2016 Honda Pilot Pros and Cons: Why (Not) This Car?

	Compared to the Highlander
Front seat room	Better Worse

The first impression after getting into the new Honda Pilot: "Wow, there's a lot of room in here." The interior is unusually broad, with more shoulder room than in any other crossover--three more inches than the Toyota Highlander. Headroom is also plentiful, with enough space up front for a tophat (unless you're a center in the NBA). Plus the footwells are so broad you can just about dance in them. Beyond the tape measure, the Pilot's interior has been designed to make the most of every inch, so it feels even roomier than it is. A capacious console resides between the widely spaced front seats.

Front seat comfort is better than in small Hondas, with a broad cushion, adjustable lumbar, and a headrest that doesn't jut overly far forward.

Driving position & visibility

Better Worse

Recent styling trends have been reducing the windows on many vehicles to bunker-like slits. Not this one. The new Honda Pilot has large windows, a relatively low instrument panel, and relatively thin pillars. The pillars are far thicker in a Ford Explorer, and the instrument panel is overly deep in the Nissan Pathfinder. The Pilot's side view mirrors are large, and are supplelemented by a passenger-side blind spot camera on the EX, EX-L, and Touring and by a blind spot warning system on the tested top-of-the-line Elite.

Rear seat room & comfort

Better Worse

According to their spec sheets, the Ford Explorer and Nissan Pathfinder have more rear legroom than the new Honda Pilot. In practice, though, the Pilot's rear legroom feels at least as generous as theirs--I suspect some creative measuring--and well ahead of what you'll find in a Toyota Highlander.

The Pilot's second-row seat isn't as high off the floor as the Ford Explorer's, but is more comfortably positioned than the low benches in the GM crossovers and the Pathfinder. The Elite trim level includes captains chairs, so it can only seat up to seven people. With a second-row split bench, other Pilots can seat eight people.

The Pilot's largest seating advantage is its third row. Unlike in most crossovers, the cabin remains broad in the "way back," so there's enough shoulder room for three passengers. The Highlander's third-row bench, though also designed for three passengers, is somewhat narrower and lacking in legroom. Only the GM crossovers roughly match the new Pilot in third-row space as well as passenger capacity.

The Pilot's seats are positioned so that the view forward from each is open, further enhancing perceived roominess.

Fuel economy

Better Worse

Aided by cylinder deactivation while cruising, the 2015 Honda Pilot's fuel economy figures were about average in the class: 18 MPG city, 25 MPG highway with front-wheel drive (FWD) and 17/24 with all-wheel drive (AWD). For 2016, a reduction in curb weight, an updated engine, and a sixth transmission ratio bump the ratings to 19/27 with FWD and 18/26 with AWD. The Touring and Elite trims include a nine-speed automatic that adds another MPG to the city ratings, tying the best-in-class Nissan Pathfinder.

The Toyota Highlander doesn't even do as well with its base four-cylinder engine (20/25) and lags with its V6 (19/25 with FWD, 18/24 with AWD). In hybrid form the Highlander only has much of an edge in city driving (27/28). The Ford Explorer is competitive with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine (19/28 with FWD, 18/26 with AWD), but with a V6 falls well short of the Pilot's fuel efficiency. As do the GM crossovers.

In my suburban driving the Pilot's trip computer typically reported low 20s but as high as 27.7. This is similar to the Pathfinder and a few MPG better than the Highlander. On a 70-MPH hgihway the trip computer reported an average of 26 MPG.

Price or payments

Better Worse

Honda has become much more aggressive in pricing its vehicles lately, and the new Pilot continues this trend. The 2015 Pilot Touring cost $1,200 less than the 2016 Pilot Touring, but the latter includes over $4,000 in additional content. A Toyota Highlander Limited Platinum costs $1,430 less than the $47,300 Pilot Elite, but the latter includes over $3,000 in additional content (partly because you cannot get a rear seat entertainment system in the top-trim Toyota). Lower trim levels also tend to undercut the respective Toyota. The Nissan Pathfinder is priced lower the the Pilot, but adjust for feature differences and the tables turn. When both are moderately equipped, the Pilot costs about $1,000 less. Remember when Korean cars cost far less than Toyotas and Hondas? Those days are gone. A Honda Pilot Elite lists for $805 more than a Kia Sorento SX-L with Technology Package, but includes about $2,400 in additional content. Plus the Honda is considerably larger (seven inches longer, four inches wider, and 3.5 inches taller). The Ford and GMC crossovers are larger than the Pilot, but when similarly equipped cost thousands more.

At this point I was planning to point out that you could get an even roomier, more functional vehicle for less money if you'd only consider a minivan, but a Honda Odyssey Touring lists for $1,160 more than a Pilot Touring before adjusting for the latter's additional features, and about $3,200 more afterwards. (I did not compare the top trims because the Pilot Elite has AWD standard.)

As suggested by the above feature-adjustments in its favor, the new Pilot can be very well equipped. On all save the lowest trim level you can get a safety package that includes a full array of collision avoidance systems. Competitors either do not offer these features or only offer them on their upper trim levels. If you want these safety features but don't want to have to buy a fully loaded vehicle to get them, get the Honda.

	Compared to the Highlander
Controls and instruments	Better Worse

The new Honda Pilot's weakest aspect is its controls and instrumentation. The infotainment interface is a touchscreen that too often requires an excessive number of taps to get from one function to another. The nine-speed automatic on the Touring and Elite has a push-button shifter that requires far too much conscious thought even after a week with the vehicle. (Some Acuras have the same shifter.) A last issue is more of a personal annoyance: the digital speedometer, located at the top center of the cluster, looks like a secondary instrument. Not hard to use, but odd.

The Toyota Highlander's controls suffer from a different issue: some of them can't be reached without leaning forward out of the seat.

Handling

Better Worse

The Honda Pilot's handling is stable and safe, but not at all sporting. If you want flatter cornering and more agile handling, Honda apparently wants you to spend the additional ten grand for the related but less roomy Acura MDX. This said, the Toyota and Nissan handle no better, though the former has a more rugged, somewhat trucky feel that some people will prefer. The Kia Sorento feels more polished and somewhat sportier, but it's also a half-size smaller.

Ride smoothness

Better Worse

The Honda Pilot generally rides fairly well, but at times feels underdamped and a touch bouncy. Another round of suspension tweaks wouldn't be a bad idea. I preferred the less easily disturbed (if intentionally truckier) ride of the Toyota Highlander. Also, while the new Pilot is quieter than previous generations, the Toyota maintains an edge in this area.

	Compared to the Highlander
Exterior styling	Better Worse

The new Honda Pilot appears much sleeker than the boxy 2009-2015 model. But, while handsome, it's not distinctive. From the side, which do you see more of, the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class or the Chevrolet Traverse? The latter's sheet metal is in its eighth year.

Interior styling

Better Worse

Inside, the new Honda Pilot avoids the cheapness of the 2009-2015, but even in Elite trim still doesn't appear upscale or luxurious. Instead, especially in light gray it has the visual character of a transportation appliance.

Powertrain performance

Better Worse

With a bump from 250 to 280 horsepower and less weight for these horses to motivate for 2016, the Honda Pilot is plenty quick for a family hauler. Among direct competitors, only the Ford Explorer is offered with a significantly stronger engine.

Like most three-row crossovers lately, the Pilot is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs.

Cargo capacity

Better Worse

The Honda Pilot can hold more cargo than any direct competitor except the large GM crossovers, which benefit from an additional half-foot of length. Most large crossovers--even those from GM--don't have enough space behind their third-row seats for a family's luggage. But you can remove a floor panel to open up an eight-inch-deep well in the Honda. Among competitors, only the Ford Explorer has a similar well behind the third row. This well could easily be the difference between needing and not needing a rooftop cargo box.

None of these crossovers approach minivans like the Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, or Kia Sedona in terms of cargo space. If you want plenty of space for 6-8 people and their stuff, you really need a minivan like the Honda Odyssey (or one of the largest SUVs).

Reliability & durability

Better Worse

Since it's so new, the 2016 Honda Pilot's reliability is not yet known. But the related Acura MDX has been glitchy, and car owners have been complaining about the nine-speed automatic employed in the Touring and Elite in a number of different cars.

In contrast, the Toyota Highlander has a proven record, making it a safer bet.