Used 2003 Honda Pilot SUV Consumer Reviews
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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.
Happy with Honda!
I had a Honda and was looking for an SUV that would be reliable, have good fuel economy, and was roomy enough for pets and kids. I honestly did not consider Honda as my first choice until I discovered the Pilot. I knew this was the one when I took a test drive and have not looked back since.
- EX 4dr SUV w/ LeatherMSRP: $3,900626 mi away
- EX 4dr SUV w/ LeatherMSRP: $4,995680 mi away
- EX 4dr SUVMSRP: $3,950690 mi away
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!!
Love it.
Waited since June for SageBrush Pearl- worth the wait. Wanted Honda reliability but couldn't take driving another minivan. Will keep this one for a long time (our Accord is still going strong 11 years and 175,000 miles later). Bought over Internet for 2000 under MSPR- threw in some free accessories too.
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!)
Great SUV, but seats suck
Design, room, ingress, egress, ergonomics, ride, noise, handeling, transmission, engine, power, torque, brakes, steering, off road performance, fit and finish, & DVD surround system, are all perfect. This car has a very simple and logical design.
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
Insane family SUV!
Wow. We couldn't be happier with our new Pilot. We gladly traded our 1999 Dodge Durango for our new Honda and it has already eclipsed the ol' Dodge in every department. The Pilot is like a condo on wheels. Room for me (6'3" 250), spouse, to kids and all our gear. We even have room for Grandma now when she comes to visit. The choice between the Pilot and MDX came down to value. We chose to save the extra $9,500.00 and pay for private school. If you are wishy washing around about this vehicle, get off your duff and buy one.
breaking in a new vehicle
I waited 1 year for this SUV and i think it was well worth it. It drive's like a "mom's car"; soft, quiet, etc and has all the utility features of a minivan. i'm not sure about reliability because, right off the lot, rear heating didn't work and one of the front vent broke off. other than than, i get the feeling that the car is well built all around, typical of honda. my thumb is up and we(my relatives) are getting 3 more of these suvs.
Glad we waited
We looked at all the midsize and some of the big SUV's and came very close to purchasing the Toyota Sequoia last Spring but saw a review on the Pilot and decided to drive it once just to see. We were blown away by just about everything about the Pilot. Essentially an MDX with a much better price. Eventhough we had to wait 4 months to get it after ordering, it has been everything we could have wanted in an SUV and is such a huge step up from the Dogde Grand Caravan we had for 6 years. Mileage has been decent and the comfort and roominess inside are terrific. My wife loves this SUV!
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.
Honda's Rule
The honda pilot is the ultimate real world SUV. The VTM-4 allows 4WD on ice and snow or lowering a boat into the water, in conditions that you would drive less than 20 mph. Not for the rugged off road use or full time 4WD. Safety features rule: 4 total airbags, 5 star crash rated, 4 star rollover rating. Engine runs on regular gas and still will get 22 mpg. Interior rocks but exterior could maybe be made more aesthetically pleasing. Hondas are known for quality and reliability, not really for style though. Third row seat lays down flush and is not even noticed until you need it. Stereo is really nice, EX comes with subwoofer that sounds great.
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.
Great SUV..
This is the first suv that i have ever owned. My pilot drive like a car, but with the plus of an suv. The interior has lots of space, unlike a car.
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
Best In class
I have to say, we have never owned an SUV but have owned several Honda Pruducts. I originally wanted an MDX but the Pilot is such a better deal. Rides good, excellent gas milage for an SUV. Huge inside and looks small out side. How do they do that????
pilot the leader
exciting experience, great fun, family car!!!
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.
Leather interior
Hi do not have my pilot yet, but getting one this month.. ordered the EX-L and wondering how everyones leather is holding up? heard that it could be saggy or strechy? most people say its not to bad, but wondering if it is worth taking it in under warrenty.. thanks for the info rob
Honda-4-Life
It's a Honda. It does everything that any other SUV can do, except it does it perfectly. The build quality is exceptional. It's roomy and quiet. It's fun to drive and the stadium type seating in the 2nd and 3rd rows are a bonus. OK, complaints (if you can call them that). The second bench should have an adjustable forward and rear travel. Gas mileage is probably slightly better than most of the other V6/V8 SUVs out on the market today. As for paying MSRP, well, I paid MSRP but haggled about 50% off on my options. It's a Honda. The price is worth it. Don't pass this up on your list of SUV choices...matter of fact, make it the only choice.
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.
Near Perfect
The Pilot is the best vehicle we've ever owned. A great highway cruiser and city commuter. The Pilot is our first SUV and won our vote over the Explorer, Exped, Highlander, Sequoia, Envoy, Yukon, Durango, T&C 4WD and Montero. After 3000 miles, we have recovered from the thought of paying sticker and not taking advantage of a 0%/60 mo deal. The Pilot has many strengths that help explain why our recent 1000 mile trip with 3 kids was the most painfree trip we've ever had. Our only negative experience is the daily coin flip we must face for driving rights to the Pilot. Definitely put the Pilot on your "must drive" list prior to buying your next SUV.
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.
HONDAAAAAAAAA !
Wonderfully crafted. Perfect interior. As quiet as my BMW 540. The visibility is incredible. The multi adjustable power seat accomodates everyone. Nice low end power available for highway passing.
This SUV Rocks!
We were shopping for a CR-V, there were none to be found, so we got the Pilot instead, and we absolutely love it!
Excellent Ride!
I had a ford explorer before but the Honda Pilot is better by far. It has more room and it rides smoothly. I am so glad I bought this car.
Great SUV!!!
We have had this Pilot for only 2 weeks and we have already put 2,000 miles on it. It drives like a dream and the seats are so comfortable and it is so much more quiet than our previous SUV. We drove for 8 hours to Gulf Shores, Al and I was not worn out when we got there! The gas mileage is already better than our old Mountaineer and it is only going to get better. Paid sticker for it and had leather, rubber floormats, foglights added. Love this SUV!!
Great buy!!!
I bought this SUV after comparing it with both Lexus' SUVs, Toyota Sequoia and Highlander, Acura MDX, Mercedes Benz and BMW SUVs. I have to say it is very smooth to drive, has great power, and the features are incredible. Even though in Puerto Rico it is much more expensive than in the States, I believe it is worth the price.
I love this thing
What a cool car. I wanted a 3 row of seat mid-size SUV and I chose this after looking at the Ford and GM vehicles. Love the cool interior and the smooth ride and the great fuel economy
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!
excellent
We traded in our 1993 honda accord ex with 127000 miles on it we only had small problems with the car and sorry we had to move on. We tested the the honda pilot and loved it the only thing we wish we had was passenger side electric seats.......
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.
SUZ NEW TOY
I am a short lady, the sun visor does not come down far enough to keep the sun out of my eyes, have to stretch up. too much windshield and not enough sun shield. Dash could have been a little smaller and buttons (clock) could have been viewable for the smaller persons who will buy. Would have loved some contrast color on the body side molding. Would have loved a dark blue one.
AWSOME
I love this thing. The day after I got it I had to pull an Explorer out of the mud.
Seats to die from
I love the quality and solid feel of the car. The stereo sounds great. The seats are to die from. I am 55 and have owned many cars and a truck and these are by far the most uncomfortable seats I have ever had the displeasure to sit in. There is no place to put my feet, so they are usually skewed under the brake pedal or some other uncomfortable place. The front wheel well protrudes into the drivers and passengers compartment area. There is plenty of room otherwise and it looks big inside. The dealer treated me with kid gloves and the salesman even came out to my house to pick me up from my house to drive me to the dealership.
Honda Pilot: nothing is comparable
I love this vehicle, nothing is too bad about this great vehicle, I recommend it to everyone.
Honda Pilot
Honda Pilot is the best family SUV. It's a 4wd SUV for 30k.
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.
Honda Pilot
Even at list, it's a lot of vehicle for the money. Superior to the competition in almost every way.
Pilot - Detail to Engineering
Everything from design to build quality is typical Honda excellence (I also own a CR-V). Practically no detail was overlooked. The EX is great value for those priced out of the Acura MDX. Why pay for a name... when 67% of the parts between the 2 vehicles are common?
Honest Pilot Review
Well my wife got her PILOT. OK 34K$ for a honda, but thats what she wanted. Sure its a nice well made SUV, but 34K$ It rides nice and soft, turns nice, breaks are OK, engine has a lack of low end, ok after you hit 25mph. Basicly a large 4x4 mini van. My new 2003 5.4 expedition gets the same mpg go figure.
A Happy New Pilot Owner
This is the first SUV and 3rd Honda we have owned - we stil have all 3 of them. The '93 Accord has 120,000 miles on it and still running strong. We expect the same from our new Pilot. The Pilot has excellent handling and all the convenience features we want. It provides all the comfort and peach of mind when driving on the road. I am looking forward to those family vacation trips to Lake Tahoe or Yosemite.
From a truck-based to a car-based SUV
Having driven a Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo for three years, the transition to the Pilot was easy and welcome. The ride is much more comfortable and the cabin noise is considerably less and the pick-up is great. The cargo space is far superior and since I don't tow a boat, the comparison to US SUVs puts the Pilot ahead in my case.
awesome
the best suv in the world
2003 Pilot Review
Delivered 6/8/2002. Black exterior, gray leather, navigation system, back- up camera, chrome bumper cladding, front bumper cover with foglights, and added aftermarket 8inch DVD system. Nicest driving vehicle I've owned, comfortable. Plenty of power, turns like a car, very quite interior. Third row small but functional. Excellent fit and finish. Like the looks with added front bumper covers more than the MDX.
Great Truck
Paid right at MSRP with a lot of haggling between 3 dealerships on the last day of the month. Love the truck. Love the room. I didn't need the towing ability, I just needed the space. Rides great, is quiet and handles just fine. Hwy and city driving is very comfortable. Quality craftmanship. Even the plastics don't appear to be cheap.
Beyond Luxury Class...Best SUV Yet.
It seems like Honda didn't spare anything. We traded in a Lexus for this Pilot and I was worried about loosing some luxury comforts...This Pilot is much more than my Lexus. Better audio (much better sub-woofer), DVD, third row seating, more cargo, great interior design, plenty of storage, etc...for much less.