Honda's popular Pilot SUV struck a chord with the shopper after size and capability blended with economical operation and sensibility. The current-model Pilot will soon be phased out as dealerships clear room for the improved new 2009 model.
Slightly longer, wider and taller than the outgoing machine, the new-for-2009 Pilot receives a welcome makeover to help it stand out in a market that's jammed full of increasingly fierce competitors. Honda designers have left Pilot with a distinctive and truck-like character from any angle- as opposed to a more generic jacked up wagon appearance.
Though the class in which Pilot competes is a crowded one, shoppers will be glad to see it's a machine that really stands out. Inspired by a rugged laptop computer, the interesting grille and headlight combination suggest a playful and adventurous side- while the rest of the chunky and rugged body communicates the Pilot's strength. The taillights appear ticked off, and designers have mounted the market's now-requisite dual exhaust outlets under the bumper.
The body has been made stronger than the last generation model- with increased torsional and bending rigidity alongside extensive use of high-strength steel. The inflexible unibody platform houses more aerodynamic sheetmetal outside, along with a number of insulation tricks and structural features intended to make the ride even quieter.
Inside, Honda's goal was to create a comfortable and business-class ride for all passengers while focusing on enhanced utility and functionality to set it apart. New materials and styling step it up a notch, and the dashboard no longer looks like it came from a last-generation Accord. The shifter has been moved from the column to the dashboard, and there are even more enormous storage spaces and compartments than the outgoing model.
Slightly longer, wider and taller than the outgoing machine, the new-for-2009 Pilot receives a welcome makeover to help it stand out in a market that's jammed full of increasingly fierce competitors. Honda designers have left Pilot with a distinctive and truck-like character from any angle- as opposed to a more generic jacked up wagon appearance.
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Though the class in which Pilot competes is a crowded one, shoppers will be glad to see it's a machine that really stands out. Inspired by a rugged laptop computer, the interesting grille and headlight combination suggest a playful and adventurous side- while the rest of the chunky and rugged body communicates the Pilot's strength. The taillights appear ticked off, and designers have mounted the market's now-requisite dual exhaust outlets under the bumper.
The body has been made stronger than the last generation model- with increased torsional and bending rigidity alongside extensive use of high-strength steel. The inflexible unibody platform houses more aerodynamic sheetmetal outside, along with a number of insulation tricks and structural features intended to make the ride even quieter.
Inside, Honda's goal was to create a comfortable and business-class ride for all passengers while focusing on enhanced utility and functionality to set it apart. New materials and styling step it up a notch, and the dashboard no longer looks like it came from a last-generation Accord. The shifter has been moved from the column to the dashboard, and there are even more enormous storage spaces and compartments than the outgoing model.
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