2009 Honda Pilot Prototype

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What is it?
2009 Honda Pilot Prototype

What's special about it?
Honda reckons that it once ruled the three-row crossover roost. At least back when the Pilot debuted as a 2003 model, it kind of did.

Times have changed, and so will the Pilot when the production version lands in the spring of 2008. With the Mazda CX-9 and GMC Acadia/Buick Enclave/Saturn Outlook adopting the same formula for "big three-row unibody powered by a V6," plus smaller crossovers abounding, the field is looking pretty crowded.

But it's not as if Honda is going to bust out with a twin-turbocharged V12 or build a body-on-frame vehicle just to be different. That leaves styling as the company's primary means to stand proud of the rest.

You'll note that Honda is very careful to call this vehicle a prototype and not a "concept" or a "production vehicle." Think of this as a "production preview" and you've got the right vibe. Lose the concept-car headlights and put a cheaper paint job or smaller wheels on it and you've got the Alabama-built crossover nailed.

Honda believes that the truck's new blocky styling "communicates strength." OK, we suppose that in comparison to the pointy-nosed Acura MDX, which is based on the same structure, or the smiling CX-9, the Pilot is butch. It does have a sort-of carved-from-billet look.

The company isn't saying much about the mechanical systems, but we don't expect a revolution here. It will be powered by a V6, of course. But this one will incorporate the new version of the Variable Cylinder Management system that Honda introduced for the new Accord V6. It can run on six or three or even four cylinders, depending on how much power the driver demands. And we expect that it will operate almost imperceptibly, if our experience with the Accord is any indication.

Honda also claims that the interior of the new Pilot will be roomier and says the 60/40-split third row now provides enough knee room for an "above-average-sized adult male." Honda makes no mention of available room for gigantic women.

What's Edmunds' take?
We're not really feeling the grille-within-a-grille front end and we're not sure it's all that much more butch than the existing Pilot, but if we were in the market for such a thing, we would definitely test-drive it. — Daniel Pund, Senior Editor, Detroit