Honda Pilot 2006 – Great Mid-Size SUV

I traded in my 2001 Nissan Maxima and got a Pilot about a month ago. We were looking for a mid-sized SUV that was easy to drive and didn’t feel like a truck. We also tested out the Toyota Highlander, BMW X3, and Honda CRV but decided the Pilot was the best choice.

We liked the pilot because it is built on the minivan platform. I really didn’t want to feel like I was driving a truck and I was not quite ready to drive a minivan. I wanted something that drove more like my Maxima. The Pilot was one of the closest. The X3 was very nice and drove more like a car, but it just didn’t have as much room. There was not as much leg room for passengers and the back was significantly smaller.

We really liked the amount of room the Pilot had. It was the biggest of the ones we tested (which was also somewhat of a con). The Pilot has ample leg room for passengers. The second row of seating can move back and forth to allow for more leg room. The 3rd row doesn’t have quite as much room, but an adult could definitely get back there, unlike in the Highlander. When we looked at the Highlander I had a very tough time getting to that 3rd row and I’m a somewhat small person. We knew there was no way our parents would be able/ want to get back there. In the Highlander the 3rd row is really just for kids or animals.

We were a little hesitant about getting such a big car. We weren’t sure we really needed all that room and by getting a bigger car we were also compromising some gas mileage. So far, the gas mileage has been pretty good. We are getting about 18 mpg and we have only driven maybe 1000 miles on it so far. That is not much less than what my Maxima was getting.

About the gas mileage… Starting in 2006 the Pilot started coming with a Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) designed to boost your mileage. The Pilot can switch from 3 cylinders to 6 when necessary to help make the most of your gas and power. There is even an ECO light that lights up on your dash when you are in the 3 cylinder mode so you can sort of train yourself to drive better and be in that ECO mode as much as possible.

Before we bought the Pilot we wanted to make sure it would fit in our garage. The salesmen was very nice and let us drive over to our house and practice getting into the garage. We have an average size garage and as long as you go in slowly there aren’t any problems.

The Pilot has a great turning radius and is pretty easy to get into regular sized parking spaces. It can be a challenge getting into tight spaces and maneuvering our way into small areas. This took some getting used to, as I was used to driving a car and parking easily pretty much anywhere.

In terms of safety… the Pilot now has side curtain airbags and a slip protection that turns on when needed. There are lights that remind you of oil changes, and other services issues.

Extras… the Pilot has so many great features included free satellite radio for 3 months. There are also tons of little storage places all around the vehicle and many cup holders. In the front there is a hidden plug in the console and a cell phone holder so the phone and cord don’t get in the way. I love that feature! It’s so convenient.

Now for the cons… there is the weird glare on the windshield on sunny days. I think it is because the dashboard is so shiny. The reflection causes this glare right in front of the drivers view that can be somewhat annoying. I’m hoping this will get better as the dash becomes less shiny with age and we get into the winter months. Also, it would be nice if the way back windows and/or windows in the hatch could go down. And, when you get groceries, be prepared for them so slide around some in the back. This is just a disadvantage of having an SUV over a car. Maybe there is an additional net or wall that one could put back there to stop that from happening?

Overall, I have been very happy with the Pilot. It didn’t take long to get used to its size. In fact, I love it now. I love being up high and I feel safe. I would defiantly recommend this to others looking for a safe mid-size SUV that does not drive like a truck.