2016 Honda Pilot Full Review & Specification
Full Review 2016 Honda Pilot & Specification - The redesigned 2016 Honda Pilot is an outstanding choice among three-row crossovers, critics write, thanks to its car-like ride and spacious cabin built with high-end materials.
With the best combination of positive reviews and long-term ownership costs in its class, the Honda Pilot is our 2016 Best 3-Row SUV for the Money. The Pilot, however, isn’t just a great value. It’s also our Best 3-Row SUV for Families because it has the leading combination of interior space, available family-friendly features, and safety and reliability ratings in its class.
Performance Summary
The 2016 Honda Pilot comes with a standard V6 engine that test drivers think is powerful. The base model comes with a six-speed automatic transmission, while a nine-speed automatic comes in higher trims. Reviewers find the six-speed is the quicker-shifting of the two transmissions but say that models with the nine-speed have stronger acceleration.
Fuel economy for a base 2016 Pilot is 19/27 mpg city/highway, which is decent for a three-row, V6-powered midsize SUV. Auto journalists agree that the Pilot has a comfortable, car-like ride and responsive steering. Some think it has poised handling, but others remark that there is noticeable body lean while cornering.
Interior Summary
Auto writers think the 2016 Honda Pilot has a luxurious cabin filled with lots of soft-touch materials. The front seats are especially comfortable and the second row is roomy, critics write, and they think the third row is even spacious enough for adults to be comfortable over short journeys. Overall cargo space is slightly lower than that of some rivals, but test drivers are pleased with the space and appreciate the abundance of small-item storage and cup holders throughout the cabin.
The 2016 Pilot comes standard with Bluetooth, a USB port and a rearview camera. Options include Honda's LaneWatch passenger side blind spot camera, adaptive cruise control, a rear-seat entertainment system, an 8-inch touch-screen infotainment display, a 10-speaker audio system and navigation. Several reviewers comment that it can be tricky to adjust the stereo with the touch-sensitive controls found in upper trims. They note that the navigation system is easy to use and say the touch-screen infotainment system has straightforward menus.
Other SUVs to Consider
Honda Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander: Reviewers agree that the Toyota Highlander is a great choice for families. In fact, it won our 2015 Best 3-Row SUV for Families award, and it is basically unchanged for 2016. Critics appreciate the Highlander's family-friendly features, such as Driver Easy Speak, which lets parents speak to their children through the vehicle's rear speakers. Auto writers note that the Highlander has generous space in its first and second rows, and the Pilot and the Highlander have similar cargo space. Critics say every Highlander has easy-to-use dashboard controls, including knobs for major audio functions, which the Honda Pilot doesn't have in upper trims. The Highlander has a quiet, comfortable ride over rough roads, according to reviewers, as well as composed handling. Test drivers note that the Highlander has excellent passing power when equipped with its optional V6 engine.
Honda Pilot vs. Chevrolet Traverse: Though the Chevy Traverse costs slightly more than the Honda Pilot, it is a much larger vehicle, offering 116.3 cubic feet of overall storage space. That's almost 40 percent more than the Pilot. Test drivers add that the Traverse offers fairly responsive handling for its size. They also appreciate its smooth, quiet ride. The Traverse, like the Pilot, comes standard with a V6 engine that critics say isn’t particularly potent. However, auto writers say the Traverse does have enough power for most day-to-day driving situations. The Traverse’s fuel economy can't match that of the Pilot. Reviewers say the Traverse's cabin is attractive and has an upscale feel thanks to high-quality materials. Passenger space is good in the first and second rows. Reviewers say the Traverse's third row isn't as spacious as the Pilot's, but they note that there's enough space back there for children.
Details: 2016 Honda Pilot
The 2016 Honda Pilot is a three-row midsize SUV. It is available in five trims: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Elite. The Pilot comes standard with seating for eight (two in the front row and three in both the second and third rows). In top-of-the-line Elite models, the three-person second-row bench seat is replaced with two captain's chairs, reducing the seating capacity to seven.
All Pilot trims come with a 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 engine. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard in LX, EX and EX-L models. A nine-speed automatic is standard in Touring and Elite models. The Pilot comes standard with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is optional on LX, EX, EX-L and Touring models. It comes standard on Elite models.
The Honda Pilot has been completely redesigned for 2016. It debuted in the 2003 model year, and this is the third generation.
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