The 2009 Honda Pilot is a new vehicle save for some minute parts inside. An eight-passenger Pilot can handle four adults and four kids easily, or four infant seats if you have the earplugs. It has useful cargo space beyond the third-row seats so you needn't fold one to fit a cooler or week's worth of groceries. The majority of Pilots are all-wheel-drive models that allow another 1000 pounds in tow rating and provide better acceleration and climbing in snow; with the same tires and brakes, they don't stop or change direction any better than the front-drive version. If you don't tow near the maximum and live in temperate climes, Honda's Odyssey offers more room and similar flexibility and features for about the same tab as an equal-level Pilot.

2009 Trims Honda Pilot

The Honda Pilot comes in four variants with few options. Each model is offered with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (4WD). Navigation only comes on top-line models, and the rear-seat DVD entertainment system is available only on the top two trims.

The LX comes with cloth upholstery, front and rear climate control, steel wheels, five-speed automatic, Hill Start Assist, flip-up hatch glass, intermittent rear wipe/wash, 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, trip computer, seven-speaker system with 6CD changer and MP3 jack.

The EX upgrades with three-zone climate control, alloy wheels, security system, heated body-color mirrors, roof rails, fog lights, chrome exhaust tips, HomeLink, conversation mirror, eight-way power driver seat, XM radio, and exterior temperature indicator.

The EX-L, the EX with leather, adds enough features to qualify as a separate model. These include leather upholstery and wrap for steering wheel and shifter, heated front seats, four-way power passenger seat, moonroof, a noise-reducing laminated windshield, and an auto-dimming inside mirror with rearview camera display. A rear-seat DVD system with 115-volt AC outlet is optional.

The Touring model tops the line and further trims out the EX-L with a power tailgate, driver memory system, chrome side trim, signals in outside mirrors, trailer pre-wire, 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, and time/speed functions added to the trip computer. Rear-seat entertainment is optional.

Safety equipment on all Pilots includes front and front side airbags, three-row side curtain airbags, Vehicle Stability Assist (electronic stability control), daytime running lights, four child-seat LATCH positions, active front head rests, and eight adjustable headrests and shoulder belts.

Viewed from dead astern the Pilot appears as bulky as the full-size SUV Nissan Armada and Toyota Sequoia, though it weighs substantially less than any full-size four-wheel drive like those.

For 2009, all 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 remains 4500 pounds on 4WD and 3500 pounds on front-drive models, but the 4500 is no longer limited to boats or low profile trailers.

2009 Pilot Test Drive

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. For the most part the engine is in the background, never silenced, never rough and never annoying. Like the all-wheel drive system, the VCM is transparent to the driver and requires no action on his or her part, and apart from some front tire spin under heavy acceleration from rest the front-drive model drives just like the all-wheel drive.

The Pilot shifter offers an OD Off switch which locks out the top two gears, so if you want fourth to control speed on long hill descents or winding roads you're out of luck. 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. Honda labels the all-wheel-drive model 4WD, but they have no low-range gearing nor default rear drive.

Interior Design 2009 Pilot

Regardless of trim level, the Honda Pilot interior appears well though-out and assembled, with functional touches at every turn and a luxury factor that increases alongside price. Just like the priciest Pilot, door armrests have soft cushioned elbow pads and there's no cheap feel in frequently felt surfaces. All trims offer four interior colors dependent on paint hue. Premium models are upgraded with nicely textured leather, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever, and more upscale door panel trim.

The middle row seat provides essentially the same room as the front seats, including good toe space under the front seats. 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. On most Pilots this area features an info display at the top for miscellaneous data, silver-trimmed audio controls, black-framed climate controls, a box-shaped bin at the bottom and an omnidirectional vent on either side. At the top a shaded navigation screen for the system that supports voice recognition and electronic breadcrumbs to retrace your off-road route back to pavement

2009 Pilot Conclusions

The 2009 Honda Pilot is an evolution of the first generation. Much like Honda's Odyssey minivan it offers plenty of cargo and people versatility in an efficient package, without the negatives many apply to minivans, and with the additional confidence of all-wheel drive and better towing performance. "Clearly, Honda's customers got what they wanted -- a new Pilot that's still a compact 8-seater, but one that's more spacious, more fuel efficient and a bit more practical than before, all wrapped up in an angular new suit befitting a proper SUV." says Road and Track. We happily agree, test drive one today.

Some information for this review was obtained from NewCarTestDrive.com.