2003 Honda Pilot - Cars Worth Noting - Brief Article

Automotive Industries, July, 2002 by John Peter

When the Odyssey minivan made its debut in 1999, most felt that Honda had come too late to the game. But now Honda can't build them fast enough. The same may be true with the Pilot.Honda again, may seem late to the SUV game, but those waiting for a real Honda SUV will be very pleased.

Okay, I'm not forgetting that the Acura MDX has been around a few years, and the Pilot does share the engine, drive train and all-wheel-drive system with the MDX, but from the door sills up, the Pilot is all new and all Honda.

While the Pilot's standard two-box design may not turn heads -- it's what's inside that makes Pilot shine.

The family-friendly interior is more minivan than SUV. Pilot seats eight and with large windows and second and third row theatre seating, there's a great view of the road for all. There are plenty of cubbies and storage nets beside and under the seats and in the center console, and an optional kid's activity tray that even has a molded in cup to hold fast food dipping sauces. Both back rows of seats are 60/40 split and fold flat into the floor, creating a gaping 90.3 cubic-foot cargo area.

On the highway Pilot drives more like a minivan than a truck. The extensive use of high-tensile strength steel in the construction of the unibody makes for a firm ride with virtually no body roil, and Pilot has the best NVH of any SUV I've ever driven.

But the best thing about this SUV is that it's a real Honda. That's sure to make die hard Honda buyers happy -- and the competition worried.