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First Drive: 2016 Honda Pilot
Car Reviews

First Drive: 2016 Honda Pilot

·
December 29,2015
·
3 min read

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Honda, after doing facelifts for almost all the cars in the fleet finally set their sights on the Pilot – the old box on wheels. They realized it is high time their biggest SUV receives an update. And, I am glad to say that it is more than just an update. This is a well-deserved overhaul. Read the full review below for details.

Exterior

First things first, this car looks bulky. That is because, well, it is bulky. After refreshing the CR-V, Honda tried to duplicate the design for the Pilot and I would say it works to an extent. It is definitely not the most beautiful looking machine on the road. But, it is a design that is functional and effective. To be fair, the customers who will buy this car are basically families or soccer moms. So, looking from that perspective, this plump exterior works. 

Interior

The interior is where the Pilot clearly excels beyond its competitors. This is an out and out family carrier. Honda has kept a large family in mind while designing the Pilot and this is one of those few crossovers in which 7 adults can sit comfortably. Yes, even the third row is fitting for the adults. It is because the 2nd row only seats 2 and the 3rd row seats 3. It is not the conventional way but I would say this works. I felt more comfortable having my own little space in the second row. Moreover, the visibility is incredible all round and the road/wind noise is minimized greatly. Kudos Honda! 

Other than that, the ‘Touring’ variant is loaded with all the options possible by Honda (including the Honda LaneWatch). The new infotainment is powered by Android which I believe is the way forward. I can go on and on about the Android goodies but it is better left to be experienced by the user. All in all, thoroughly impressed!

Drive

The new Pilot is powered by the refreshed 3.5 liter V6 producing 280 BHP and 355 Nm of torque. Decent figures for a naturally aspirated V6. But this doesn’t translate into great performance considering the bulk. And, I am completely on board with that. Why? Because the Pilot was never meant to be a performance SUV. This is the smoothest car I have driven in recent memory. The drive is so comfortable that I was afraid I might dose off while driving. The power delivery is linear and the gearbox is exactly what you require in a family carrier. However, if you are planning to tackle corners like a rally driver; kindly don’t! The steering lacks feel and the body roll is felt easily. It is a city car which can be taken offroad for pleasure and not hardcore dune bashing. All in all, a great package in this segment!

Still, if you are interested in the figures then you will be glad to know that the Pilot reaches 100kph from standstill in 7.5 seconds whereas the braking power completely halts it from 100kph in 3.2 seconds. Overall, I am happy with the performance. Especially, when one considers the great fuel economy this car provides. In the test run, the car gave an average of 12.7 l/100km. Bravo!

Verdict

This car is for those consumers who want a spacious interior for their families above all else. And, if you are one of those, then look no further!

For more information, please visit the Pilot car buying guide.

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