Used 2003 Honda Pilot SUV Consumer Reviews
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Very Good Midsized Option
It was a hard choice between the Pilot and the Pathfinder. The Pathfinder's ride was more supple, the interior was of a higher grade material, it had more traditional SUV rugged yet svelt styling and the standard equipment list was much better. Pathfinder also has a better choice of exterior and interior colors and allows buyers to negatiate price, I was ready to buy 1 at 1K below invoice with rebate! In the end though, i chose the the Pilot for it's much better gas milage, more room, and far superior expected resale value. I also had some concerns about a pending complete redesign of the Pathfider.
This is not an
I have owned an Acura MDX for 5 months which I absolutely love. As a result, I ordered a Pilot. I was surprised at the $31K price, which is within $4K of my MDX, despite the fact that the Pilot has no sunroof and 1 year/14,000 miles less warranty, etc. The exterior looks like an oversized CRV. The quality of the interior was not even in the same universe as the MDX (too many things to list, just compare for yourself). It did drive comparably to the MDX. In my opinion, the Pilot is a total rip-off compared the MDX. Before you buy a Pilot, check out the MDX. We ended up with a new Sequoia for only $750 more.
- EX 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,950189 mi away
- EX 4dr SUV w/ LeatherMSRP: $4,995192 mi away
- EX 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,500228 mi away
WHAT'S NOT TO LOVE?
My wife talked me into getting a practical car. I was very sceptical being used to BMW or AUDI--but I just grow to love it more and more. Great power, decent handling, supurb layout of gages and controls. To be fair I only have 400 miles on it but there is NOTHING I wish was different yet, exccpt maybe a stiffer suspension. My son can't rave enough about the DVD and rear stereo options. We used to never take my BMW 750il as a family, we always took the surburban--now we only use this thing!! Thanks Honda!!
honda
good car to drive and fun to drive good fuel economy
Excellent SUV - little room for bargains
Great car but don't expect to barter for a price. They're going to sell fast so they aren't negotiating.
Smooth
was looking for a Toyota Highlander but saw the pilot and was much happier with it on the test drive. More room and has the features you really need, and not all the extras dealers put on the Highlander. Beware of dealers telling you that Honda is charging them an extra $4 - $5K to sell them, buncha bull, got mine for $1000 less than MSRP after hours of haggling.
Really well built
This is a vehicle that you can tell was really researched for a long time. THey took the best of most SUV and cars and put them into one vehicle. You have the ride and feel of a car, and the room more thatn any other SUV in its class. Lots of storage places as well as extra outlets for almost any growing family.
Solid SUV
Overall a very solid SUV and supprisingly roomy if your lucky enough to get one. Great family hauler with the benefit of 4WD if needed. So far quality seems excellent. Fairly bland styling but it avoids the plastic frills of a lot of todays SUVS (ie. Trail blazer). All of the benefits of the MDX minus a few dollars.
EX-L Pilot
Best all-around SUV. Smooth and quiet V6. Seats for 8 and flat cargo when 2nd and 3rd row seats are fold down. Muscular and good looking SUV. Wide stance should provide good stability.
A booming double - just misses being HR
Solid construction. Great standard feature set (ABS, Four wheel drive, 5 speed trans, leather, lots of cup holders, lights for everybody, 3 point seatbelts for everybody ...) Solid muscular look. 240 HP very powerful and responsive engine. tight drive. Decent fuel. A great 5 seater with the convenience of occasionally carrying 8 people.
Pilot takes out the competition
It is all very simple, quiet, lots of room and storage, quality inside and out, Honda reliability and no competition that compares in all of the above categories. We love our Pilot!
Off /road Machine
Just did initial 600 mile test run in Mts. of Western North Carolina. Very smooth on highway, a little too much body roll in curves(used to bimmer) This is a serious off-road vehicle , It was toe to toe with a landcruiser but the Honda was much more smooth. Great fun and comfort off road. With DVD, the ultimate small family machine. For now,the havasu blue , one of the best looking vehicles on the road today.
Great Family Car!
Honda has come through once again with a practical, family friendly, fun to drive vehicle. My three kids fit comfortably in the second row seat and we have room for their friends when we need to with the flip up third row. I am grateful to no longer drive a minivan. Just watch out for dealer mandatory accessory packages that are unneccessary and make it more costly than it should be. I have the EX with Leather and the DVD and its perfect as is without any accessories!
GREAT SUV
HONDA HIT A HOMERUN WITH THIS PILOT
WOW!
Just what I was looking for. Waited four months for order to be fulfilled, but it was well worth the wait. Honda reliability with a ride that my wife describes as "like a big limo." The truck for people who aren't neccessarily "truck people." Who needs a minivan? Not me; I'm to young to die...
The BEST SUV!
Almost bought a Highlander. Glad I waited!!! Far better, more room, more power, handles better...read the reviews & test drive. The interior and exterior are beautiful, not a cutsey car that you woul dbe afraid to get dirty. Great Power! Great Room! Great Build Quality! Great Handling!
Well Done Honda
Driving the pilot now for 2weeks. No problems yet. Thanks god. It is well done in and out. The ride is very comfotable and the front seats are huge.
Suprising Combination
For me the Pilot is a great vehicle. It drives like a honda sedan, fits more kids than a minivan, and provides 4x4 where it's needed. It has great safety features. Also, something that I have not seen enough of is commentary from owners of the gps navigation system. The gps navigation system seems like it might be just a novelty, but it has been incredibly accurate and helpful all around town. Getting to someone's home, finding that restaurant, etc. Getting you home after scooting around all day. It really takes the pain out of driving through a large urban/suburan area. I do not think I will ever have another car without one.
love the car
Just bought this car in June 2002 and really love the space, fits and finishes and handling. Feels inside like a very big car but the footprint for parking and driving is mid-size. Quiet driving too.
Hard to Beat
Plain and simple. There is nothing in even close to this price range that offers what the pilot does. Handles wonderfully, firm ride, great acceleration, great interior. I did a great deal of shopping before I bought and was very suprised how far above the others this vehicle was.
Pilot is worth the wait!
I had originally set my mind on the GMC Envoy XL, but we were very impressed with the Pilot ride quality, it seemed more composed than the GM SUVs. I thought that the Envoy would feel more powerful, but I was wrong, the Pilot's 240 hp is more that plenty, even with my wife, the salesman, and our 3 kids inside. The VTM-4 All Wheel Drive seems to work great so far, though we have yet to use it in snow, etc. The fuel economy has been 18.2 mpg so far. (Used to get 13-15 in my Grand Cherokee V8) The seats are very comfortable. I paid about $3500 less for the Pilot than I would have paid for the 3 row seat Envoy XL.
New Pilot Envy of Odyssey Owners
After purchasing my Pilot last Friday, many of my Odyssey neighbors told me they wish they would have known or waited. Two of my neighbors have recently changed their plans from the Odyssey to the Pilot. With all of the seating, and 4WD, it is the best of both worlds. Minor problem. Latch for back stowage does not stay down. Will be replaced under warranty.
great suv
This is by far the best vehicle purchase we have ever made. It has more than enough passenger and cargo room. The engine has plenty of horsepwer. I highly recommend the Pilot.
The Pilot
I was considering purchasing a Toyota Highlander but a friend begged me to check out the Pilot. I was shocked by how big it was on the inside while looking rather compact on the inside. The fit and finish is fantastic, while offering lots of extras for the money. This is a much better buy than the Highlander. I'm VERY pleased with my Pilot.
BEST OF THE BEST
BEING IN THE HONDA BIZ FOR OVER A DECADE I CAN HONESTLY SAY THIS IS THE BEST HONDA PRODUCT MADE. IT SURPASSES THE ODYSSEY AND CRV BY LEAPS AND BOUNDS IN TERMS OF QUALITY AND FIT & FINISH. THE PILOT LOOKS A LITTLE PLAIN BUT MAKES UP FOR IT IN COMFORT AND POWER. MY WIFE AND I ARE COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH OUR NEW PILOT AND HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS TO MAKE...A STRONG RECOMMENDATION FROM VERY FUSSY CONSUMERS!!
My favorite vehicle
I recently took my new Pilot on a 1000 mile road trip. It had good gas milage, was very comfortable,and provided a peaceful ride (I have the entertaiment package, my daughter enjoyed movies, listen to her own cds or chose her our radio station!). The third row seat is a bonus, but not made for adults. PS (I enjoyed the attention the vehicle received the first few weeks I had it, people would stop me in a store parking lot asking me about it!)
my review
I absolutely love it! It was worth waiting almost 30 yrs for Honda to build their own V6 SUV........ Im glad I only had to pay MSRP for It. I hear many dealers are charging 2-3% over sticker.
Only one complaint
I have now owned the Pilot for a month and put 1,000 miles on it. It is the most enjoyable car for town or long distance driving. I tested every 4 wheel drive over a one year period and found this to be the best all round. It was the only vehicle my dog did not puke in, which tells you something about the stable ride. It averages 18.3 miles per gallon overall.
mpg
nice car, but i did not get 17mpg, more like 14-15 mpg
IRONic
Drives smooth like a car and can feel those 240 horses working. Pretty fast for a truck like this. Entertains my kids to the max by just putting in the DVD. My kids love the truck very much and they prefer that I bring it everytime we go to the mall or visit friends.
The nightmare is over
We just purchased the new 2003 Honda Pilot .After several grueling days and nights of going back and forth with other car dealers, we "stumbled" across the honda pilot. We test drove the car and knew instantly that this was the vehicle for us. Of course, my 7 year was already sold with the DVD and headphones. HIs other favorite feature is the place to store his happy meals and a place for the dip. I had previously owned a 525 BMW and now needed to increase the size of my car due to car pooling and a puppy on the way.
Perfect Size
Had been looking for a SUV that drives like a car. Found one in the Pilot. Has excellent power, but havent had it long enough to gauge fuel economy. Plenty of room inside and not to big outside. A/C works excellent. Feel lucky i guess, that I paid Only MSRP. Overall an excellent vehicle. Love it
The Ultimate *Suburban* Utility Vehicle
Owned for about 1 week now - 500 miles. Paid MSRP plus 'no choice' options I negotiated to my satisfaction, bringing cost to 35K w/o tax. Kids love it - the DVD player is fabulous and well thought out w/ dual zone audio and wireless headphones. The seat/storage configuration flexiblity and ease of use make this a monster of a family SUV. For moving humans, groceries, and all stuff of life, this is the best Suburban Utility Vehicle now available IMHO.
Great, but need improvement
I am not an owner yet, but did some research on the Pilot. Good value for the money in its class, but need improvements. We need a bigger vehicle for our baby, and home improvement project for our new house. Maybe, we wait another year to see if Honda improves the Pilots. In my opinion, Honda's been playing game with demands vs. supplies. Honda makes profit at least $3000 per high demand vehicle (Odyssey, Pilot, MDX, 3.2 TL) not fair for customers. My '99 Accord has oil leak from transmission at 50K mile. This is NOT typical for a Honda. Should I buy a Honda again? I know Honda and Toyota have very good resale values.
Darn close, but no cigar??
This car fits our needs to the "T". There is flexibility of having room for the kids and when needed, room to haul large items. The engine has next to the best gas mileage for a mid-sized SUV with the exception of the MDX; mixed commute driving is 18-20. Handling and ride are tops, again with the exception of the MDX. The engine is surprising quiet and relaxed even at 3,000 to 4,000 rpms when compared to other SUV's. The seats are actually comfortable, except for the thin padding behind the "activity tray". The storage pockets throughout the vehicle are proving more useful than one would think possible.
Honda Pilot
Purchased on July 4th and have been very happy with this vehicle. This is our third Honda vehicle. The ride is better and quieter than our 98 Accord. I have to hand it to Honda - this vehicle is AWESOME. Recently took a vacation to South Dakota and checked fuel economy. Averaged 18.4 mpg in the Black Hills area (176 miles driven on 2 different days)and averaged 23.89 mpg on highway and interstate driving in Western Nebraska and Kansas (1846 miles total). There are some steep grades out there and the Pilot had no troubles whatsoever.
Love My Pilot
I have always wanted an SUV,much research we found the Pilot. The color Green/tan interior. Ride is so smooth, engine is so quiet. Three rows of seats offer such flexibility. The 60/40 split of both back seats are perfect for every occasion. We bought it and three days later left for road trip. We put 1500 miles on in the 9 days. It was perfect for the trip! The children were comfortable with the air control in the back seat/ activity tray between them. The tape/cd player played all kinds of music beautifully. My 8 yr old is selling the car to everyone he meets! In one month, we have not found anything we don't like. Love my Pilot!
Why buy a Lexus or Acura
The new Honda Pilot has more luxury and closer to a car-like ride than I expected. The Pilot is larger and wider than the Acura and Lexus SUV. Why pay more when you can get the quality and reliability in the Pilot. The third row seat is actually sized appropriate for use and not just a selling feature. When buying, look for a dealer with at least one year's President Award for service and sales. I purchased mine from Thompson Honda in Cartersville, GA and passed two other Honda dealers on the way. The sales personnel and management have character and integrity. This is my second purchase from Thompson.
Nice SUV
Difficult to find and tough to negotiate a deal. My area dealers all wanted at least $2500 over MSRP and it took a no trade deal to get a reasonable price. Fit and finish are typical high Honda quality. Overall, a great vehicle that is fun to drvie. We are pleased and believe this was a great replacment for our seven year old mini-van.
Saved me from the Mini-Van
I had been following this SUV since Honda first announced its release earlier this year. With a growing family a larger car was a necessity. My wife wanted a Mini-Van, while I the me image conscious of us wanted something with a little more style.
Thrilled thus far
Loved our Accord, so we looked at Pilot when the time for new vehicle arrived. Bought for MSRP with no hassles. Have averaged 18 City and 21-24 on highway (65 - 80 mph). Unbelievable gas mileage for 4400 lb. SUV with 240 HP. Plenty of room, quality workmanship, and nice driving feel. This is a good alternative to a minivan (which we had) with no apparent loss of MPG and the benefit of 4WD at similar cost. Considered the Explorer and Sequoia, but the Ford experience with our Windstar left us leery and we didn't need the cost or low MPG of the big Toyota.
Honda Pilot: nothing is comparable
I love this vehicle, nothing is too bad about this great vehicle, I recommend it to everyone.
Look at this car
First Honda; now I know why their models are so popular. Good quality build; Honda knows how to incorporate the standard features you need. There are no options save for the DVD and navigation system (watch for dealer add- ons). My dealer had none; it was a good transaction for a good quality family car.
best in class
After reviewing and testing a few other SUV's I purchesed the Pilot and love it we travled 2400 miles the week after recieve the vehicle and everything was great
Rolling in New Pilot
Excellent! Best all around value for fuel economy/cargo/passenger seating available. Rides like a car.
Love My Pilot
This vehicle is awesome! It is very comfortable and rides great.
IT'S TIME TO OWN THE HONDA PILOT!
I bought my Honda Pilot in Portland on the 10th of June.I have drove about 800 miles with it since;from Portland to Crater Lake and back.I have been impressed with this vehicle alot.It runs as smooth,and quite as any other vehicle on the road,it also has lots and lots of room.It has so much room that when I fold the second and third rows down I can fit about 4 mountain bikes in the back and other stuff such as luggage.It has lots of room in the front.The Pilot has lots of lighting inside to use to look at Maps at night.The bottom line is you wont find a better priced and equiped vehicle than this!!
Yes, we love it!
We have owned it less than a week and are headed out for our first real trip today. I love the ride, the visibility, the many interior features, the power, and the handling. I find it very comfortable. My kids love the rear climate control, the entertainment system, and the view from the back seats.
Pilot your own Honda
great vehicle...comfortable...bold and filled with Honda quality. This will be undoubtingly the next "must have " vehicle
Great Suv
rugged looks, nice ride and made well inside and out. paid list, and added the following: side steps, fog lights,auto diming mirror, rear mud guards, wheel locks,trim grain and rear cargo cover. very satisfied (compass comes with the auto diming mirror)