The 2017 Honda Pilot is for When You Just Can't Buy The Damn Minivan Part 2

The 2017 Honda Pilot Is For When You Just Can't Buy The Damn Minivan part 2 This will seem redundant from one Honda review to the next, but the infotainment system remains a complete tragedy. And there’s still no volume ***. It’s confusing, distracting, and slow. Accessing simple functions like changing radio stations is complicated and downright irritating. The nine-speed automatic gearbox, the same one found in the Acura TLX and MDX, remains my single mechanical pet peeve with this vehicle. The mashup of buttons that operate it is bad enough, but downshifting with the wheel-mounted paddle shifter takes forever and makes these controls barely worth messing with. I was told by a Honda PR rep that the Pilot will eventually inherit the - ahem - Odyssey’s new ten speed gearbox to resolve that problem, so there’s that. Finally, the Pilot’s collision mitigation system is far too sensitive. On two occasions, incoming traffic on a two-lane road set off a furious explosion of loud beeps and flashing lights on the dash. Relax, Pilot, we’re going to be okay. Now shut up and don’t wake my baby. Ah yes, what a butter-smooth, plush and quiet ride. This really is Honda’s strongpoint; the ability to glide along casually and disappear under its occupants as they bask in comfort and intelligently executed ergonomics. Obviously, if the Pilot weren’t practical, it would have no reason to exist. So cargo space is massive in the Pilot. Honda claims a total of 81 cubic feet when all rear seats are folded flat, 47 with the third seat down, and 17 cubic feet for the trunk with all seats raised. In this size segment, only the Ford Explorer beats the Pilot’s default trunk space at 21 cubic feet. And the Dodge Durango’s total capacity is a smidge more voluminous at 85. I was also impressed at how easily my large body fit into those third-row seats compared to say, a Nissan Pathfinder. I managed to make my way back there without too much cursing, and once my *** was comfortably nestled inside that rear bench, I actually had enough leg and headroom to sit without suffering. So if one of your preteens suddenly turns into a friendly giant overnight, fear not, the Pilot can handle it. As weird as it may sound, the Pilot is not as miserable to roll around in as you might think, looking at its jelly bean body and minivan underpinnings. Honda brags about the fact that its big guy rides on an all-new chassis which is apparently stiffer and lighter than its predecessor, with higher spring rates and firmer damping in the shock absorbers. Behind the wheel, the Pilot does feel like a minivan, but a little lighter. It gives you confidence around corners even if your speed is little higher than it should be with your kids in the back. The Pilot is no sports car, obviously. But it’s agile enough to keep its composure in a panic maneuver. That’s active safety, and it’s smart. Sure, the steering is vague as ***, but it has a nice easy feeling to it that makes controlling this car an immensely gentle experience. Then there’s the way that V6 engine puts down power. For starters, it’s naturally aspirated, and, in typical Honda VTEC fashion, loves to rev. If you listen close, you might just hear some cool raspy intake noises. It almost seems ironic that a kid carrier like the Honda Pilot is one of the last living specimens of Honda’s legendary, race inspired, naturally aspirated VTEC technology, but at least you’ll have no trouble with highway merges. So the Pilot doesn’t deserve a red Type-R style “H” badge but it’s not slow. In case you care, this SUV will launch your family, the dog and the camping gear all the way to 60 mph in about 6.2 seconds. That’s faster than a Subaru BRZ. Pricing for a 2017 Honda Pilot kicks off at $30,745 ($40,090 CAN) for a base, front-wheel-drive model. All Canadian Pilots come standard with Honda Sensing (autonomous gizmos) and Apple Carplay, Android Auto compatibility. In the US, those options are reserved for the EX-L trim or higher. My tester was the Touring model, which is the top flight trim level in Canada. In the U.S., that model is called the Elite and it comes super loaded with leather, a set of heated captain chairs for the second row of seats (so it becomes a seven passenger), heated and ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, rain-sensing wipers, larger wheels, and a ceiling-mounted Blu-ray player with wireless headsets to please your spoiled brats. That one, the Elite, stickers for $47,220 ($53,371 CAN). By comparison, a similarly equipped Odyssey will cost you $46,670 ($52,171 CAN), but won’t come with all-wheel-drive and will only tow 3,500 pounds.