2015 Honda Pilot

2015 Honda Pilot Review - Pricing, Features & Specs ...

The 2015 Honda Pilot pulls on our heartstrings when it comes to the makings of a great crossover. With good handling, great space, and available all-wheel drive, there’s no surprise it’s been one of Honda’s best-sellers since the 1990s. The Pilot still brings with it an intuitive interior, all-weather capability and an excellent drivetrain, but it’s lost its No. 1 position in the segment–flawed by its cheaply finished interior.

• Interior / Exterior »

Who needs curves when you can have lines? Or, at least that must be what the Honda designers must’ve asked themselves when they designed the Pilot. It’s boxy and brash in a way that other crossovers aren’t–leaving it as a refreshing, albeit polarizing, alternative to everything else in the segment.



Inside the Pilot, the look is different, for sure, but it’s anything but traditional and simple. The very upright instrument panel can feel cluttered, and it feels a bit gimmicky–either overwrought or busy. That said, the interior trim and instrument-panel design do continue the chunky, somewhat macho look of the exterior, though the dash is rendered in lots of hard plastic.
We don’t necessarily love some of the added chrome bits on the current Pilot, as they may feel a little overwrought to shoppers looking for a more conservatively-styled vehicle. Last year, Honda tried to tone down some of that in a mid-cycle refresh–especially the oddly framed grille, subbing in a more tasteful grille that we see fitting in much better with the look that Honda’s been giving its passenger cars in front.

• Performance »

Front- and all-wheel drive are both offered with the 2015 Honda Pilot’s only drivetrain: a 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 with a five-speed automatic transmission.


The Pilot does have quite a bit more durability built in than the typical car, though, and it is a good choice for those looking to get to a trailhead on the weekends. The four-wheel-drive system (actually all-wheel drive) does include a Lock mode for mud or deep snow. Structurally, the Pilot’s structure borrows some of the benefits of a body-on-frame SUV but has a modern unibody design. And that contributes to its good ride quality and crisp response.
The V-6 is one of the smoothest, sweetest-sounding, most pleasant powertrains in its segment, even if it’s not the standout for power and torque that it once was. The transmission can feel a little unsure of itself under lighter loads, but it’s smoother and quicker if you decide that you need to move rapidly.
With a rather tall driving position, you might expect the Pilot to be a little clumsy compared to those lower, more wagon-like utility vehicles. But it’s not at all; handling is quite responsive, and the straightforward exterior is easy to maneuver in parking garages or on tighter city streets.
The Pilot remains one of the best options on the market if you need a minivan, but can’t just commit to the idea of owning one. Its tall, boxy design is an advantage for cargo space and head room by comparison to more rakish crossovers–yet the Pilot drives like a car, creating a comfortable, engaging vehicle with few compromises in convenience.A five-speed automatic transmission is paired with the familiar 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 in the Pilot, and it altogether keeps with Honda’s smooth, responsive, and sweet-sounding reputation for these powertrains. EPA highway ratings are now up to 25 mpg, making it one of the most fuel-efficient three-row vehicles.

Once you get past the initial surprise of the tall driving position, you’ll find handling to be reasonably crisp, with good maneuverability. Ride quality is on the firm side, but the optional four-wheel-drive (actually an all-wheel-drive) system has a Lock mode and is a champ in deep snow or mud. Four-wheel-drive models can tow up to 4,500 pounds.
The Pilot has been rated as one of safest cars on the road for years now, and includes side-curtain airbags for all three rows, as well as the expected list of security features. A rearview camera is also standard, which is especially helpful in overcoming visibility issues in the tall, blocky crossover.

The Honda Pilot goes mostly unchanged for 2015, though a new Special Edition SE trim is now available as a mid-priced trim. It’s offered in five different trim levels: LX, EX, SE, EX-L, and Touring. All five are offered in 2WD or 4WD, but beyond that you need to ante up to one of the top two trims in order to get a lot of the more desirable options and convenience features.

We think the LX and EX models offer more bang for the buck, as the more expensive EX-L, Touring and Limited trims begin to overlap with some of the true luxury crossovers on the market. They include rear air conditioning, keyless entry, cruise control, and a seven-speaker sound system. Leather upholstery, a Bluetooth hands-free interface, USB/iPod connectivity, a power tailgate, and a navigation system all remain only available on the EX-L and Touring–a serious impediment to broader sales success.
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