2009 Honda Pilot Consumer Reviews

2009 Pilot

Written by: beth on 10/28/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV 4WD w/Nav (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Because I lease a new car every 3 years and because I research everything there is to know about a car, I can honestly say that this is one of the best SUVs on the market today. The ride is great and it is comfortable enough for a 6'4" 250 lb. guy. It holds the family and everything you want to haul and its residual value is far greater than its competitors.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

rear windshield wiper

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Happy with Honda!

Written by: happyhonda on 10/28/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot LX 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

This is our second Pilot, our first was a 2004 EX and we loved that pilot! So we have comparison experience! First of all this is our 5th Honda in 10 years and have never had an issue out of some small recalls. This new pilot drives and is more comfortable than our 04. For an LX model it comes loaded with features. The power is OK but my wife drives it mainly so she thinks it's good enough. The seats are more supportive and comfortable. The steering is tighter without that small dead spot that the 04 seemed to have.

Favorite Features

Tow package standard. Ride. Quality. Reliability. The chiseled looks.

Suggested Improvements

Wiring Harness! It's like a cheeseburger without the cheese and the cheese costs $135. XM radio should be standard! Don't you think Sirius/XM would want the extra revenue from the LX models too?

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Very uncomfortable seats

Written by: John Fairborn on 10/19/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I'm 6ft 4in, with a 34 inch waist -- not that big, but I find the driver's seat very uncomfortable. It's too small and the outside ridges are too hard. I've driven older Honda Pilots and liked them, which is one reason we bought a new one. Don't know what they changed, but it was not for the better. My wife has no problem, but if you're my size, or larger, beware.

Favorite Features

Suggested Improvements

Redesign the seats!!!! Add a manual lock switch in the back, next to rear tailgate, so after taking something out of the back one doesn't have to reach in pocket, find the key, and lock car with remote.

2 out 3 people found this review helpful

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I like it

Written by: franK DURAND on 10/19/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV w/Rear Entertainment (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Purchased in Jan 09 after much looking and reading. I read so many complaints about the styling that I almost did not buy it. I traded a Landcruiser because I was looking for something with better gas mileage, and economy. I love my Pilot. Once you are in the car, you forget about the boxy style. I am getting twice the gas mileage as in my previous car. It is a safe, fun , reliable car to drive. I bought the 4wd for traveling off road later. I plan to keep my Pilot for many years. Service has been very good.

Favorite Features

Seat comfort, mileage, switching to 3 cyl, room for storage, handles well on the road.

Suggested Improvements

Okay, redesign the front grill, more like the 08, improve the road noise.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Too truck-like

Written by: Louielouie on 10/09/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Just returned from a 3500 mile trip. At real world Interstate speeds (75-76 mph) I was able to squeeze out 21.5 mpg. A bit low but this is a big box! Suspension is a bit too stiff and with a truck type tire and stiffer steering than our previous two vehicles ('07 Pacifica & '02 Highlander) you never feel like you're 'part of the vehicle'. Bucket seats are firm but comfortable. Plenty of cubby holes and storage compartments but interior trim materials are hard to the touch and unattractive. Sound system is just 'OK'. '02 Highlander sound system has better features. Glad we leased. Engine Mgmt. system works well. No discernible sensation when system shuts down or turns on cylinders.

Favorite Features

Storage space. Front seats.

Suggested Improvements

Better grade of interior finishes. Rear camera image difficult to view in bright sunlight. Radar sensor back-up system more useful.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Great Value, deceptive fuel mileage

Written by: dollar_savvy on 09/21/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV 4WD w/Nav (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I have had my '09 pilot, touring, 4WD since May 2009 now. We love the interior space with 8 seats. We do not like the plastic on dash board and the whitish center console backing. The Handling can use a lot of work but it's a Honda, I guess they think that I will be spending another $20k to make it look/feel like a BMW anyways so why bother. :-) I really did not think that their EPA mileage will be that much off. It says 16/20/18 (city/highway/combined avg), but I am getting just about 250 miles for a full tank of gas, that's about 12/MPG. WOW!!!!

Favorite Features

You name it, it has it! My fav comment to anyone who asks about the "touring pkg".

Suggested Improvements

Replace the hard plastic on doors/dash/center console with padded material. Replace or give options for the white plastic under audio buttons. THE WORST OF ALL!!!!! GIVE at least CLOSE TO what the actual MPG will be. VERY DECEPTIVE!!!!

9 out 9 people found this review helpful

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I Love It

Written by: K.Black on 09/19/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

I've had my Pilot about 7 months now and have had it on a 3000 mile trip to Colorado and back (I live in California). The Pilot has plenty of power even in the mountains I averaged 23.4 mpg on that trip even with the cruise set at 75mph (which is the legal speed limit in Nevada, Utah and Colorado on the Freeways). I did take it out of cruise when climbing long grades the transmission shifts too much if left in cruise....I was driving 12 hour days and did not get tired at all the Pilot is very comfortable....even around town I get little better than 15 mpg. It does drift to the right if you take your hands off the wheel. But most 4WD's I have driven do the same thing. I'm very happy with my Pilot.

Favorite Features

I do like the mpg feature on the odometer, the rear A/C outlets are a nice feature also.

Suggested Improvements

Better visibility on the sides too many blind spots. Make the rearview camera standard equipment, and if you're putting a trailer hitch on it at least have it wired for it...

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Excellent Vehicle So Far

Written by: Dave on 09/01/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV 4WD w/Nav (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Looked at the Toyota Highlander and Mazda CX-9, which simply did not stand up to the size and features of the 2009 remodeled Pilot. Bought the Pilot in September of 2008, and have been very happy so far with no problems. Towed a tent camper trailer without any problems -- hardly knew the trailer was behind us -- did not have any issues with sway.

Favorite Features

Very smooth driving with good visibility over the hood. Enjoy the hands-free bluetooth feature -- the clarity on phone calls is superb. Also enjoy the dual front zone climate control. Love the dash-mounted shifter which frees up storage room between the front seats.

Suggested Improvements

Road noise level is above average. The voice recognition system can be frustrating at times. Even with the Touring model, you still need to buy a tow kit consisting of the ball, extension mount and locking pin ($150). Considering the cost of the Touring model, it should come with this standard.

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Verry happy

Written by: happy on 08/25/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

We looked around very hard before buying our Pilot and we believe that we got the best for our money. Sure there are other SUV that are better in some areas but the Pilot got our vote because overall it had the most for the money. It stops very fast if you are driving at high speed. It rides smooth compare to others. It is roomier than others and it carries a lot more than what the brochure says, trust me we have tried. Fuel consumption is better than what the brochure says. It does get 25mpg on the highway and fully loaded with 5 people it still gets 24mpg. We just love it.

Favorite Features

3rd row seat has a lots of room. Rearview camera and the ability to pull our 20 foot boat without a problem. By the way that gas mileage is still 17mpg.

Suggested Improvements

Better front look.

10 out 10 people found this review helpful

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New SUV Owner

Written by: New SUV Owner on 08/16/2009

Vehicle

2009 Honda Pilot EX-L 4dr SUV 4WD w/Rear Entertainment (3.5L 6cyl 5A)

Review

Before buying this, I did long test drives of Toyota Highlander and Pilot back to back. Although the Highlander has better looks, pickup and performance, the steering response was non-existent, it was like playing a video game. Also, the space after the last row on the Highlander was minimal, and the last row did not have a split seat. Pilot on the other hand did not have great pickup, but once you get to the highway speeds, it performed remarkably well. The ride quality and steering response were excellent. The utility factor is awesome, with 110v outlet, ipod link etc. Also, I sat much more comfortably and had a better view of the road than the Highlander. Overall a great family SUV.

Favorite Features

The ride quality, rear camera, Rear Entertainment System, steering response, climatic control and the Eco Drive feature, where the Pilot can run on a lower number of cylinders when all 6 are not required. The enhanced frame containing lot more steel to improve safety.

Suggested Improvements

Improve Gas Mileage and add a few more Horse Power. I get about 19MPG in city, and 22 on Highway. I got about 23 MPG going at about 65. Any faster than that, the MPG drops sharply. When climbing hills, the Pilot loses speed and does not keep up.

8 out 8 people found this review helpful

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