2009 Honda Pilot Road Test

Table of Contents
2009 Honda Pilot Review
2009 Honda Pilot Prices
2009 Honda Pilot Competition
2009 Honda Pilot Car Quote

Driving the 2009 Honda Pilot
On paper, there’s nothing extraordinary about the 2009 Honda Pilot’s horsepower figures, and it’s among the few in its competitive set with a transmission that hasn’t yet graduated to six speeds. But this SUV steps off the line with authority and employs the latest in engine technology to deliver ready response for passing and merging.

Cylinder-deactivation is transparent save for the slightest powertrain shudder during some transitions and illumination of an “Eco” for “economy” mode symbol on the instrument panel. Honda employs active noise control, using the audio system assisted by the subwoofer, to emit frequencies that mask unpleasant exhaust-system resonances triggered by the cylinder-deactivation system. Pilot can tow trailers up to 4,500 pounds.

Pilot’s relatively compact exterior dimensions and its admirably tight turning radius are liberating in confined space. On the road, the list of confidence-inspiring traits is a long one: impressive balance in turns, accurate and linear steering, great straight-line stability, admirable resistance to body lean in fast corners, and minimal noseplow and tire squeal even in sudden changes of direction.

Credit part of Pilot’s surefootedness to Honda’s Variable Torque Management all-wheel-drive technology. It enhances dry-road behavior by distributing power to all four wheels with any throttle application, not just during tire slip. Pilot’s not designed for serious off-roading so it lacks low-ranging gearing, but a dashboard button can lock-in a front-rear torque split for maximum low-speed traction. Braking feels strong and pedal modulation is satisfying.

Riding in the 2009 Honda Pilot
To achieve its high levels of composure, Pilot has a firm suspension that turns the ride thumpy over tar strips and sharp ridges. The cabin is never an unpleasant place to be, however. It’s airy, and roomy, with supportive seats in all three rows. Deserving special mention is Pilot’s minivan-like level of third-row space and comfort, accommodations that reveal smart packaging and shame some larger SUVs. With 8 inches of ground clearance, step-in height is average for the class, but unlike some sleeker-bodied rivals, Pilot’s tall roof won’t demand you stoop when climbing aboard. Astutely placed grab handles and smooth-sliding second-row seats make third-row entry-exit easier than the norm, too.

Pilot’s admirably isolated from disagreeable wind, road, and mechanical noises. Cargo versatility is most agreeable. Second and third rows split 60/40 and fold without removing headrests to create a level load floor wide enough to lay flat a 4-foot-wide panel. It’s a stretch to reach in and raise the third-row seatbacks, however. Carrying space behind the third row is surprisingly good thanks to a “well” in the floor and a clever net arrangement that creates “second-story” storage. Small-item containment is family friendly thanks to a plethora of pouches, hooks, cubbies, cupholders, and bins; each door has two storage pockets.

2009 Honda Pilot dashboard and controls
Trouble in paradise. The central section of Pilot’s dashboard is a riot of buttons that aren’t differentiated enough by size, markings, or even groupings to make using them easy on the driver. Even over time, we suspect most owners will find themselves hunting and pecking rather than reaching instinctively for the right one. Honda’s navigation system is no harder to program than any other, though its voice-recognition software requires precisely annunciated commands to work as it should.

Gauges are large and unobstructed. Placing the gear lever at the driver’s knee makes it effortless to reach, solves a previous-generation Pilot problem in which the column-mounted lever blocked access to some controls, and opens purse-welcoming space between the front seats.

Pilot’s interior design mimics its chunky, beveled exterior styling. Sectioned shapes don’t necessarily flow organically into one another, and the feel of the materials is a clear step below, say, those in an Acura. But a nice blend of grained and padded panels and careful assembly gives the cabin a feeling of quality befitting the elevated but realistic expectations of Honda’s audience.

2009 Honda Pilot fuel economy
EPA fuel economy estimates for the 2009 Honda Pilot were not released in time for this report. Honda estimates the 2009 Pilot at 17 mpg city and 23 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models and 16/22 for AWD versions. EPA ratings for the 2008 Honda Pilot were 16/22 with front drive, 15/20 for AWD. Honda says the V-6 engine’s cylinder deactivation system reduces Pilot’s overall fuel consumption by about five percent. Pilot uses regular-octane gas.

2009 Honda Pilot safety
Standard safety equipment for the 2009 Honda Pilot includes four-wheel disc brakes with antilock control, which is designed to prevent locking up the wheels during emergency stops. An antiskid system teams with traction control to enhance the tires’ grip in turns and when accelerating. Front seat-mounted side airbags offer torso protection in side collisions. Curtain side airbags for all three seating rows provide head protection in side collisions and are designed to deploy when sensors detect an imminent rollover (rollovers are a leading cause of fatalities in SUV accidents).

The government’s crash-test results for the 2009 Honda Pilot were not released in time for this report, but Honda said its internal testing made it confident the SUV would score the highest possible ratings in any third-party evaluation. That would continue the excellent record of the previous-generation Pilot, which scored the highest possible government ratings for passenger protection in frontal- and side-collision testing, and was among the best SUVs for rollover resistance.

2009 Honda Pilot quality and reliability
Owners rate Honda vehicles tops among mid-priced brands for reliability and overall satisfaction, but rate Honda dealer sales and service only average in surveys by J.D. Power and Associates, the leading consumer-satisfaction ratings firm.

The 2009 Honda Pilot hasn’t been out long enough for its owners to be surveyed, but the 2008 Pilot scored average, better than average, and among the best in every category of initial quality measured by J.D. Power. It also rated better than average for dependability.