2005 Honda Pilot Consumer Reviews Page 9

Couldn't be Happier

Written by: Dave on 10/08/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Honda quality throughout. Tons of room. All three rows have plenty of space. I was amazed at the ride - I expected it to ride like a truck, but the smoothness and quiet are better than my old Lincoln Towncar. Acceleration is excellent. Extremely solid, safe feel. All the bells and whistles of a luxury car. Outlets are everywhere, pockets and nooks and crannies for storage all around you. Center console is so huge, I can fit TWO gallons of milk. A remarkable vehicle. Gas mileage is poor: I get 15mpg city.

Favorite Features

Climate control, comfortable third row, acceleration and ride characteristics. Tight turning radius makes parking as easy as if it was a compact.

Suggested Improvements

Weatherstripping at top of rear window is falling off - I've seen it on other Pilots, too. Gas mileage is poor. A sunroof would be a nice option.

0 out 1 people found this review helpful

Report It

2005 Pilot EX-L

Written by: Bucky on 10/07/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV w/Leather (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I've had this vehicle for 6 months and 9000 miles. The vehicle is extremely peppy. The horsepower is rated at 255. I think the 2006 Pilot is rated at 240. Can this be right? My Pilot is white and has the rear A/C and all windows are tinted. It was one hot summer here in Dallas and this thing kept me cool. A $9 oscillating fan in the back helps things too. I've had two four wheel drive adventures in the Pilot. The first one was in 5 inch deep mud. I was nervous and put the VTM 4 switch on. The Pilot pulled out of the mud fairly easily. The second time was yesterday in some damp grass and I'm guessing a 30 degree angle. It went right up twice. Once with the VTM off and then with the VTM off.

Favorite Features

Great Air-Conditioner! Good Acceleration Good Visibility Good Horn Good Headlights even though Consumer Reports rated them as some of the worst they had tested.

Suggested Improvements

Bigger Battery... I left the interior lights on one day and was rewarded with a dead battery the next morning. Why didn't they auto shut off like my last 4 year old vehicle? When I hit the remote keyfob unlock button, I want it to open all doors on the vehicle. At least have a user selectable option

Report It

Wins for its use of interior space

Written by: Mike on 10/07/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV w/Leather, Navigation (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

We test drove all the midsize SUV's looking for one with economical V6 power, good looks, and ample interior space. The Pilot won the contest for its excellent use of space on the inside. 8-person capacity (assuming some of those 8 are kids), a plethora of storage places, and fold-flat rear seats. While I am not a fan of column shifters, it allowed Honda to really make the center console useful. The exterior styling is so-so. The navigation system is touch-screen and fully operable while driving (for better or worse) but otherwise pales in comparison to the Pathfinder's. The Pathfinder also trumps the Pilot with regards to performance. The Pilot can handle light-to-moderate off-road use.

Favorite Features

Interior roominess and storage space, generally car-like ride, reasonably economical V6 with decent power, rear windows roll all the way down, touch-screen navigation.

Suggested Improvements

Better exterior design, less body roll in corners, variable cylinder management (VCM), improved seats, better graphics in navigation system.

Report It

Great Vehicle

Written by: damatsam on 10/07/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV w/Leather (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Bought this vehicle after my daughter bought a CR-V. The ride is very smooth, better than expected. Wind noise is a little annoying, but you get use to it. Gas mileage is not all that great. Overall, I am very satisfied with my vehicle.

Favorite Features

Ride, sound system, interior room, heated seats and outside mirrors.

Suggested Improvements

Wiper switch is inconvenient, I have turned wipers on when turning steering wheel.

Report It

Pilot class AA

Written by: tfxm1 on 10/05/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

A great vehicle with great road feel and quiet, great performance. it's very comfortable and seats eight! My wife loves it!! Easy to drive and a pleasure in traffic

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Report It

Great Buy! We love our Pilot!

Written by: Ryan on 10/04/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

We bought this vehicle to take a 21 hour road trip while my husband was deployed. My daughter (3 years old), our dog and I piled up in the Pilot with enough stuff to be away from home for 8 months. The space inside of the vehicle is great. You can pile a lot of stuff in it and there are many places to store things (like breakables or liquids). We didn't get the Pilot with the DVD player but had one installed at Best Buy and love it. I didn't want to pay for leather seats to get a DVD player. Gas mileage was a little disappointing but it does get the mileage it claims it will. I can get better mileage if I use cruise control. Vehicle has good power. Sits higher then other SUV's.

Favorite Features

Very spacious. Lots of cup holders and power outlets. Great for a busy person. We can throw things in the back of the vehicle and not worry about the space that is taken up. I like that it sits higher then a few others in it's class.

Suggested Improvements

Gas mileage. Although it does get the gas mileage it claims. Many other mid sized SUV's get better gas mileage then this one. With gas being $2.75 a gallon, this is the only drawback of our Pilot.

Report It

Family Vehicle for Everything

Written by: Evan on 10/01/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV w/Leather, Rear Entertainment (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

This is an excellent choice for families on the go that often take children on long trips. The seats are comfortable, the visibility is great, and the power/ fuel economy trade-off is just about right. May feel a bit clumsy at high speeds, but it's always secure ride. It is annoying that you have to get leather to get most of the extras (sunroof, Vehicle Stability Assist) but the value is definitely still there. The third row is far more liveable in Pilot than the Toyota Highlander.

Favorite Features

The control of the DVD system from 3 places-- the screen, the remote, and most importantly the driver's seat-- makes it easy to play movies for smaller children, and the wireless headphones are great for older kids. The rear auxillary ports can be used to connect an iPod to the stereo.

Suggested Improvements

A hefty curb weight and weak low-end torque means the transmission is constantly shifting from 4th to 5th, but its so smooth you usually won't notice. The column shifter is awfully close to the knee for taller driver's (I'm 6'5). Would be nice if the front seat headrests adjusted.

Report It

Know what you want

Written by: road rat on 09/26/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV w/Leather (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Just purchased a Honda Pilot recently. The interior lacks the creature comforts that Toyota gives you - like a front passenger seat that is electric. We like the Pilot vs. Toyota Highlander because it is a bit larger and the 3rd seat can actually seat a person. I still like my Toyota Sequoia better - go with it if you want a smooth ride and don't mind paying big bucks for gas. The DVD entertainment system on the Pilot is great for the kids though.

Favorite Features

DVD, and larger cargo area than the Highlander. Split 3rd row seat.

Suggested Improvements

Armrests for the front seat, electric seat for front passenger, more options.

Report It

excellent

Written by: satisfied customer on 09/24/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Great in the snow. Seats eight people. Good sound system. Nice dashboard. Nice ride

Favorite Features

AWD

Suggested Improvements

Report It

Love our Pilot!

Written by: sg101 on 09/13/2005

Vehicle

2005 Honda Pilot EX 4WD 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

We took our new Pilot for a weekend trip, and it was so nice to have. The ride is smooth and there was plenty of seating and storage. Passengers can easily get in and out of the Pilot, and it sat 7 adults comfortably. The middle console easily held our portable DVD player since we didn't purchase the Entertainment package, and it has plenty of outlets. This is the nicest vehicle we have ever owned.

Favorite Features

passengers can enter 3rd row from either side (2nd row moves on both sides), part of the 2nd row reclines, plenty of outlets and spacious.

Suggested Improvements

Need to offer a moonroof with cloth seats, make outdoor handles the same color as the exterior (they're black on all models), and not enough room for a stroller if 8 people are in the car.

Report It