2012 Honda Pilot

By:

Cam on 01/11/2012

Topic:

Car Reviews.

There was a time when drivers who took on families wouldn’t resign to the idea that new responsibility meant future ownership of a rolling container.  And so began the crossover trend.   Honda’s Pilot navigated those once virgin skies, giving drivers with excess baggage the style they wanted with the depth they needed.  Fast-forward to today, and the Pilot is still relevant, even though competition has saturated the field a bit.

Take a look at the 2012 Honda Pilot and then wrangle one up for yourself.

New For 2012

Honda has restyled Pilot’s overall image a bit, on the outside reshaping the grill and headlights for a more ‘crossover’ feel.  Inside, Pilot receives an updated instrument panel & navigation system, along with a refined and quieter ride thanks to an improved chassis and added insulation.  Maybe the most exciting thing, though, is an increase in fuel economy, up 2 combined MPG from 2011.

Honda Pilot Trims and Features

2012 Pilot trims are hedged into 4 options, with each available in 2WD or 4WD.

The base LX Pilot, from $28,470, offers basic luxuries like keyless entry, front/rear AC, and stock 7 speaker sound system with CD/MP3 capability.

The EX Pilot ($31,320) gets 18” alloy wheels, foglights, tri-zone automatic climate control, and improved sound with Bluetooth.

Going EX-L ($34,570) will add a sunroof, power liftgate, heated leather seats, an 8” multi-information display with rearview camera, and available navigation.  A rear DVD entertainment system also becomes available.

The Pilot Touring ($39,220) has it all: everything lesser models have, with navigation and entertainment system standard, roof rails, and a multi-angle rearview camera.

Honda Pilot Performance

Drivers are locked in to a 3.5L V6 with 250 HP and 253 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a 5-speed automatic transmission.

Each trim is available in AWD, making Pilot off-road capable.  Four-wheel access activates Honda’s Variable Torque Management system, which allows Pilot to automatically adjust for loss of traction.  Drivers can also lock the rear differential manually for tricky starts.

Fuel Economy

The 2012 2WD Pilot will achieve 18/25/21 (city/highway/combined) MPG, up from 17/23/19 last year.  AWD models are also up, producing 17/24/20.  Aiding overall economy is Pilot’s Variable Cylinder Management, which lets up to half of the cylinders rest at any time, minimizing unnecessary output.  Acceleration and hill climbing feature all 6 cylinders, while cruising speeds drop to 4 or even 3 cylinders, all of which this year assists with Pilot’s improved economy.

Pilot Interior Highlights

What you are buying Pilot for is versatility aimed at passengers and accessories.  Pilot does nicely here by offering 3 usable rows.  Seat up to 8 full-grown persons or use 87 available cubic feet for luggage; and Pilot’s box-like structure becomes an advantage when loading up cargo.  Flat folding 60/40 2^nd and 3^rd row seats allow for the maximum cargo space, otherwise it’s 47 cubes behind the 2^nd row and 18 with all seats in use.

Honda Pilot Safety

Standards for the 2012 Pilot include anti-lock brakes with electronic brake distribution, stability/traction control, and a standard airbag setup, including front-side and full-length side curtain bags.  A rearview camera becomes available for EX-L Pilot (with or without navigation), and is standard for Touring trims.  Government crash tests give Pilot 4/5 stars overall, with scores of 4/5 for frontal and rollover damage, and 5/5 for side impacts.

Pilot’s Bigger Picture

Diehard Honda fans will definitely want to check out the 2012 Pilot, though many critics agree that competition offers some great all-around alternatives.  Pilot’s biggest advantage may be its interior versatility, with a 3^rd row seat that offers plenty of room, and decent storage options.  With improved fuel economy this year, the Pilot has a much better chance of getting off the ground.

Instrument ratings are not required for this vehicle, so check out Pilot now.