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2006 Honda Pilot Reviews Specs

Love this car! Defintely worth the price, but with the rising fuel costs, its not economical at all. Despite poor gas mileage, this car is sweet and its typical Honda quality that will last forever if taken care of.
Its a classic Honda. Very good fit-and-finish with loads of features. Its got most of everything youd want in a nice package. Very nice seats and lots of space.



News

AWD Pilots may soon get the 2WDs fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation feature, perhaps for 2007. Otherwise, this SUV should see no major change until its first ground-up redesign. That had been rumored for 2008, but now looks more like 09.

At that point, Pilot may add a "clean diesel" V6 being developed for U.S. sale, according to a recent Honda announcement. Though a diesel option is strictly our guess, it would make sense given the prospect of permanently higher gas prices and the much higher fuel efficiency of diesel power. Well keep you posted.

New for 2006

The 2006 Honda Pilot receives exterior updates with a new grille, hood, fenders, headlights, taillights and bumpers. Fog lights are added to the EX, with both the LX and EX receiving new alloy wheels. The interior is restyled with a new instrument panel design, seat fabrics and an adjustable headrest. Pilot offers 2WD versions for the first time. Three-row side-curtain airbags are standard on all trim levels. A Satellite-Linked Navigation System with Voice Recognition and a 7-inch screen is available, as well as a Honda DVD Entertainment System with a 9-inch screen. A rear-view camera is standard with the navigation system.

Interior Design and Special Features

The Honda Pilot seats eight passengers. The second- and third-row seats are positioned theater-style, meaning that they are elevated to give occupants a better outside view. Legroom for second-row passengers is quite good, but the tight third row is best suited for children. Both the second and third rows are split 60/40 and can be folded flat to expand the Pilots cargo capacity. Maximum cargo capacity is 90 cubic feet.

Safety

Four-wheel antilock disc brakes with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) come standard, along with side airbags for front occupants and head-protecting side curtain airbags for all three rows. In government crash tests, the Honda Pilot earned a perfect five-star rating across the board for front- and side-impact protection. In frontal-offset crash testing conducted by the IIHS, the Pilot received the highest rating of "Good."

Powertrains and Performance

All-wheel-drive Pilots come equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 that makes 244 horsepower and 240 lb-ft of torque. Two-wheel-drive models use the same engine but are upgraded with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), which increases fuel-efficiency by "shutting off" three of the engines six cylinders during cruising and deceleration. When more performance is needed, the engine switches back to using all six cylinders. The engines power is routed through a five-speed automatic transmission. Tow ratings are modest (a max 4,400 pounds on AWD versions), but the Pilots fuel economy is better than that of many V8-powered SUVs.

Body Styles, Trim Levels and Options

The four-door, eight-passenger Honda Pilot comes in two trim levels: LX and EX. As is typical of Honda offerings, nearly everything comes standard. This includes air conditioning; cruise control; power windows, mirrors and locks; keyless entry; a rear window defroster; and a CD player. Going with the EX adds alloy wheels, auto-off headlamps, an eight-way power driver seat with lumbar, extra interior storage, automatic climate control, HomeLink and steering wheel-mounted audio controls. On EX models with leather (EX-L), a sunroof, XM Satellite Radio and heated seats come standard, with a DVD-based navigation system and a DVD entertainment system available as options. Unfortunately, buyers must choose between the nav and entertainment systems -- you cant get both. The entertainment system includes a 9-inch flip-down LCD screen.

Driving Impressions

The Honda Pilot is a joy in daily use. We found it easy to maneuver and park in crowded parking lots. Its road manners seem just a little better than necessary to compete in this class. Pilot was developed primarily for highways and city streets, though its ground clearance, suspension travel and standard tires are fine for light off-highway duty.

The 3.5-liter V6 engine is more than adequate to propel the Pilot. Acceleration is excellent, particularly in the 30-60 mph range that matters most in daily use. With 244 horsepower to propel its 4400 pounds, the Pilot outguns the V6-powered Toyota Highlander. More important, the Honda V6 produces 240 pound-feet of torque from 3000 to 5000 rpm. The 3.5-liter engine features a broad and flat torque curve, very low emissions and good fuel economy. All Pilots benefit from a drive-by-wire throttle replaces a conventional throttle cable with an all-electronic system that relays throttle pedal position to the engine computer.

The Pilots five-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and precisely, even under hard acceleration. Hondas Grade Logic Control system monitors throttle position, speed and acceleration to avoid hunting between gears. The transmissions computer controller holds lower gears longer than normal for better performance going up hills, or to provide engine braking on downhill grades.

The front-wheel-drive model is new for 2006. Compared with all-wheel-drive versions, two-wheel-drive Pilots weigh about 175 pounds less, have a slightly wider track and a tad less ground clearance (7.8 inches for the 2WD vs. 8.0 inches for the 4WD), and thus should deliver slightly superior on-road driving characteristics. The Pilot 2WD also features a cylinder deactivation program that shuts down three of the engines six cylinders when not needed. Combined with the lower weight, the Pilot 2WD produces impressive fuel economy: 18/24 city/highway for the 2WD compared with 17/22 for the 4WD.

Four-wheel-drive models feature Hondas full-time VTM-4 (Variable Torque Management 4WD) with an electronically locking rear differential. Most of the power is delivered to the front wheels, but Hondas system is a bit more proactive than most all-wheel-drive systems in the way it sends some of the power to the rear wheels any time the driver accelerates. A push-button differential lock improves traction in extremely slippery or stuck conditions by making sure both rear tires get power. So equipped, Honda rates the Pilot for what it calls medium off-road duty, including 30-degree dirt grades. The Pilot does not offer true off-road capability, but its perfectly capable on gravel, rough dirt roads and two-tracks.

The rack-and-pinion steering provides good feedback. Its speed-variable and smoothly adjusts the amount of power-assist for more feel at high speeds and easier maneuvering at parking lot speeds. The steering wheel returns to center comfortably and intuitively for maneuvers in parking lots and tight driveways.

Ride and handling is more similar to that of midsize cars than it is to truck-based SUVs. The Pilot is stable at highway speeds, nimble in parking lots and sufficiently well-damped to run over winter-buckled and pothole-laden urban streets without discomfiting its passengers. The steering wheel transmits road conditions enough to keep the driver informed without jerking the wheel at every pavement disruption. Passengers in the second-row seats found the ride equally comfortable, but third-row passengers suffered somewhat from being right over the rear wheels.

Unlike some SUVs, the Pilot has enough sound insulation to prevent bumps in the road from being transmitted to the interior as noise. Given their cavernous interiors, its not uncommon for SUVs to become booming echo chambers on rough roads. Even on Michigans notoriously ragged freeways, the Pilots interior remained quiet enough to carry on a normal conversation.

The Pilot felt stable and secure during simulated emergency maneuvers. The suspension behaves exceptionally well under hard braking and hard acceleration. The nose does not dive too much during sudden deceleration, and the Pilot wont squat back on its haunches in a fast start. This is a plus because, if the need to turn suddenly presents itself during hard braking or acceleration, the even keel maximizes response and reduces the chance of a skid.

The anti-lock brakes performed equally well in simulated panic stops. The brake response is linear and smooth, providing a reassuring feeling of control. Theres minimal pedal feedback when the ABS operates, removing one possible distraction that a driver doesnt need in an emergency. Electronic brake-force distribution improves stability and helps reduce braking distances by balancing the brake force between the front and rear wheels.

MSRP Price Range $26,995 - $35,245
Invoice Price Range $24,294 - $31,707

Favorite Features

The engine, safety features, and the solid feel from the body and doors.

Overall Review

Great family car. It has tons of storage - center console is huge, seat back pockets are plentiful. Lots of power inputs. The gas mileage can be better - but its a an 5 adult 3 kid vehicle that still gets 20mpg. A great car