Hidden Luxury | 2016 Honda Pilot

By Marc Schulhof
March 2016 View more For The Road

2016 Honda Pilot Elite

Blurred Lines” was a big hit on the radio a few years back and at Honda dealerships, it might as well still be on the soundtrack. That’s because the completely redesigned 2016 Honda Pilot blurs the lines between utility and luxury, and does a spot-on imitation of the company’s smaller crossover, the always popular CR-V. Pilot buyers, old and new, will be pleased.

Made in Alabama, the Pilot looks little like the 2003 model that anchors its family tree, or even the model it replaces. Gone is the boxy look that attracted many earlier buyers. In its place is a design that brings this flagship in line with both its siblings and the prevailing trends in three-row SUV design. Inside, too, the Pilot is thoroughly modern and, in its higher-end iterations, a ringer for an Acura.

2016 Honda Pilot Elite

Spring for the Elite model, and you will have two heated captain seats in the second row, for a total capacity of seven. All other models get a second-row bench and seating for eight in total. In either case, a handy button on the sides of the second-row seats makes it easy to slide those seats out of the way for third-row passengers to enter or exit.

On optioned-out models, the back of the front console—the part facing the second row—looks like something out of NASA’s mission control, with buttons and outlets galore. There are controls for the air conditioner and heated seats, as well as headphone jacks, an HDMI input, and USB and standard power outlets. This is a vehicle designed for road trips. The 19.5-gallon tank and an engine tuned for regular unleaded are also road trip friendly.

The Pilot does its duty as a large SUV, converting easily from three-row people hauling to seats-folded cargo van. Honda did away with the rear glass that could open separately from the rest of the tailgate, and the load floor is relatively high, but the cargo space itself is capacious, and the rear seats fold down easily for big loads.

Just like the Acura MDX, with which it shares many components, the Pilot features a somewhat annoying electronic transmission selector. There are buttons for park, drive, and neutral, and a pull-back trigger for reverse. But once you get the transmission in gear, it is definitely go time with acceleration and handling that belies the Pilot’s size.

2016 Honda Pilot Elite

The Pilot is available in five trim levels, from LX to Elite. All share the same suspension, steering, and 280-horsepower V6 engine. But Honda does its buyers a favor by clearly distinguishing among the models. The three LX and EX models are equipped with a six-speed transmission and 18-inch wheels. The two highest trim levels are endowed with a nine-speed transmission and 20-inch wheels. Front- or all-wheel drive are choices for the first four levels. The Elite comes standard with all-wheel-drive.

The 2015 Honda Pilot LX with front-wheel drive can be yours for $29,995. Choose one of the higher trim levels, or load up with options, and you will see your Pilot edge into Acura territory. A top-of-the-line all-wheel-drive Pilot Elite starts at $46,420. In between those two bookends are 15 different versions to choose among.

The higher trim models get the latest electronic safety and driver assistance features as standard equipment. Those same features are options on the EX models and unavailable on the LX—a fact that may push some buyers away from the “bargain” model.

On the other end of the pricing spectrum, Honda has made some of the best features available only on the Elite model. Those include a blind-spot warning system (with state-of-the-art cross-traffic monitoring), rain-sensing windshield wipers, a heated steering wheel, a panoramic moonroof, and auto-on/off LED headlights.