Honda Pilot
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The Honda Pilot is a
mid-size crossover SUV Mid-size crossover SUV is an automobile classification used mainly in North America to describe a segment of crossover SUV, a type of sport utility vehicle, between compact crossover SUV and full-size crossover SUV. A mid-size crossover SUV ...
with three-row seating manufactured by
Honda is a Japanese public multinational conglomerate manufacturer of automobiles, motorcycles, and power equipment, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, reaching a product ...
since 2002. Primarily aimed at the
North America North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
n market, the Pilot is the largest SUV produced by Honda. Pilots are currently manufactured in
Lincoln, Alabama Lincoln is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. It was incorporated in 1911. At the 2020 census, the population was 6,845. It was named for Major General Benjamin Lincoln, who served in the American army during the Revolutionary ...
, and the Pilot was produced in
Alliston, Ontario Alliston is a settlement in Simcoe County in the Canadian province of Ontario. It has been part of the Town of New Tecumseth since the 1991 amalgamation of Alliston and nearby villages of Beeton, Tottenham, and the Township of Tecumseth. The p ...
until April 2007. The first generation Pilot was released in April 2002 as a 2003 model. The Pilot shares its
platform Platform may refer to: Technology * Computing platform, a framework on which applications may be run * Platform game, a genre of video games * Car platform, a set of components shared by several vehicle models * Weapons platform, a system or ...
with the
Acura MDX The Acura MDX is a mid-size luxury crossover SUV with three-row seating produced by the Japanese automaker Honda under its luxury Acura division since 2000. The alphanumeric moniker stands for "Multi-Dimensional" luxury. It has ranked as the seco ...
, as well as the North American market
Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major Ancient Greek literature, ancient Greek Epic poetry, epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by moder ...
minivan Minivan (sometimes called simply as van) is a North American car classification for vehicles designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s), with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows. The equivalent classification in Europe i ...
. The Pilot's unibody construction and
independent suspension Independent suspension is any automobile suspension system that allows each wheel on the same axle to move vertically (i.e. reacting to a bump on the road) independently of the others. This is contrasted with a beam axle or deDion axle system in w ...
are designed to provide handling similar to that of a car, and it has integrated perimeter frame rails to allow towing and light off-road use. Prior to the introduction of the Pilot, Honda marketed the compact crossover
CR-V The Honda CR-V (also sold as the Honda Breeze in China since 2019) is a compact crossover SUV manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda since 1995. The early model was built using the same platform as the Civic. Honda began producing the CR ...
and the
Honda Passport The Honda Passport is a line of sport utility vehicles (SUV) from the Japanese automaker Honda. Originally, it was a badge engineered version of the Isuzu Rodeo, a mid-size SUV sold between 1993 and 2002. It was introduced in 1993 for the 1994 m ...
(a
rebadged In the automotive industry, rebadging is a form of market segmentation used by automobile manufacturers around the world. To allow for product differentiation without designing or engineering a new model or brand (at high cost or risk), a man ...
Isuzu Rodeo The Isuzu Rodeo is an automotive nameplate that was used by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Isuzu between 1988 and 2004. Isuzu has utilized the "Rodeo" name on two different vehicles—a compact pickup truck sold in Japan—and a midsize S ...
). The Honda Passport that was sold between 1993 and 2002 was a truck-based design. The Pilot is Honda's largest SUV, although the 2010 Crosstour surpassed the Pilot in length. The Pilot is sold in North America and the Middle East, while the Honda MDX (first generation Acura MDX) was marketed in Japan and Australia for several years. The second-generation Pilot was also sold in Russia, Ukraine, South Korea, Latin America, and the Philippines.


First generation (YF1/2; 2002)


Specifications

The 2003-2004 Pilots featured the J35A4 engine, an all-aluminum 3.5L V6 SOHC with VTEC, producing and of torque. The 2005 Pilot received a new engine, the J35A6, which added drive-by-wire throttle and produced and of torque. Other changes included the transmission with revised 4th and 5th gear ratios providing a smoother transition between gears, along with a new fuel tank design, increasing the Pilot's driving range by over . All Pilots from 2003-2005 feature VTM-4, Honda's four-wheel drive system. The Pilot received more updates starting with the 2006 model year, engines were either the J35Z1 (FWD) or the J35A9 (4WD). Both engines were rated at and of torque; the power reduction is because Honda used the updated SAE net power standard. This was the first time 4WD was not standard on the Pilot. The new FWD models featured Honda's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system, which can deactivate up to three cylinders under light load to increase fuel economy, to help control noise from the system Honda added Active Control Engine Mount System (ACM) and Active Noise Cancellation (
ANC The African National Congress (ANC) is a social-democratic political party in South Africa. A liberation movement known for its opposition to apartheid, it has governed the country since 1994, when the first post-apartheid election install ...
). Further, this version of the J35 featured updated iVTEC and the automatic transmission a shorter 1st gear ratio. With powertrain updates and the lack of VTM-4 the FWD version had improved fuel economy of 18-city/24-highway, an increase of +1/+2 mpg versus the 4WD. All Pilots from this generation feature a 5-speed automatic transmission. The Pilot has front struts with a coil-spring, multilink rear suspension for a flat rear load floor. The front track is 66.3 in (1,684 mm) and 66.5 in (1,689 mm) at the rear. The Pilot has a 4,500 lb (2,041 kg) boat/3,500 lb (1,588 kg) trailer towing capability with the optional dealer-installed towing package. Pilots with Honda's Variable Torque Management 4WD system (VTM-4) sent most power to the front wheels under normal driving conditions. Under acceleration or if wheel slippage is detected at the front wheels, up to 50% of power can be sent to the rear wheels. The system also features a VTM-4 lock button on the dashboard which locks the rear differential and sends 25% of the power to each rear wheel. However, the VTM-4 lock function only operates in first gear, second gear and reverse, and automatically disengages above , then re-engages when the speed drops below .


Design

Design of the Pilot was by Honda's Ricky Hsu through 1999, when styling was approved. The Pilot can accommodate eight passengers in three rows configured as
stadium seating Stadium seating or theater seating is a characteristic seating arrangement that is most commonly associated with Performing arts, performing-arts venues, and derives its name from stadiums, which typically use this arrangement. Description In s ...
as a standard feature. The third row can seat three, but the limited legroom makes it suitable only for small children or adults on short trips. Similar to the
Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey can refer to three motor vehicles manufactured by Honda: * Honda Odyssey (ATV), an all-terrain vehicle (1977—1989) * Honda Odyssey (minivan), a brand of two different Honda minivan models for different markets ** Honda Odyssey (inte ...
, the rear seats can be folded into flat surfaces for larger cargo. Options include a
DVD The DVD (common abbreviation for Digital Video Disc or Digital Versatile Disc) is a digital optical disc data storage format. It was invented and developed in 1995 and first released on November 1, 1996, in Japan. The medium can store any kind ...
entertainment system or a
navigation system A navigation system is a computing system that aids in navigation. Navigation systems may be entirely on board the vehicle or vessel that the system is controlling (for example, on the ship's bridge) or located elsewhere, making use of radio or othe ...
for EX-L models, but both cannot be installed simultaneously on the same car. Other features include ABS-equipped four-wheel
disc brake A disc brake is a type of brake that uses the calipers to squeeze pairs of pads against a disc or a "rotor" to create friction. This action slows the rotation of a shaft, such as a vehicle axle, either to reduce its rotational speed or to hol ...
s, rack-and-pinion steering, four-wheel independent suspension, and 282° of outward visibility.


2004 changes

For the 2004 model year, Honda increased adjustability on second-row seats and added heated front seats and side mirrors to EX-L models.


2005 changes

For the 2005 model year, Honda added tire pressure monitoring, electronic stability control, revised steering, and upgraded the airbags.


2006 facelift

Honda revised the Pilot for the 2006 model year in October 2005. Changes to the exterior included a new fascia with a different grille insert and halogen projector headlights, and tail lights with clear lenses. The EX trim level received redesigned wheels, and the original EX wheels were now found on the LX trim. For the first time, a powered
moonroof A sunroof is a movable panel that opens to uncover a window in an automobile roof, allowing light and fresh air to enter the passenger compartment. Sunroofs can be manually operated or motor driven, and are available in many shapes, sizes and styl ...
is introduced to the Pilot on the EX-L trim. On the inside, side airbags were provided in the C pillar, the gauge cluster was updated and the center console featured chrome trim and redesigned storage compartments and cup holders. For the 2006 model year, Honda added Variable Cylinder Management to the two-wheel-drive models. This VCM tech proved to be problematic in some cases, which led to a class action lawsuit for Honda Motor Co.


2007 changes

For the 2007 model year, Honda added Nimbus Gray Metallic, Dark Cherry Pearl, Aberdeen Green Metallic, and Formal Black as four new colors to all models.


2008 changes

For the last model year of the generation Honda added two new trims. The VP (Value Package) replaces the LX as base trim and SE (special edition) goes in between the EX and EX-L trim.


Second generation (YF3/4; 2008)

The larger second generation Pilot was unveiled as a prototype in January 2008 at the
North American International Auto Show The North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), also known as the Detroit Auto Show as of 2022 and prior to NAIAS, is an annual auto show held in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., at Huntington Place. The show was held in January from 1989 to 2019. ...
. Assembled at
Honda Manufacturing of Alabama Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (HMA) is an automobile factory located in Lincoln, Alabama. It builds vehicles for Honda sales in North America. Production began on November 14, 2001, with the plant producing its two millionth vehicle on September ...
in
Lincoln, Alabama Lincoln is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. It was incorporated in 1911. At the 2020 census, the population was 6,845. It was named for Major General Benjamin Lincoln, who served in the American army during the Revolutionary ...
, it was offered in five trims; LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and SE (2015 only). All second generation Pilots used a new J35Z4 3.5-liter V6 i-VTEC engine producing SAE net at 5700 rpm and of torque at 4800 rpm. EPA fuel economy is rated at city / highway with front-wheel-drive and 16 mpg city / 22 mpg highway for all-wheel-drive. Both drivetrains were equipped with five-speed
automatics Automatics are an English punk rock and new wave band that was formed by Dave Philp in 1976 after a brief stint as the singer with The Boys. History Along with the Sex Pistols and The Damned, the Automatics regularly played the Marquee Cl ...
. The second generation's wheelbase is , with a length of , a width of , a height of and interior space of . The redesigned headlights lost the previous generation's halogen projectors and return to standard halogen reflectors. Features included new two-position memory settings for the driver's seat, a new power tailgate, and the gear shift was relocated from the steering column to the center console between the front seats. The Touring trim included a 120-volt power outlet and a satellite-linked Honda navigation system.


2011 changes

The 2011 model year had minimal changes. The voice-activated navigation system which was previously exclusive to the Touring trim became available on the EX-L trim and rear entertainment system became standard equipment on the Touring trim.


2012 facelift

The 2012 model year introduced a redesigned front fascia, new alloy wheels, and updates to the interior along with changes to the bumper.


2013 changes

The 2013 model year included a standard rearview
backup camera A backup camera (also called a reversing camera or rear-view camera) is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up and to alleviate the rear blind ...
, i-MID central dashboard 8-inch LCD screen,
USB connector The initial versions of the USB standard specified connectors that were easy to use and that would have acceptable life spans; revisions of the standard added smaller connectors useful for compact portable devices. Higher-speed development of t ...
,
Bluetooth Bluetooth is a short-range wireless technology standard that is used for exchanging data between fixed and mobile devices over short distances and building personal area networks (PANs). In the most widely used mode, transmission power is limi ...
hands-free calling and wireless audio streaming, and tri-zone climate control.


2015 changes

The SE (special edition) trim was added which came standard with a power moonroof, satellite radio, and rear seat entertainment system.


Safety

The Pilot uses Honda's
Advanced Compatibility Engineering Advanced Compatibility Engineering (commonly called ACE Body Structure) is the marketing name given to an automobile body structure design by Honda. It claims to distribute collision energy evenly and redirect it away from the passenger compartment ...
front bracket. For the 2013 model year a rear-view
backup camera A backup camera (also called a reversing camera or rear-view camera) is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up and to alleviate the rear blind ...
was made standard. The
Insurance Institute for Highway Safety The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) is a U.S. nonprofit organization funded by auto insurance companies, established in 1959 and headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. It works to reduce the number of motor vehicle traffic collision ...
(IIHS) found the Honda Pilot's driver death rate of 2 deaths per million registered among the ten lowest released in their report *vehicle structure also rated "Poor" :Because of more stringent tests, 2011 and newer model ratings are not comparable to pre–2011 ratings.


Third generation (YF5/6; 2015)

The third-generation 2016 Pilot debuted at the
Chicago Auto Show The Chicago Auto Show is held annually in February at Chicago's McCormick Place convention center. It is the largest auto show in North America. History Samuel Miles, formerly a promoter of bicycle shows, produced the first "official" Chic ...
in February 2015, and production began in May. It was made available for sale in June. The exterior is sleeker in appearance compared to its boxier predecessor with a 10 percent reduction in
drag area In mechanics and aerodynamics, the drag area of an object represents the effective size of the object as it is "seen" by the fluid flow around it. The drag area is usually expressed as a product C_d A, where A is a representative area of the object ...
. Added to the exterior are standard LED brake and tail lights, LED
daytime running lights A daytime running lamp (DRL, also daytime running light) is an automotive lighting and bicycle lighting device on the front of a roadgoing motor vehicle or bicycle, automatically switched on when the vehicle's handbrake has been pulled down, w ...
(DRLs) on EX trims and above, and
LED headlamp A headlamp is a lamp attached to the front of a vehicle to illuminate the road ahead. Headlamps are also often called headlights, but in the most precise usage, ''headlamp'' is the term for the device itself and ''headlight'' is the term fo ...
s with automatic high-low beam switching the on new Elite model. The Elite trim level also gained features that were new to the Pilot, including ventilated front seats, heated rear captain's chairs which reduced the seating capacity to seven from eight, and a panoramic roof. Alloy wheels became standard. Newly available safety features include Honda's LaneWatch passenger-side mirror camera or Blind Spot Information (BSI) and rear Cross Traffic Monitor. Additional options, including
Forward Collision Warning A collision avoidance system (CAS), also known as a pre-crash system, forward collision warning system, or collision mitigation system, is an advanced driver-assistance system designed to prevent or reduce the severity of a collision. In its ...
(FCW) with Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS),
Lane Departure Warning In road-transport terminology, a lane departure warning system (LDWS) is a mechanism designed to warn the driver when the vehicle begins to move out of its lane (unless a turn signal is on in that direction) on freeways and arterial roads. These ...
(LDW) with Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) and Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), and
Adaptive Cruise Control Adaptive cruise control (ACC) is an available cruise control Advanced driver-assistance systems, advanced driver-assistance system for road vehicles that automatically adjusts the vehicle speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles ahead. As ...
(ACC) are available as part of th
Honda Sensing
suite. A tri-angle
backup camera A backup camera (also called a reversing camera or rear-view camera) is a special type of video camera that is produced specifically for the purpose of being attached to the rear of a vehicle to aid in backing up and to alleviate the rear blind ...
is standard with dynamic guidelines optional. The revised 3.5-liter V6 engine has direct-injection and a
start-stop system A vehicle start-stop system or stop-start system automatically shuts down and restarts the internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. This is most advanta ...
(on the Touring and Elite trims) with improved power at , a 6-speed automatic is standard on the LX, EX, and EX-L trims while a ZF 9-speed automatic is standard on the Touring and Elite trims. With all-wheel drive models the amount of engine torque sent to each rear wheel is variable. EPA-estimated fuel economy is improved with
front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive (FWD) is a form of engine and transmission layout used in motor vehicles, where the engine drives the front wheels only. Most modern front-wheel drive vehicles feature a transverse engine, rather than the conventional longit ...
(FWD) 6-speed models registering //, and
all-wheel drive An all-wheel drive vehicle (AWD vehicle) is one with a powertrain capable of providing power to all its wheels, whether full-time or on-demand. The most common forms of all-wheel drive are: ;1x1 : All unicycles Reflecting one axle with one w ...
(AWD) models registering // (city/highway/combined). 9-speed models see fuel economy of // mpg in FWD configuration and // (city/highway/combined) in AWD configuration. Overall dimensions are larger, while weight is down approximately with
noise, vibration, and harshness Noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH), also known as noise and vibration (N&V), is the study and modification of the noise and vibration characteristics of vehicles, particularly cars and trucks. While noise and vibration can be readily measured, ...
(NVH) reduced. Structurally 21.3% of the Pilot's body is composed of 980, 1300 and 1,500
MPa MPA or mPa may refer to: Academia Academic degrees * Master of Performing Arts * Master of Professional Accountancy * Master of Public Administration * Master of Public Affairs Schools * Mesa Preparatory Academy * Morgan Park Academy * Mou ...
ultra-high-
strength Strength may refer to: Physical strength *Physical strength, as in people or animals * Hysterical strength, extreme strength occurring when people are in life-and-death situations *Superhuman strength, great physical strength far above human c ...
steels, 5% is from aluminum or magnesium, an additional 34.5% is 270 MPa mild strength steel used in areas to minimize repair costs.


2017 changes

For the 2017 model year, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were added to all trims except for the base LX trim.


2019 facelift

For the 2019 model year, Honda has refreshed the Pilot inside and out. The powertrain for the Pilot has remained unchanged, but Honda did revise the nine-speed transmission and
start-stop system A vehicle start-stop system or stop-start system automatically shuts down and restarts the internal combustion engine to reduce the amount of time the engine spends idling, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions. This is most advanta ...
that are only found on the Touring and Elite trims. The exterior now featured new bumpers, grille, wheels, standard LED headlights, and revised tail lights. A hands-free tailgate is now available. In the interior, the gauge cluster is replaced with a new one, similar to the one found on the
Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major Ancient Greek literature, ancient Greek Epic poetry, epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by moder ...
. The infotainment system is updated with the latest HondaLink software and it also features the CabinControl app (also found in the Odyssey). 4G LTE hotspot, CabinTalk, and a new rear entertainment system are now available. The volume slider has also been replaced with a volume knob. Honda has replaced the steering wheel with a new design, also from the Odyssey.
Honda Sensing In road-transport terminology, lane centering, also known as auto steer or autosteer, is an advanced driver-assistance system that keeps a road vehicle centered in the lane, relieving the driver of the task of steering. Lane centering is simil ...
is now standard on all trim levels for the Pilot.


2020 changes

For the 2020 model year, a new Black Edition trim was added to the lineup.


2021 changes

The 9-speed transmission is now standard on all trim levels, and a Special Edition is slotted between EX-L and Touring trims.


2022 changes

For the 2022 model year, Honda introduced an entry-level Sport trim and a new TrailSport off-road oriented trim. The Sport trim replaced the discontinued LX and EX trim levels. The TrailSport exterior features include a suspension lift that increases ground clearance by , black exterior trim, 18-inch alloy-wheels, and an orange and black TrailSport badge. On the interior, TrailSport models include TrailSport logos on seats and orange stitching. Other changes to the 2022 Pilot include the 8-inch infotainment system and LED headlights becoming standard equipment and the introduction of a new Sonic Gray Pearl exterior paint color. Honda Pilot 2023: Honda's Most Capable SUV Yet


Safety

:1 vehicle structure also rated "Good". :2 strength-to-weight ratio: 5.22


Fourth generation (YG1/2; 2022)

The fourth-generation Pilot was revealed on November 7, 2022. A 3.5-liter V-6 engine with and of torque will power the Honda Pilot in 2023. It is connected to a ten-speed automatic gearbox. There are five distinct trim levels available: Sport, Trailsport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite.


Sales


References


External links


Pilot Official US site
{{Honda Timeline
Pilot An aircraft pilot or aviator is a person who controls the flight of an aircraft by operating its directional flight controls. Some other aircrew members, such as navigators or flight engineers, are also considered aviators, because they a ...
Cars introduced in 2002 2010s cars 2020s cars Mid-size sport utility vehicles Crossover sport utility vehicles All-wheel-drive vehicles Front-wheel-drive vehicles Motor vehicles manufactured in the United States