I think this review was very biased! I've owned a 2006 Pilot, a 4WD 2009 Pilot, and now I own a 4WD 2012 Pilot. I've driven the Suburban for a month (Gas guzzling School Bus), and an Explorer for 4. I can say that there have not been many changes throughout the years when it comes to the Pilot, but the manufacturer is aiming for practicality and UTILITY (Hence the term Sport UTILITY Vehicle). Yes, my 2012 Pilot has less "Punch" than my 2009 did, but they added more torque for obvious reasons. If you want a vehicle that will give you great 0-60 acceleration numbers, get a sports car and don't test it a MILE above sea level! The big deal during this test was "Can the Pilot (with street tires) make it up the hill? You know, the hill with loose dirt, rocks, and a steep incline?" Well it made it and not one word was mentioned about how well it performed that task! Instead we were distracted with an abandoned MINE! C'mon guys! Folks who purchase this vehicle don't purchase it for its looks. Do you think Hummer owners care if their vehicle isn't a sexy little Minx? NO! Same here. This vehicle offers TONS of storage space and is awesome on road trips! Drop down the 3rd row of seats and you CAN fit fat boy and his golf clubs back there together! It seats 8 People and I have a family of 7! (With their gear). I've dropped down the 2nd and 3rd row of seats and fit a 6ft Christmas tree back there without having to adjust the front seats at all! The trunk floor opens up to offer extra storage and there are power outlets, stowage hooks, etc. EVERYWHERE! I live and work on a Military installation and I've taken this thing off road with my kids inside and we had a BLAST! The area was wide and open, so I put the pedal down and watched the smiles grow from the back seat. You CAN have fun in this vehicle. Trust me. It serves us well as a school bus, a road trip vehicle, and a fun off road champion. I've driven by MANY vehicles stuck in at least 3 feet of snow like it was a nice summer day.... WITH street tires! Not off road tires. Besides the fact that I'd like my standard roof rack back... I wouldn't change a thing. Review the vehicle for what it DOES. Not what you wished it did. Because what it does, it does it WELL! Just look at how many of these things are on the road today!!! And that's my 2 cents!
It’s just a tough reliable, well made vehicle that does exactly what it’s supposed to and it beats the snot out of the other vehicles mentioned in terms of reliability...save the Toyota, and it’s either equal to it or a very close second ( quality, reliability)
As an owner of an 06, i can confirm that it is way more fun to drive than the Explorers, Suburbans, Highlanders, and Durangos of the day. They were quicker in corners, had better gas milage, had locking diffs, and were pretty reliable if you maintaimed them right. As they got newer and heavier with minimal drivetrain revisions they kinda got slow, but are still great daily drivers!
This is true but its also true that american vehicles are actually pushed to the limit (at least truck wise) like you can tow a crap ton in an american truck but for example a ridgline cant tow or haul anything except tampons
Danny Quijada Toyota Tundra V8 is pretty damn close to Fords F150 V8 towing capacity. 10,200 lbs vs 11,600 lbs. Ford pick ups are great I’m not arguing that. It’s the one Vehicle type that the U.S. still makes well. Can’t say that Ford doesn’t make a solid truck and they even ride nice now too, almost like luxury vehicles.
$90 trans cooler and a Ridgeline will pull anything a modular v8 ford truck can. And it will do it smarter in the mud with locking diffs and a better traction control system. Just because you have a v8 does not mean a truck is automatically good at towing. A Pilot/Ridgeline would definitely pull 7500lbs more effectively in a low traction situation. In a highway towing situation it would keep pace with an f150 or silverado of the same year assuming it had a trans cooler which is an option.
300,000 miles on mine and still runs like a champ! It has seen plenty of off road miles with all the abuse it comes with, not only highway miles, and the ONLY thing that ever went wrong on it is the dip stick had to be replaced. Other than that, just fluid changes and brakes is all it has ever needed. This thing feels like it could go for another 300,000 miles easy!
What SUV out there does not get labeled "soccer mom"? Plus, what is with the frowns faces when an SUV doesn't go zero-to-60 in any amount of seconds? So what...its an SUV, not a sports car. Take damn thing on a trail and or put some off-road tires on it, and do a proper review.
I researched many different SUV's before buying a Pilot. It fit the bill for me for all around use. First, great honda quality and dependability, flexible seating, large interior, able to tow 4500lbs, and gas mileage is best, 24mpg highway, for my needs, no other vehicle can do all of that, period.
Just put my deposit down on a Pilot Touring, i agree, the vehicle is out dated but I did test drive almost every other cross over SUV in the class and not only was it one of the best to drive but none of them had the space that the pilot has. The pilot was the only one who had 3 ancker points on the middle row for car seats and which could actually fit 3 car seats. Cargo space is bigger than every other one by atleast 200L. The thing i did not like about the review is that Nathan had a real bad attitude, it just upset me to watch him bad mouth the vehicle with a dismisive attitude like that after it has been one of the top selling SUV's for the last 5 years. I think he pissed off a lot of people doing that ( I think he owes us all an apology). The Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander are the 2 vehicles who hold their value the best of all the suv's in this class. What i'm trying to get at is that there are a lot of good things to say about the Pilot as well. I do watch a lot of their reviews and will continue to do so, hopefully i won't have this experience again.
Other than the 5-speed transmission issue, what else was a problem? For those of us who can't stand the new "cross-over" look of the Highlander and Pathfinder, I find the Pilot to be much more acceptable. I wasn't clear on its off-road capabilities, which I had assumed you guys would talk about more since you found this supposedly awesome high-incline hill, but didn't even mention how it did? Yes, yes, the mine was cool but I'm more interested in how the Pilot did on the road to the mine. And what was with the "golf-bag" test? Of course if you fold the third row of seats down there is more than enough room, which you guys kind of mumble under your breath. I would venture to guess that most people will have that third row folded down anyways. I found this a very odd review.
I even like the 5 speed.... it shifts firm and always shifts at the right time. It's also kind of funny they joked about the sound because it really doesn't sound that much different than the Accord V6, which they like.
I agree with all you say. I own a Pilot, absolutely love it, and I always have the back row folded down giving me enough room to hold 40 Golf Bags. I think they ranked it way too low and disparaged it as a "soccer mommy van". This is a reliable and safe vehicle. QUITE capable offroad, and an amazing apocalypse vehicle for the family. From Kia tellurides and toyota highlanders. I choose the Pilot. They call the interior, exterior, and technology outdated. I call it reliable.
Update: We ended up buying a 2015 Pilot. Wife drives the hell out of it and it's been pretty reliable. And we made sure to buy it before they changed over to a minivan-SUV hybrid.
You 2 are the furthest from objective. There is a reason this has been the top of its game for years and has been a game changer when it first came out. Only 2 pro ford boys would say this is a bad unit.
Just bought my wife one that's super clean and has 183k miles on it. We love it so far. It's great for us and our 3 young kids. Also in my opinion the thing is pretty snappy when you mash the pedal to the floor. Not so much starting off but when u need to pass someone it seems to shit and git pretty good when it goes into passing gear.
My 2012 Honda Pilot has been a tank. I have traversed all over Colorado in some of the worst conditions possible. With good tires the 4WD system is pretty capable in the snow. Now approaching 100K miles and no repairs beyond general maintenance. This is my wife's daily driver. It is really well designed and well built from looking underneath. Where other manufacturers use rubber hoses, Honda uses SS lines (yeah I'm looking at you domestics!). I've had 8 people in it a few times (short trips with the extended fam) and it is superb at longer road trips with 4 people with massive storage in the back with the two rear seats folded over. A couple of really good things that people don't get - the rear window opens separately from the rear hatch so you can really load it up. Something the newer version (2015+) has eliminated due to cost. I think this will last 250K+ with maintenance (which I do myself - not looking forward to the 100K timing change though). I tow a double wave runner trailer with it and have never had any issues towing moderate loads (3K lbs). Towed a few other trailer's from 2-3K lbs (Uhaul) loaded and it does fine. This vehicle may not do anything great, but it does everything good. Other than Toyota (I also own) it will outlast all the other manufacturers easily and with less overall cost. Oh, and so you don't think I have too much bias, also have Ford, Chevy, BMW (ugh - never again, even with do it yourself maintenance it is waaayyy to complicated and expensive, but it's a 2 seater highly modded toy. Need a significant scan tool just to change the battery!) - ah, yes, kids of driving age add a lot of vehicles. Plus, while this is an older review, I really like your channel. I think you have really gotten better over the years with your reviews. Keep up the great work!
Been shopping for this SUV and prices have been going up! I know I should of purchase it new but I thought it would go down but the new Pilot looks like a minivan!
+Justin B I just thought that this 2015 Pilot would have depreciated more because new model redesign for 2016 instead the old model Pilot price have appreciated stead!
My family has a Pathfinder and a Pilot. The Pathfinder has lots of low end torque compared to the Pilot and the Pilot sucks on take offs that first gear is terrible but we prefer the Pilot Honda quality, Ride comfort, and all around Styling
My dear Pilot Haters, I do agree with the boxy design of the new Pilot, which Honda will likely come out with a fresh design like the new Acura MDX. But Boxy design contributes to more head and shoulder room. I own a 2013 pilot EXL 4WD, very impressed with the utility. With 2 gigantic car seats in 2nd row seat i do have plenty of room to fit myself (5' 9" 190 Lbs) between those contraptions. The cargo area hold a mini changing station, a play area for 1 yr old and 2 yr old, and to top it off a big a** dual stroller. I still have room to throw in groceries and diaper boxes. I get an impressive 27mpg on the highway and not so great 18mpg in the city on full load. Love the utility and the ride.
Honda never tries to be best at anything, but they do damn well at everything they're supposed to. That's better than most of the competition can say. My 4th gen Accord coupe STILL is modern, and is good at everything it's supposed to do.
I would not subscribe to these guys, they are so biased. These are not reviews, they test to see how fast they can go. How many people buy car to do 0-60?
Lol, I know right Naveen Bhatt , I used to watch them until I see how the operate. They are very biased against imports, especially Japanese. All they look for is HP
Great review. Honda is Honda period. They are under whelming in the power and speed and simple. And unbeatable quality super solid and just goes and goes. Love that truck.
I've taken mine to some pretty sketchy trails in the adirondacks and must say I'm quite impressed with it. I only ever got it stuck once, and it took about 3ft deep snow to do it! Was able to dig it out and back down the trail; would definitely recommend
Had mine since 2005 when I bought it new. 130K on the clock now, and besides a battery, tires, oil, timing belt change, I've has no (as in literally ZERO) issues with the vehicle. The AWD does the job well. I drove 250 miles in a crazy snowstorm from Cary NC to Charlotte NC a few years back and did it at 50mph, when there were dozens of cars in the ditch and 'real' SUVs were driving at 15mph because they were all over the place. VTM4 works very well. Just stop comparing it to traditional front and rear live axle 4x4's. It aint that. But what it is is a damn good AWD system that will get you out of 99% of what you find yourself in, and 90% of shit you should of never driven into in the first place. And it doesn't ride like an old 4x4 either. Been there, done that. Newer ones are better, but they still ride like a covered wagon by comparison.
Oh the irony...given the newest models don't even have electronic 4WD. To those who say the pre-2016's are not 4WD you are wrong plain and simple. The newest 2016 Pilot's are ABSOLUTELY disguised Honda Odysseys. I have owned Jeep Wranglers (low end sports to hight end Rubicons) I have owned older Cherokees and currently have a 2015 Cherokee Trailhawk...and let me tell you the previous Pilots definitely qualify with the VTM4 feature as 4WD. Is it Wrangler quality off road? Hell no...but it will do the job much better than most AWD vehicles and likely much better than the 2016 Pilots.
Honda vehicles have a certain nostalgic aura to them, especially older ones. The way the switches feel and sound, the lay out of the dash.... the shape are unmistakable once you've owned that model, you can tell within a few years when it was made or what trim it is. I personally buy Honda vehicles because resale value even at high k is there if you've taken care of it.
I have a 2012 2WD, I too would say Lease It. It needs to keep the boxy styling, the reason being you can fit two adults in the 3rd row. Needs at least 6 speeds. Needs to lose the solid grey or solid beige interior. 3rd row seats need more bottom padding. Needs an integrated blind spot mirror or offer blind spot monitoring. The NAV screen looks ancient. FYI load the cargo area if you have the 3rd row up via the glass rear hatch. Should have showed the cargo area with the 3rd row down.
I have a Honda pilot myself and even though it only has a 5-speed automatic and the gas mileage isn't great, it is still a very practical and spacious SUV.
Bought a Highlander new in 2014, totaled in 2024 at 186k miles. Used the insurance check to get a 2013 Pilot touring with 160k miles. Now I think Pilot > Highlander. Tougher than you think!
What an awful, biased review. You can tell that the fat boy of the crew does not like the car from the get go because he just doesn't like the car. The pilot could have gone up some crazy offroad trail and he would have still hated it. I take my pilot offroad all the time across "fields of boulders" and sandy washes in the Mojave desert. It handles just fine. I even had to towstrap a Rubicon out once. Problem with this dude is pee pee size is too small so he doesn't think anything other than a Jeep or 4Runner can go offroad. I used to take my 2WD Ford Explorer off-road all the time. It's all about the driver. It has 4WD and it's going to be good for anybody going out to the boonies.
This was the first TFL video I have ever seen. Can’t believe it was also the first video for Gold Mine Hill. I watched this originally because my dad was getting this car and he’s had it for 5 years now. I’m sad that Gold Mine Hill is gone now. I miss the old days.
These guys are looking at the Honda Pilot with the wrong perspective. I have a 2007 Pilot with 160,000 miles on it. It runs extremely well, allows me to go off-road (light duty) and still have an extremely reliable vehicle. The Pilot serves me well.
I'm going for a 2006 lx awd, and going with aggressive all-terrain tires for mild offroading, and when I can afford it, a hitch mounted portable winch....and no kiddies will be allowed in my ride, this will be my work vehicle!
Thanks for the comment. You are obviously a fan. That's fine, but the Pilot is ancient in automotive terms. It hasn't really changed since 2008. That means it was designed back in 2005 or so for 2008. That makes it at least 8-years-old. Sorry but that's just too long in the tooth to be competitive with brand news cars that now offer 8 and even 9 speed transmissions, direct injection, turbos, hybrid drive...we could go on.
For 2015, Honda should lighten the body on frame design, keep the same ride height, more standard technology, put styling on just headlights, tail lights, and mirrors, add a 6 speed automatic transmission, and have the same 2nd row seat functions as the Acura MDX. Pilot should be kept as a SUV, not a shopping mall crossover.
I own a 2014 Honda Pilot for 7 years and love the way it looks and drives. Actually every bit of it. I feel great about the view I get to drive, the smoothness and engine feel and sound of it. 0 issues in 7 years. Majority people don’t live or drive off-road on a daily basis. For occasional fun this is good enough. Similar line Toyota 4 runner is amazing but around 10k more
Love all these comments but everyone is spelling a certain word wrong. It’s “BIASED” not “BIAS.” About to buy my first Pilot (I want a 2013, -14, or -15), and I can’t wait!
I've had a 2011 pilot since 2012. Not a quick vehicle or great on gas milage. Its a good road trip vehicle, smooth, runs good, good tow capacity, roomy for what it is. Great in the snow and light offroading. I would not treat it lime it was a jeep. I like it, getting ready to install the 3rd timing belt. I figuered it will last 400k.
I have a 2004 pilot and I love it and its better looking then the 2014 pilot.If they don't change the pilot for 2015 I am gonna have to buy another brand...
I own a 2012 pilot ex-l and for the most part I agree with you guys on the driving aspects of this car. Its slow and sluggish and 9 out of 10 times it hesitates when I make a turn. However, I want to point out that when I test drove the pilot at 2 different dealerships, I drove the touring edition and it felt a lot smoother than my ex-l. That being said, I still believe the pilot is one of the better throw row crossover/suvs out there because it has a useable third row and a user friendly cabin.
Thanks for the comment. We lost much of the in car video unfortunately. FYI: The Pilot struggled up the hill, but it made it. The car's tires and traction control worked against it. It does not like to rock crawl. You have to give it the beans and build up momentum which is not ideal for any sort of serious off-roading. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for another entertaining review! We have an '06 Pilot that we've loved but are ready to trade in. I thought I wanted a new Pilot until I watched this. Now I'll look for a review of the Tahoe.
....for the consumer market. You made a good decision in buying a Pilot cause it'll be dependable and maintain resale value...reasons while A LOT of others have done the same. TFL, as well as many others, just wished Honda would stop holding back, especially on folks like you and I who really like the Honda brand. But thankfully, with Toyotoa's lead, Honda will return to its roots.....if you build it, they will come.
I am surprised that they didn't touch on the VCM engine issue..... are they still having problems with the VCM Engine.... such as rough running, oil burning, shuddering, vibration, etc?? I know they had a class action lawsuit that Honda Lost, but don't know if the issues were corrected/solved.
If you're going to insult us on size: I'm a step below gargantuan (stocky/chunky) and Roman is two steps under (beefy/big). We test the vehicles as the automaker supplies them. The fact that they perform well off road is a testament to their traction control/AWD systems. You want to insult me? Fine - but leave the vehicles out of it, they entertain and inform other viewers.
Now me just watching this and it being 9 years after this was published on UA-cam and that Pilot only had 500ish miles when they drove it. Where is that blue Pilot now?? I want to know lol
I don't understand the embittered comments. Granted I don't own a Honda Pilot but I've been on 1 and they're not bad at all. As Nathan himself says they're well-built, can be expected to last long, and drives down the road great. "Plain Jane" as it may be I don't think it's that big a deal either. Regardless, I don't see how this review is misleading in any way.
Yup both this and the 4runner need major engine and transmission overhauls. Both are still sporting the 5 speeds. Supposedly the 2015 pilot is going to be completely new but we'll see.
Niwaiver, this review isn't biased. TFL is simply pointing out the obvious...that Honda is underachieving itself and can do so much better. This isn't to say that the Pilot, or any Honda, isn't good; it's quite the opposite. Hondas will continue to sell and be dependable, and maintain resale value. However, they are simply no longer the leaders in their segments. They've allowed other manufacturers to catch up, if not surpass them in vehicle design and innovation for the cu
I think you missed alot of points about this car that makes it earn it's "top in class" ratings from people like autoguide, and KBB. first off, it has best in class gas mileage. 0-60 at sea level is 7.8 MAXIMUM and im almost certain above sea level wont be over 8.8 if you turn the TCS off, because it automatically cuts full throttle power to the front wheels and sucks up the launch. i agree honda needs a third gen pilot.this tows alot, is amazingly stable, drives PERFECTLY, and makes great power
I'm actually trying to choose one between Pilot and the new Pathfinder. I really hope you guys can help comment on the engines and the transmissions of the two. I'm concerned about the CVT of Pathfinder and don't like the style of Pilot. Hard to decide.
I like lots of Toyotas, Mazdas, Hondas, MINIs, Mercedes-Benzs, BMWs, Audis, a few Nissans, two Mitsubishis and three Subarus. Dig on Jaguars, Rovers and Aston Martin too. Oh, I like Italian cars too. I also like the color British Racing Green, Black Sabbath (they're British) and Sushi. I like you too Nelson - you have a cool name.
The Pilot is simply an old car that needs a redesign. That said, it is still typical Honda in that it will always get you home no matter what. That may not be flashy or stylish but it is secure and safe which shouldn't be underestimated, particularly given this vehicle's demographic. I'd feel very confident putting my wife and daughter in this car. Also loved the video guys because, God damn it, I'm an American and I'm freeeeee! Yeehaw!
the gargantuan comment was made by your co presenter when you were climbing into the back of the vehicle.I am not into insulting anyone online or in real.
Nathan, yea I did see that pathfinder go up the hill and all but it was a nissan approved route, take it up the hill in colorado ! Now that is sight to see. Btw you took ford and chevy up there but not the pathfinder, I want to see how that ground clearance hold up. On different note... No minivans? Some of them come as AWD haha
The system worked well, although it doesn't like having a wheel off the ground. It was fantastic on snow and loose dirt - slick boulders... no so much.
I think all VW engines are great. The new 1.8t, 2.0t, 2.0 TDI, 3.0 V6 TDI, 3.6 VR6 are all the engines in north america now and they are all fantastic!
I think this review was very biased! I've owned a 2006 Pilot, a 4WD 2009 Pilot, and now I own a 4WD 2012 Pilot. I've driven the Suburban for a month (Gas guzzling School Bus), and an Explorer for 4. I can say that there have not been many changes throughout the years when it comes to the Pilot, but the manufacturer is aiming for practicality and UTILITY (Hence the term Sport UTILITY Vehicle). Yes, my 2012 Pilot has less "Punch" than my 2009 did, but they added more torque for obvious reasons. If you want a vehicle that will give you great 0-60 acceleration numbers, get a sports car and don't test it a MILE above sea level! The big deal during this test was "Can the Pilot (with street tires) make it up the hill? You know, the hill with loose dirt, rocks, and a steep incline?" Well it made it and not one word was mentioned about how well it performed that task! Instead we were distracted with an abandoned MINE! C'mon guys! Folks who purchase this vehicle don't purchase it for its looks. Do you think Hummer owners care if their vehicle isn't a sexy little Minx? NO! Same here. This vehicle offers TONS of storage space and is awesome on road trips! Drop down the 3rd row of seats and you CAN fit fat boy and his golf clubs back there together! It seats 8 People and I have a family of 7! (With their gear). I've dropped down the 2nd and 3rd row of seats and fit a 6ft Christmas tree back there without having to adjust the front seats at all! The trunk floor opens up to offer extra storage and there are power outlets, stowage hooks, etc. EVERYWHERE! I live and work on a Military installation and I've taken this thing off road with my kids inside and we had a BLAST! The area was wide and open, so I put the pedal down and watched the smiles grow from the back seat. You CAN have fun in this vehicle. Trust me. It serves us well as a school bus, a road trip vehicle, and a fun off road champion. I've driven by MANY vehicles stuck in at least 3 feet of snow like it was a nice summer day.... WITH street tires! Not off road tires. Besides the fact that I'd like my standard roof rack back... I wouldn't change a thing. Review the vehicle for what it DOES. Not what you wished it did. Because what it does, it does it WELL! Just look at how many of these things are on the road today!!!
And that's my 2 cents!
umad cuz u hav shitty car umad b0s
They are absolutely biased idiots!
Thank you!
Well said. And I agree 100%. I like it’s truck like look.
It’s just a tough reliable, well made vehicle that does exactly what it’s supposed to and it beats the snot out of the other vehicles mentioned in terms of reliability...save the Toyota, and it’s either equal to it or a very close second ( quality, reliability)
The pilot definitely seems boring at first but after owning one for four years, it's actually quite a fun car to drive.
plus I'm sure it has been reliable, not having all those stupid gadgets that break, cough cough Kia.
seebies Yeah I haven't had any issues at all and I don't think I'll have any major issues in the future.
As an owner of an 06, i can confirm that it is way more fun to drive than the Explorers, Suburbans, Highlanders, and Durangos of the day. They were quicker in corners, had better gas milage, had locking diffs, and were pretty reliable if you maintaimed them right. As they got newer and heavier with minimal drivetrain revisions they kinda got slow, but are still great daily drivers!
it looks boring on the outside...
@@billspangler2685 they do not have a locking diff. It’s a torque distribution system
Hondas last longer then American made cars now do a review on that.
This is true but its also true that american vehicles are actually pushed to the limit (at least truck wise) like you can tow a crap ton in an american truck but for example a ridgline cant tow or haul anything except tampons
Danny Quijada Toyota Tundra V8 is pretty damn close to Fords F150 V8 towing capacity. 10,200 lbs vs 11,600 lbs. Ford pick ups are great I’m not arguing that. It’s the one Vehicle type that the U.S. still makes well. Can’t say that Ford doesn’t make a solid truck and they even ride nice now too, almost like luxury vehicles.
@@skopa1223 I agree 100% bud.... Toyotas are made in U.S so it falls under american truck catigory I'm just arguin bout hondas and nissans
$90 trans cooler and a Ridgeline will pull anything a modular v8 ford truck can. And it will do it smarter in the mud with locking diffs and a better traction control system. Just because you have a v8 does not mean a truck is automatically good at towing. A Pilot/Ridgeline would definitely pull 7500lbs more effectively in a low traction situation. In a highway towing situation it would keep pace with an f150 or silverado of the same year assuming it had a trans cooler which is an option.
300,000 miles on mine and still runs like a champ! It has seen plenty of off road miles with all the abuse it comes with, not only highway miles, and the ONLY thing that ever went wrong on it is the dip stick had to be replaced. Other than that, just fluid changes and brakes is all it has ever needed. This thing feels like it could go for another 300,000 miles easy!
It now has a super high resale value for this Pilot! And it goes off the car lot faster then the current model Pilot!
What SUV out there does not get labeled "soccer mom"? Plus, what is with the frowns faces when an SUV doesn't go zero-to-60 in any amount of seconds? So what...its an SUV, not a sports car. Take damn thing on a trail and or put some off-road tires on it, and do a proper review.
I researched many different SUV's before buying a Pilot. It fit the bill for me for all around use. First, great honda quality and dependability, flexible seating, large interior, able to tow 4500lbs, and gas mileage is best, 24mpg highway, for my needs, no other vehicle can do all of that, period.
Just put my deposit down on a Pilot Touring, i agree, the vehicle is out dated but I did test drive almost every other cross over SUV in the class and not only was it one of the best to drive but none of them had the space that the pilot has. The pilot was the only one who had 3 ancker points on the middle row for car seats and which could actually fit 3 car seats. Cargo space is bigger than every other one by atleast 200L. The thing i did not like about the review is that Nathan had a real bad attitude, it just upset me to watch him bad mouth the vehicle with a dismisive attitude like that after it has been one of the top selling SUV's for the last 5 years. I think he pissed off a lot of people doing that ( I think he owes us all an apology). The Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander are the 2 vehicles who hold their value the best of all the suv's in this class. What i'm trying to get at is that there are a lot of good things to say about the Pilot as well. I do watch a lot of their reviews and will continue to do so, hopefully i won't have this experience again.
The pilot is an amazing looking suv
Other than the 5-speed transmission issue, what else was a problem? For those of us who can't stand the new "cross-over" look of the Highlander and Pathfinder, I find the Pilot to be much more acceptable. I wasn't clear on its off-road capabilities, which I had assumed you guys would talk about more since you found this supposedly awesome high-incline hill, but didn't even mention how it did? Yes, yes, the mine was cool but I'm more interested in how the Pilot did on the road to the mine.
And what was with the "golf-bag" test? Of course if you fold the third row of seats down there is more than enough room, which you guys kind of mumble under your breath. I would venture to guess that most people will have that third row folded down anyways.
I found this a very odd review.
2016 just revealed. It looks like a highlander for the next generation.
Unfortunately that's very true.
I even like the 5 speed.... it shifts firm and always shifts at the right time. It's also kind of funny they joked about the sound because it really doesn't sound that much different than the Accord V6, which they like.
I agree with all you say. I own a Pilot, absolutely love it, and I always have the back row folded down giving me enough room to hold 40 Golf Bags. I think they ranked it way too low and disparaged it as a "soccer mommy van". This is a reliable and safe vehicle. QUITE capable offroad, and an amazing apocalypse vehicle for the family. From Kia tellurides and toyota highlanders. I choose the Pilot. They call the interior, exterior, and technology outdated. I call it reliable.
Update: We ended up buying a 2015 Pilot. Wife drives the hell out of it and it's been pretty reliable. And we made sure to buy it before they changed over to a minivan-SUV hybrid.
You 2 are the furthest from objective. There is a reason this has been the top of its game for years and has been a game changer when it first came out. Only 2 pro ford boys would say this is a bad unit.
Just bought my wife one that's super clean and has 183k miles on it. We love it so far. It's great for us and our 3 young kids. Also in my opinion the thing is pretty snappy when you mash the pedal to the floor. Not so much starting off but when u need to pass someone it seems to shit and git pretty good when it goes into passing gear.
My 2012 Honda Pilot has been a tank. I have traversed all over Colorado in some of the worst conditions possible. With good tires the 4WD system is pretty capable in the snow. Now approaching 100K miles and no repairs beyond general maintenance. This is my wife's daily driver. It is really well designed and well built from looking underneath. Where other manufacturers use rubber hoses, Honda uses SS lines (yeah I'm looking at you domestics!). I've had 8 people in it a few times (short trips with the extended fam) and it is superb at longer road trips with 4 people with massive storage in the back with the two rear seats folded over. A couple of really good things that people don't get - the rear window opens separately from the rear hatch so you can really load it up. Something the newer version (2015+) has eliminated due to cost. I think this will last 250K+ with maintenance (which I do myself - not looking forward to the 100K timing change though). I tow a double wave runner trailer with it and have never had any issues towing moderate loads (3K lbs). Towed a few other trailer's from 2-3K lbs (Uhaul) loaded and it does fine.
This vehicle may not do anything great, but it does everything good. Other than Toyota (I also own) it will outlast all the other manufacturers easily and with less overall cost. Oh, and so you don't think I have too much bias, also have Ford, Chevy, BMW (ugh - never again, even with do it yourself maintenance it is waaayyy to complicated and expensive, but it's a 2 seater highly modded toy. Need a significant scan tool just to change the battery!) - ah, yes, kids of driving age add a lot of vehicles.
Plus, while this is an older review, I really like your channel. I think you have really gotten better over the years with your reviews. Keep up the great work!
Been shopping for this SUV and prices have been going up! I know I should of purchase it new but I thought it would go down but the new Pilot looks like a minivan!
Should of?! Can anyone translate?
+Justin B I just thought that this 2015 Pilot would have depreciated more because new model redesign for 2016 instead the old model Pilot price have appreciated stead!
+HW2800 Sorry for the bad sentence and grammar but iPad grammar does this! LOL!
Ya I'm glad we got ours when we did!
Honda made a mistake with the 3rd Gen pilot... It really is just an Oddasy with a bench seat
My family has a Pathfinder and a Pilot. The Pathfinder has lots of low end torque compared to the Pilot and the Pilot sucks on take offs that first gear is terrible but we prefer the Pilot Honda quality, Ride comfort, and all around Styling
You guys set off my gaydar at high alert. The sexual tension in this review is off the charts. I bet you guys played Brokeback Mountain on that trail.
My dear Pilot Haters,
I do agree with the boxy design of the new Pilot, which Honda will likely come out with a fresh design like the new Acura MDX. But Boxy design contributes to more head and shoulder room. I own a 2013 pilot EXL 4WD, very impressed with the utility. With 2 gigantic car seats in 2nd row seat i do have plenty of room to fit myself (5' 9" 190 Lbs) between those contraptions. The cargo area hold a mini changing station, a play area for 1 yr old and 2 yr old, and to top it off a big a** dual stroller. I still have room to throw in groceries and diaper boxes. I get an impressive 27mpg on the highway and not so great 18mpg in the city on full load.
Love the utility and the ride.
Honda never tries to be best at anything, but they do damn well at everything they're supposed to. That's better than most of the competition can say. My 4th gen Accord coupe STILL is modern, and is good at everything it's supposed to do.
In order to see a Honda Pilot perform off-road I have to suffer through Roman's speech.
honda is practicality and reliability, which is KING in this segment
The pilot is a great car
I would not subscribe to these guys, they are so biased. These are not reviews, they test to see how fast they can go. How many people buy car to do 0-60?
only the lowest IQ people wold care about 0-60
Vincent Dale A joke of a review. Very biased against the Pilot for some reason. Will not subscribe and will not watch anymore of their videos.
Lol, I know right Naveen Bhatt , I used to watch them until I see how the operate. They are very biased against imports, especially Japanese. All they look for is HP
Indeed Naveen Bhatt
The shape is a manly shape, and now almost everything its sofisticaded
Great review. Honda is Honda period. They are under whelming in the power and speed and simple. And unbeatable quality super solid and just goes and goes. Love that truck.
I've taken mine to some pretty sketchy trails in the adirondacks and must say I'm quite impressed with it. I only ever got it stuck once, and it took about 3ft deep snow to do it! Was able to dig it out and back down the trail; would definitely recommend
Had mine since 2005 when I bought it new. 130K on the clock now, and besides a battery, tires, oil, timing belt change, I've has no (as in literally ZERO) issues with the vehicle. The AWD does the job well. I drove 250 miles in a crazy snowstorm from Cary NC to Charlotte NC a few years back and did it at 50mph, when there were dozens of cars in the ditch and 'real' SUVs were driving at 15mph because they were all over the place. VTM4 works very well. Just stop comparing it to traditional front and rear live axle 4x4's. It aint that. But what it is is a damn good AWD system that will get you out of 99% of what you find yourself in, and 90% of shit you should of never driven into in the first place. And it doesn't ride like an old 4x4 either. Been there, done that. Newer ones are better, but they still ride like a covered wagon by comparison.
Oh the irony...given the newest models don't even have electronic 4WD. To those who say the pre-2016's are not 4WD you are wrong plain and simple. The newest 2016 Pilot's are ABSOLUTELY disguised Honda Odysseys. I have owned Jeep Wranglers (low end sports to hight end Rubicons) I have owned older Cherokees and currently have a 2015 Cherokee Trailhawk...and let me tell you the previous Pilots definitely qualify with the VTM4 feature as 4WD. Is it Wrangler quality off road? Hell no...but it will do the job much better than most AWD vehicles and likely much better than the 2016 Pilots.
Honda vehicles have a certain nostalgic aura to them, especially older ones. The way the switches feel and sound, the lay out of the dash.... the shape are unmistakable once you've owned that model, you can tell within a few years when it was made or what trim it is. I personally buy Honda vehicles because resale value even at high k is there if you've taken care of it.
I have a 2012 2WD, I too would say Lease It. It needs to keep the boxy styling, the reason being you can fit two adults in the 3rd row. Needs at least 6 speeds. Needs to lose the solid grey or solid beige interior. 3rd row seats need more bottom padding. Needs an integrated blind spot mirror or offer blind spot monitoring. The NAV screen looks ancient. FYI load the cargo area if you have the 3rd row up via the glass rear hatch. Should have showed the cargo area with the 3rd row down.
I have a Honda pilot myself and even though it only has a 5-speed automatic and the gas mileage isn't great, it is still a very practical and spacious SUV.
Bought a Highlander new in 2014, totaled in 2024 at 186k miles. Used the insurance check to get a 2013 Pilot touring with 160k miles. Now I think Pilot > Highlander. Tougher than you think!
What an awful, biased review. You can tell that the fat boy of the crew does not like the car from the get go because he just doesn't like the car. The pilot could have gone up some crazy offroad trail and he would have still hated it. I take my pilot offroad all the time across "fields of boulders" and sandy washes in the Mojave desert. It handles just fine. I even had to towstrap a Rubicon out once.
Problem with this dude is pee pee size is too small so he doesn't think anything other than a Jeep or 4Runner can go offroad. I used to take my 2WD Ford Explorer off-road all the time. It's all about the driver. It has 4WD and it's going to be good for anybody going out to the boonies.
After owning the car for 8 years I’d say buy it and ignore this video, although they bring up good points it’s a fun and reliable car.
This was the first TFL video I have ever seen. Can’t believe it was also the first video for Gold Mine Hill. I watched this originally because my dad was getting this car and he’s had it for 5 years now. I’m sad that Gold Mine Hill is gone now. I miss the old days.
These guys are looking at the Honda Pilot with the wrong perspective. I have a 2007 Pilot with 160,000 miles on it. It runs extremely well, allows me to go off-road (light duty) and still have an extremely reliable vehicle. The Pilot serves me well.
We just test drove it earlier today. Agree 100%. Solid, slow and plain.
If it doesn't excel in any category, it's the ultimate SUV.
I'm going for a 2006 lx awd, and going with aggressive all-terrain tires for mild offroading, and when I can afford it, a hitch mounted portable winch....and no kiddies will be allowed in my ride, this will be my work vehicle!
Thanks for the comment. You are obviously a fan. That's fine, but the Pilot is ancient in automotive terms. It hasn't really changed since 2008. That means it was designed back in 2005 or so for 2008. That makes it at least 8-years-old. Sorry but that's just too long in the tooth to be competitive with brand news cars that now offer 8 and even 9 speed transmissions, direct injection, turbos, hybrid drive...we could go on.
The Fast Lane Car yet the vehicle is still very popular
so it made it up the difficult hill on street tires?
For 2015, Honda should lighten the body on frame design, keep the same ride height, more standard technology, put styling on just headlights, tail lights, and mirrors, add a 6 speed automatic transmission, and have the same 2nd row seat functions as the Acura MDX. Pilot should be kept as a SUV, not a shopping mall crossover.
I own a 2014 Honda Pilot for 7 years and love the way it looks and drives. Actually every bit of it.
I feel great about the view I get to drive, the smoothness and engine feel and sound of it.
0 issues in 7 years.
Majority people don’t live or drive off-road on a daily basis. For occasional fun this is good enough.
Similar line Toyota 4 runner is amazing but around 10k more
Roman and Nathan, you guys are too honest! That's why my family loves TFL car! Good job, keep it up!
Love all these comments but everyone is spelling a certain word wrong. It’s “BIASED” not “BIAS.” About to buy my first Pilot (I want a 2013, -14, or -15), and I can’t wait!
I've had a 2011 pilot since 2012. Not a quick vehicle or great on gas milage. Its a good road trip vehicle, smooth, runs good, good tow capacity, roomy for what it is. Great in the snow and light offroading. I would not treat it lime it was a jeep. I like it, getting ready to install the 3rd timing belt. I figuered it will last 400k.
I have a 2004 pilot and I love it and its better looking then the 2014 pilot.If they don't change the pilot for 2015 I am gonna have to buy another brand...
Honda needs to go back to the 06 model I think it looks better, comes with awd with vtm 4 lock option
My 2011 honda pilot does 8.9sec 0-60 with the K&N filter in it, and i like it
I own a 2012 pilot ex-l and for the most part I agree with you guys on the driving aspects of this car. Its slow and sluggish and 9 out of 10 times it hesitates when I make a turn. However, I want to point out that when I test drove the pilot at 2 different dealerships, I drove the touring edition and it felt a lot smoother than my ex-l. That being said, I still believe the pilot is one of the better throw row crossover/suvs out there because it has a useable third row and a user friendly cabin.
Thanks for the comment. We lost much of the in car video unfortunately. FYI: The Pilot struggled up the hill, but it made it. The car's tires and traction control worked against it. It does not like to rock crawl. You have to give it the beans and build up momentum which is not ideal for any sort of serious off-roading. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for another entertaining review! We have an '06 Pilot that we've loved but are ready to trade in. I thought I wanted a new Pilot until I watched this. Now I'll look for a review of the Tahoe.
Great review of the Honda Pilot. I love the Saab T-shirt too!!
I like Honda's subtle and conservative styling.
hey guys, have u ever done a review on a 2013 or older toyota highlander?
Good to know! Thanks for replying back. I really enjoy this and the FLT channel!
....for the consumer market. You made a good decision in buying a Pilot cause it'll be dependable and maintain resale value...reasons while A LOT of others have done the same. TFL, as well as many others, just wished Honda would stop holding back, especially on folks like you and I who really like the Honda brand. But thankfully, with Toyotoa's lead, Honda will return to its roots.....if you build it, they will come.
You should review the 2015 Honda Pilot SE.
I’ve got a 2013 pilot, it’s awesome
I love my pilot no matter what anyone says😂
When uneducated and ignorant people do car reviews!
How's the ride of the Pilot compared to the Durango? It seems that you would feel the bumps more in the Durango.
Worst.review.ever.
I am surprised that they didn't touch on the VCM engine issue..... are they still having problems with the VCM Engine.... such as rough running, oil burning, shuddering, vibration, etc?? I know they had a class action lawsuit that Honda Lost, but don't know if the issues were corrected/solved.
So where are you at in the Lincoln project ?
If you're going to insult us on size: I'm a step below gargantuan (stocky/chunky) and Roman is two steps under (beefy/big). We test the vehicles as the automaker supplies them. The fact that they perform well off road is a testament to their traction control/AWD systems. You want to insult me? Fine - but leave the vehicles out of it, they entertain and inform other viewers.
this is so much better with just the two of you!!!
Now me just watching this and it being 9 years after this was published on UA-cam and that Pilot only had 500ish miles when they drove it. Where is that blue Pilot now?? I want to know lol
You guys should do a review on a 2014 Honda Ridgeline.
I like the casualness of this video. Nice change
I get 21 combined with the 2WD. Nitrogen in the tires & a drop in K&N filter is all I did. 60% Freeway / 40% City
I don't understand the embittered comments. Granted I don't own a Honda Pilot but I've been on 1 and they're not bad at all. As Nathan himself says they're well-built, can be expected to last long, and drives down the road great. "Plain Jane" as it may be I don't think it's that big a deal either. Regardless, I don't see how this review is misleading in any way.
i want to see u guys do the same kind of review but with the new rdx
Yup both this and the 4runner need major engine and transmission overhauls. Both are still sporting the 5 speeds. Supposedly the 2015 pilot is going to be completely new but we'll see.
please do a drive and review of the honda ridgeline
hey mr. trunk man, saab is back in business.
Niwaiver, this review isn't biased. TFL is simply pointing out the obvious...that Honda is underachieving itself and can do so much better. This isn't to say that the Pilot, or any Honda, isn't good; it's quite the opposite. Hondas will continue to sell and be dependable, and maintain resale value. However, they are simply no longer the leaders in their segments. They've allowed other manufacturers to catch up, if not surpass them in vehicle design and innovation for the cu
Hi guys, are you gonna do a review on 2014 4runner limited? Thank you!
i wanna ask you guys, is 250 hp and 330 torques good for an suv ?
I think you missed alot of points about this car that makes it earn it's "top in class" ratings from people like autoguide, and KBB. first off, it has best in class gas mileage. 0-60 at sea level is 7.8 MAXIMUM and im almost certain above sea level wont be over 8.8 if you turn the TCS off, because it automatically cuts full throttle power to the front wheels and sucks up the launch. i agree honda needs a third gen pilot.this tows alot, is amazingly stable, drives PERFECTLY, and makes great power
Glad I got my new Mazda cx-9 I have an 2001 accord and I wanted to stick with Honda but I was not feeling the pilot, my cx-9 is a pleasure to drive.
How did you find it in comparison to the Traverse?
My 2006 honda pilot is great out lives anything you'll end up buying
I'm actually trying to choose one between Pilot and the new Pathfinder. I really hope you guys can help comment on the engines and the transmissions of the two. I'm concerned about the CVT of Pathfinder and don't like the style of Pilot. Hard to decide.
Next time I will. I can say with all honesty that the Nissan Pathfinder does incredibly well in snow.
Do You guys use the 4k gopro cameras?
I like that, you show us this mine.
But, is US a really free country?
Many people aren't sure about that.
pretty much 24/7. Thanks for watching!
I like lots of Toyotas, Mazdas, Hondas, MINIs, Mercedes-Benzs, BMWs, Audis, a few Nissans, two Mitsubishis and three Subarus. Dig on Jaguars, Rovers and Aston Martin too. Oh, I like Italian cars too. I also like the color British Racing Green, Black Sabbath (they're British) and Sushi. I like you too Nelson - you have a cool name.
Time has proven you were wrong about the honda , this car was built like a tank and this what matters for most of peaple , reliable and lasting car
Are you guys planning on reviewing the new Outlander?
The Pilot is simply an old car that needs a redesign. That said, it is still typical Honda in that it will always get you home no matter what. That may not be flashy or stylish but it is secure and safe which shouldn't be underestimated, particularly given this vehicle's demographic. I'd feel very confident putting my wife and daughter in this car. Also loved the video guys because, God damn it, I'm an American and I'm freeeeee! Yeehaw!
the gargantuan comment was made by your co presenter when you were climbing into the back of the vehicle.I am not into insulting anyone online or in real.
All of your tests should include an Ike run at the max GVWR ! Vote thumbs up so Roman will notice !
Like the review. I agree with the styling. Like the previous generation better. Keep up the good work guys.
Please do a reviw of the 2014 mitsubishi outlander
Still no redesign in 2015...What was Honda thinking?
Nathan, yea I did see that pathfinder go up the hill and all but it was a nissan approved route, take it up the hill in colorado ! Now that is sight to see. Btw you took ford and chevy up there but not the pathfinder, I want to see how that ground clearance hold up. On different note... No minivans? Some of them come as AWD haha
The system worked well, although it doesn't like having a wheel off the ground. It was fantastic on snow and loose dirt - slick boulders... no so much.
I haven't seen Nathan LOVE a Honda review ...
I think all VW engines are great. The new 1.8t, 2.0t, 2.0 TDI, 3.0 V6 TDI, 3.6 VR6 are all the engines in north america now and they are all fantastic!