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2011 Honda Pilot Plymouth

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The 2011 Honda Pilot offers plenty of cargo and people versatility in an efficient package, with towing capacity for light loads and the available confidence of all-wheel drive. The 2011 Honda Pilot comes in four variants with few options. Each model is offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. All mechanical and safety components and systems are identical across the range. Navigation and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system are available only on the top two trims. The Pilot is a midsize crossover SUV. As with other so-called crossover SUVs, it uses carlike unit-body construction and suspension for better handling. On the road, the Honda Pilot feels balanced, with sufficient power and brakes, decent ride quality and handling, and on 4WD models the ability to leave the pavement or tackle pre-plowed snow.

Powering the New Honda Pilot

Underway, the Pilot is a well balanced vehicle with nice road manners, with sufficient power and brakes, decent ride quality and handling. Pilot 4WD models have the ability to leave the pavement or tackle pre-plowed snow. Since the Pilot is among the lightest of the eight-seat crossovers the suspension can be tuned for ride comfort without requiring undue stiffness for control. Brakes perform as well as they should be expected and all electronic braking aids are standard. The 3.5-liter V6 takes on a characteristic Honda growl when you push it and you'll need to be towing or accelerating uphill on an on-ramp to require such grunt. For the most part the engine is in the background, never silenced, never rough and never annoying.

2011 Honda Pilot Design

All 2011 Pilots come with a Class III tow hitch and coolers required for towing; only a wiring pigtail will be needed from the dealer. The top tow rating is 4500 pounds on 4WD and 3500 pounds on front-drive models. Roof rails are standard on higher trims and you'll probably be using the back bumper and door sills without a step stool or small ladder to load items six feet up. The third-row side window are separated by a thick chunk of sheetmetal, to no apparent detriment in driver vision or third-row comfort. The rear wiper parks off the hatch glass, allowing it to open separately. The hatch has a hefty pull handle with touch-point releases and is powered on the Touring model, and the bumper has a good cover so sloppy loading won't mar the paint.

Inside the 2011 Honda Pilot

Regardless of trim level, the Honda Pilot interior appears well thought out and assembled, with functional touches at every turn and a luxury factor that increases alongside price. In simple terms the base LX will do everything a Touring will do except reposition your seat and mirrors or open and close the power tailgate. The front seats deliver good support for long-term comfort and bolsters on the seatbacks provide lateral support without imposing thigh cushions you'd have to climb over for every entry or exit. The power driver's seat on the EX adjusts in one more plane than the LX and is easier underway for minor improvements in finding the ideal position and height, yet we had no fatigue or wish for more after hours in an LX. The third row is easily accessible: One lift of the lever at kid's-eye height in the center row backrest tilts the seat and slides it forward for third-row access. As with all crossovers this is the restriction point as the rear seat offers good space and getting there is easy for limber kids and slender adults. Like the middle row, this seat splits to fold flat, has three usable headrests and offers storage on both sides. The optional rear-seat entertainment system is much the same as the top-ranked setups in the Odyssey and Acura MDX.

Pilot Trim Levels for 2011

Pilot LX comes with cloth upholstery, front and rear climate control, intermittent rear wiper/washer, power windows/locks/mirrors, tow hitch, tinted rear windows, automatic headlamps, cruise control, center console, visor extensions and illuminated mirrors, tilt/telescoping steering column, four front seatback pockets, six reading lights, reconfigurable cargo area, 60/40 split-folding second and third row seats, AM/FM/CD/MP3 seven-speaker audio with auxiliary input jack, flip-up hatch glass, steel wheels.

Pilot EX upgrades with three-zone climate control, alloy wheels, security system, heated body-color mirrors, roof rails, fog lights, chrome exhaust tips, HomeLink, 10-way power driver seat, XM radio, 6-disc CD changer, steering-wheel audio controls, and exterior temperature indicator.

Pilot EX-L upgrades with leather upholstery and wrap for steering wheel and shifter, heated front seats, four-way power passenger seat, moonroof, conversation mirror, a noise-reducing laminated windshield, and an auto-dimming inside mirror with rearview camera display. EX-L 4WD ($35,595) adds Real Time 4WD.

The Pilot Touring adds a power tailgate, driver memory system, chrome side trim, signals in outside mirrors, trailer wiring harness, parking sensors front and rear, voice-recognition navigation with rear camera/Bluetooth/interface jog-dial control, second-row window shades, 512-watt 10-speaker audio system and USB port, time/speed functions added to the trip computer, and the rear-seat entertainment system.

Conclusions

Safety equipment on all Pilots includes front and front side airbags, three-row side-curtain airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (electronic stability control), four child-seat LATCH positions, active front head rests, and eight adjustable headrests and shoulder belts. For more on this model, visit the official Honda Pilot website.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com