But forget all that for a second, what's the new Pilot like to drive? Well, it's quite stable when driven quickly and relatively nimble around corners, but not quite as agile as the Odyssey minivan it's based on, or for that matter, its sibling Acura MDX. Still that's OK. The Pilot is wonderfully comfortable at cruising speeds, soaking up bumps and grooves in the road without grumble or complaint from its compliant chassis. Step on the accelerator and its 240-hp 3.5-L V6 gets up and goes. A substantial curb weight makes sure things don't get too exciting from standstill, but for negotiating a pass at highway speeds it has power aplenty. The 5-speed automatic transmission kicks down quickly when needed, with virtually unnoticeable shifts when driven normally. A weeks worth of sunshine didn't allow for slippery testing conditions but its 4WD system is identical to the Acura MDX, which has superb wet weather traction. Likewise its traction control and 203 mm (8.0 in) ground clearance contribute to make the Pilot a decent light duty off-road vehicle.
Creature comforts? At a base price of $41,000 just about everything on the EX is standard, including a 7-speaker AM/FM/CD/cassette audio system, automatic climate control, plus power windows and locks with keyless remote entry. The $43,000 EX-L adds a leather-wrapped steering wheel, 2-way heated front seats, leather trim and first and second row leather seats.
Most impressive is the Pilot's center console. A large bin lays beneath the center armrest, incorporating a flip down front panel that houses a flexible rubber cellular phone holder. A power outlet is conveniently located within the bin, keeping charger cords from dangling across the dash - a common irritation. In front of the armrest bin are twin cupholders that incidentally are rendered useless if the cell phone lid is flipped forward. The lower console is wrapped in an attractive plastic mesh housing a separate hidden storage compartment accessed via a sliding cover. The entire package is an extremely efficient use of space.