design that looks better on the same footprint. I thought the last gen was one of the ugliest vehicles on the road--this is slightly better. But it's function over form.

The Name's Ash78, Housewares

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

buyj3llo — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:35:25 EDT

wow, I can't believe so many people didn't like this car. I thought it looked nice.

buyj3llo

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

lifeguard1 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:33:41 EDT

This one has to be a category winner for front end ugliness. The lead picture alone should have stopped me from reading this review, but Wes's writing had me wanting to ride with the crew.

lifeguard1

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

dculberson — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:32:42 EDT

It's not pretty, but it's no Ssanyong.

dculberson

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

graverobber- My Yugo Nova! — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:27:13 EDT

Well, that's a right nice station wagon you've got there. And you say it's got 4 wheel drive? Well, isn't that like maple syrup on a short stack. Shame about the looks though. That's a car you'd always let pass, just so you don't have to look at that nose in the rear-view.

graverobber- My Yugo Nova!

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

combat chuck — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:13:19 EDT

It's funny how I can enjoy a review so much, and not give a crap about the subject of said review. Personally, I liked the late 90's Honda Passport. This thing doesn't move me at all, but Wes managed to make a review of a boring car very entertaining.

combat chuck

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

docleo83 — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:09:41 EDT

Can you guys PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pick more drunken fights with Angus McKenzie? And maybe throw a few punches towards Csaba Csere while you're at it?

docleo83

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Ray Wert — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:04:04 EDT

@Benz250S: Not every car can be as beautiful as the WRX, you know. And by beautiful, I mean not at all.

Ray Wert

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Ray Wert — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:03:21 EDT

@UDMan: We're dicking around with automakers and trying to get you more involved.

Ray Wert

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

yellofury * * * * * — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:31:35 EDT

looks like the first generation Saturn Vue that had a stroke

yellofury * * * * *

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

The Name's Ash78, Housewares — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:23:24 EDT

Did I mention yet that this needs an uptuned version of Honda's 4-pot Diesel?

I'm no greenie, but once again, if 95% of your real-life usage is to transport 2-4 people with no towing or hauling, then you're taking a 50%+ fuel economy hit for all the unused capacity.

The Name's Ash78, Housewares

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

The Name's Ash78, Housewares — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:18:14 EDT

I know I have a problem when I plan the number of kids I want to have based on the vehicles available.

Still leaning toward Forester for the "ultimate family of 3/4" vehicle" that does just about everything well. But I must give Honda credit--this has always seemed like the best compromise for everything it does. It's the antithesis of a purpose-built machine, so I tip my hat to their ingenuity.

The Name's Ash78, Housewares

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

EJ from upstairs — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:12:54 EDT

I'm amazed how much much it looks like a Chrysler product. At least from every angle but the front, which is nothing but pure ug, and not even in a tough way.

EJ from upstairs

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

grrgle — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 07:04:35 EDT

I wanted an Avant, so we got a 2005 Pilot. It is comfortable and surprisingly fast but I will never get used to torque steer. Also the motor sounds pretty sweet when it hits teh VTEC. I never imagined that I could be so fond of a car that I really don't give a shit about.

grrgle

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

UDMan — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:58:53 EDT

The Editors of Jalopnik offered a bounty for high quality pictures of the new Honda Pilot only a few days ago. Now, alakazzam!, Wes has a review of the new Pilot, right here on Jalopnik.

So, I was wondering. Are you just playing with your readers, or are you actually trying to get them more involved?

UDMan

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

3wheeler — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:56:34 EDT

I love this car. Oh wait. Wrong car. I hate this car.

3wheeler

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

Naturally Exasperated? — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:54:18 EDT

YUCK! why are turds like this, being exhibited on Jalopnik.com anyway?

Naturally Exasperated?

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

layabout — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 04:49:25 EDT

The front of that Honda is pig ugly,& just like most other Honda's it will be as much fun to drive as being kicked in the nuts.Another car for people that hate cars!

layabout

2009 Honda Pilot, Part One

icntdrv — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 03:47:35 EDT

The new Pilot looks like a crossover. I liked the old one better. It had all of the proportions and butch looks of a truck based SUV but all of the carlike benefits of a crossover. Granted, its butchness was only skin deep, but it was still better than this. I mean, which would you rather have, plastic surgery muscles or an oversized beer gut? One is truth in advertising, but the other is blissful ignorance.

icntdrv