2019 Honda Pilot Elite AWD
The 2019 Honda Pilot Elite AWD
has cosmetic and mechanical improvements.
Price: $48,020
The 2019 Honda Pilot Elite AWD has far more pros than cons and is among
the most accomplished midsize SUVs.
This SUV has more aggressive front and rear styling, a smoother 9-speed
automatic transmission, a new display audio touchscreen system with
Apple Car Play and Android Auto integration, and a volume knob.
The Pilot comfortably seats eight with a second-row bench seat, or
seven with the heated second-row captain’s chairs, which were in my
test Pilot.
It takes extra effort to climb into the Pilot. And I found reaching the
third seat to be a trial, even with the “one-touch walk-in feature,”
which involved sliding a captain’s chair forward. I found it best to
reach the impressively roomy third row seat by sliding between the two
captain’s chairs. But I’m relatively thin and nimble, so that helped.
While the split third-row seat area provides good legroom, adults could
use more thigh room.
There’s plenty of cabin space, and the cargo area is roomy enough for a
week’s worth of groceries, even with the split 60/40 third-row seat
fully in place. Both the captain’s chairs and third row seats flip
forward to provide an impressively spacious cargo area. It almost makes
me think, “Who needs a pickup truck?”
The Elite AWD, which I tested, is the most expensive Pilot at $48,020,
but there are a variety of front and AWD Pilot models that start at
$31,450. All Pilots have Honda’s sensing suite of advanced safety and
driver assistance technologies, including adaptive cruise control,
lane-keeping assist, collision mitigation braking system and three-row
side curtain air bags.
Occupants sit high in the quiet Pilot AWD Elite, which has a driving
position some may find overly upright. It has such features as very
supportive power front seats that will be comfortable on long trips, a
leather-trimmed interior, premium audio system with 10 speakers,
push-button start, tri-zone automatic climate control, tilt wheel,
wireless phone charger, rear camera, panoramic sunroof, blind-spot
information system and a power tailgate.
Dashboard gauges can be quickly read, and dash controls are easy to
use. But the small tachometer that gives horizontal r.p.m. readings
seems odd, as if an afterthought.
The Pilot is powered by a responsive and fairly quiet 3.5-liter V-6
280-horsepower engine with variable cylinder management and 262
pound/feet of torque. It works with a much- improved, responsive
9-speed automatic transmission, which can be manually shifted with
quick acting steering wheel paddle shifters. Acceleration is quick in
town and strong on highways.
Estimated fuel economy of the Elite AWD is 19 in the city and 26 on
highways, and only 87 octane fuel is required. An improved idle-stop
feature helps improve fuel economy if, say, you’re stuck at a railroad
crossing. For those who want to squander fuel economy on cold mornings
they can use the remote engine start as they drink their wake-up
coffee.
My test Pilot’s quick steering is generally light with some road feel,
the ride is smooth and handling is good. Curves can be comfortably
taken at above-average speeds, thanks to such items as vehicle
stability assist, fairly low profile 50-series tires, “intelligent”
traction management and the AWD system.
The brake pedal has a nice linear action, and the anti-lock brakes
brakes have electronic brake distribution and brake-assist features.
That’s reassuring to know when driving a high, 4,000-plus SUV.
Honda has removed major faults of the 2018 Pilot, leaving the new
version better than ever. As a bonus, the resale value is good.
