Review of the 2013 Honda Pilot Touring

 When Honda rolled out the second-generation Pilot, they made it a point to make it look more like a truck. Hence its squared-off appearance that's reminiscent of the full-frame midsize SUVs of old. Personally, I have a soft spot for things like the Toyota 4Runner and previous Nissan Pathfinder, so I think Honda's decision to make the Pilot a little manlier was cool. It will be interesting to see what Honda does with the next Pilot, which I expect to land in the next year or so. Will they follow Nissan and soften it and make it more crossover-ish like the latest Pathfinder? Or will they stay boxy? I'm guessing the former as that will appeal to a wider range of people.

As for this particular 2013 Honda Pilot Touring test car there's a lot to like here still. It begins with the 3.5-liter engine that's among the smoothest V6s available and delivers adequate power. Power is consistent throughout the rev range and when you boot it there's a surprisingly pleasing exhaust note to it. Where the Pilot shows its age is with the five-speed automatic transmission, which seems outdated by today's standards. I have no complaints about its operation because it performs flawless upshifts and quick downshifts. No doubt an extra cog in the gearbox would help up fuel economy, but to be fair I averaged 23 mpg over the weekend on mixed driving which isn't shabby at all for a 4,600-pound vehicle with the aerodynamic properties that aren't all that great.

It handles reasonably well with light, but responsive steering, and it doesn't feel sloppy around corners. There's some roll tuned in and the ride quality is comfortable with a suspension that smoothes small to medium road hazards without a problem. Brakes are grabby and confidently get the Pilot slowed down, which is nice.

Interior comfort is fine overall with comfy front bucket seats that offer some side support and a backseat with good legroom. The center stack looks a bit dated with all the buttons, but all are clearly labeled and easy to work through. The center console is huge with plenty of storage available. Materials throughout are of fair quality with a lot of hard plastics that feature decent graining to them. I'm not a huge fan of the shifter sticking out of the dash. It's close to the right side of the steering wheel and I accidently bumped into it a couple of times when I reached over to adjust the climate.

The Pilot is still a decent offering in this class. I certainly would take it over the Pathfinder so I wouldn't have to deal with a CVT. But it's still time for Honda to update this thing.

Yes, love boxy-body SUVs. I miss the days of the rolling brick. It is plain, though. But for a buyer looking to blend in, which many do, this is a solid, regular-sized SUV.

Some of these crossovers make me worry. In many of them, there is only a foot of length behind the second-row of seats. In the Pilot, there's plenty of room.

The 250-hp V6 works hard, but moves this 4,600-pounder relatively well. I wasn't lamenting the slowness. It also soaked up most of bumps on my pothole-infested drive home.

It seems a bit expensive at more than $40,000. There are cheaper options that have almost as much utility but more sport. But if that's not what you're into, the Pilot is worth a look. Bonus, it's a Honda, so it'll probably be reliable.

2013 Honda Pilot Touring

Base Price: $42,000
As-Tested Price: $42,000
Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V6; 4WD, five-speed automatic
Output: 250 hp @ 5,700 rpm, 253 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm
Curb Weight: 4,608 lb
Fuel Economy (EPA City/Highway/Combined): 17/24/20 mpg
AW Observed Fuel Economy: 23.1 mpg

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