Used 2005 Honda Pilot Consumer Reviews
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Honda Pilot for Earl
I live in Colorado and go to the Mountain all the time. With the Pilot I don't have to worry about the weather. Blizzards, snow drifts are easy for the Pilot. We own a cabin in the mountain and even with 3 foot drifts of snow I can get into the cabin. The Pilot is the only vehicle that can handle my family on trips. My son is 6'4", My daughter is 6'0", I am 6'0" and my wife is 5'7". Of course the adults sit in the front and there is plenty of leg room for the kids in the back. Gas milage across Nebraska or Kansas is usually 24-25 Miles per gallon, easy to deal with. The Pilot has also been in some pretty hairy situations in the mountain and come out like a rose.
great car
i have it for 5 months and already im very satisfied......i love honda its very reliable and suits my needs in every way......you have my vote
- EX 4dr SUV w/LeatherMSRP: $3,5007 mi away
- EX 4dr SUV w/LeatherMSRP: $3,990176 mi away
- EX 4dr SUV w/LeatherMSRP: $6,990199 mi away
One of the first Pilot's built
I own a 2003 honda Pilot. It's been a very good driving crossover vehicle. The front plows a little when turning. The cabin is noisy but I crank up the 155w stereo. Under 45mph it whistles and all of the window regulators have been replaced. Never buy a first year model - lessons learned. The vehicle goes great in the snow and it's fun to goose it when starting out in wet conditions. This vehicle has a wide stance, not too tall, front wheel drive and would handle better in emergency manuvers where 4x4's would probably flip - very important, ask my neighbor. I bought this because I was tired of being beaten up by my previous SUV's and needed a better ride. Overall - smart vehicle.
Passing the test
Made a 4000 mile trip to Nova Scotia this summer pulling a camper with no problems at all. Didn't even feel much drag going up the hills. Love the car and the room for kids. Don't have the DVD but a lap-top works just as well in the back seat. Gas mileage wasn't bad considering the load and supplies. Cheaper tow package would sure be nice (about $1000.-ouch!). Dealer said transmission, etc. may not be covered if it wasn't a Honda installed item. Car handles great. Just a few minor complaints that I can live with.
First SUV- best ever
I have driven many SUV's from Trailblazers to Explorers, this is the best I have come across. It drives like a car not as a major uHaul. Its stylish and its good to go.
minivan converter
I am a former minivan driver (toyota sienna) and loved my minivan, but wanted AWD. I have three little boys and was worried about switching to an suv, but I absolutely love, love, love, this pilot. My kids fit easily in the three rows, and love the dvd. It drives live a dream and is a beautiful car.
Gas mileage is terrible!
I like the car but can't afford the gas. We are paying about $80.00 a week for gas. I wish we had gone with the cr-v
second pilot
We traded our 2003 EX-L in for a 2005 EX -L-Nav. I very impressed with the improvements made, sunroof, more power, heated seats and heated mirrors along with other changes. The nav system works great. We had the 2003 for approximately 2 years 4 months and put on approx 33,000. We had some trouble under the warranty, I was never comfortable with the transmission and felt it was best to trade in. I would recommend to all.
First Honda
The 2003 Pilot was purchased in 08/02. I have 159,000 miles on it. Purchased "EX" (Top trim level.) The 7 speaker stereo is very marginal. Replaced tranny at 60K miles under warranty. On the plus side, very good front seat leg room. Handling is very good. 2 factory trim options are purchased as packages, either LX or EX. Individual options are purchased through Honda Parts dept. Honda has a strange pricing policy. Chrome bumper garnish sells for over $500. (4 peices of plastic) Fog lights sell for over $400. Cargo cover is $120. Dispite the above, I would purchase another one.
My First SUV
I got tired of using my Accord like a truck so I decided on the Pilot. It's drives great, has awesome power, and carries anything I need. I haven't regretted my decision. Every day I drive the Pilot, I like it more.
Great Ride
This is a great vehicle. It's reliable, comfortable and fun to drive. I'm always confident in bad weather. Best of all it drives like a car but does the work of a truck, accommodating large loads, and lots of kids.
Love my 05 Pilot
Shopped for an SUV to replace a Jeep GC. Looked at Merc Mountaineer and Honda Pilot EX-L. Purchase price was within a few hundered of each other. No comparison, Honda won hands down. Excellent comfort and ride. Third seat works well for small adults/children. Feels large inside. Stereo is great along with sunroof. Drives great in N.E. snowstorms. I am a little disapointed with several squeaks/rattles that have come up during 2,100 miles of ownership. Have trailer tow package and will tow 3,500 lbs this summer.
Priceless
I test drove so many SUVs. It came down to the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander. There was no comparison. It drives like a dream. You have to be really careful though when you are sitting in it and it's running because it's so quiet you might think it's off and turn it on when it's already running. Buy one now. You won't be sorry.
Solid Vehicle
I bought the Pilot for my wife after exhaustive research. In the running were the Highlander, Explorer and the new Subaru SUV. The Highlander was too bland and had one less seat. The Subaru was just too small and odd. And the Explorer was a non-starter with costly and complex features pricing and marginal reliability. What sealed the deal on the Pilot was driving it. Not only was it safe and reliable, it was very, very comfortable to drive. I have an 01 Accord, and the Pilot rides much better on all surfaces. It has gotten ok gas milage to this point - averaging around 18 in mixed driving.
AWESOME SUV
Its like you are driving a car but its an SUV. I love it and my kids are comfy in it. I fit 2 big carseats in the bag and a teenager as well as room for a stroller and other items. Its a great famnily car indeed!!!!
Just purchased
We were actually looking to buy a compact SUV like the Subaru Forester, Honda CRV or Toyota RAV4 but when we actually thought about it, we decided they were too small for our needs. It ended up as a choice between the Pilot and a Toyota Highlander. The Pilot was just better designed and better built. The Toyota salespeople ignored us so that didn't help them. This vehicle is fun to drive. Love the heated leather seats, 6 CD changer, DVD player, sunroof. Drive is a little sloppy on cornering but nothing that I can't get over. I am a safety girl and love the 5 star crash rating. Gasmilage could be better. Like the interior better than the exterior but the exterior is not offensive, just plain.
Best of all worlds but the wind noise!
Having had nothing but constant mechanical troubles with a 2000 Suburban but being spoiled by all the cargo capacity, we weren't sure what we would buy. We were surprised by how much we could manipulate the storage with the 60/40 split folds. First road trip was comfortable and we love the car. Did get the sunroof and we are experiencing terrible wind noise though. Not sure what that's about but it's not deterring from the great drive and handling of this car. Since it's a Honda I have no worries about dependability. No more GM for us.
New 2005 Honda Pilot
Just purchased a 2005 Honda Pilot and have driven it on 2 trips around Maryland. It is drives much better than the 1995 Jeep Grand Cheroke that I traded in. Very good handling qualites and very quiet. Just like driving a big sedan. Nice for traveling.
2 Pilots for me!
I have just purchases my second Pilot in two years. Last year I purchased an 04 EX with cloth seats. While I was very pleased with it overall, I was a little dissapointed to find that they offered a sunroof on the 05 models. I purchased the 05 with a sunroof and rear entertainment system. I am thrilled with it. The upgrades are well worth it. There is no other SUV with the number of options anywhere near the price. We are anxious to see the changes for the 06.
New
Pilot has smooth ride and tons of room - plenty of head and leg room for a 6'5" driver. We are extremely satisfied with our purchase.
Fantastic Auto
The finest ride for a SUV. Comfort is excellent. A much finer auto than my Chrysler 300. I could not be more pleased with the selection we made for my wife.
My Honda Pilot
It's not too big, and not too small. It handles like a dream. I love the ease of the back seats...no seat removal necessary. Need more room? just put the seats down. They nearly flatten out completely. Honda has put a lot of thought and design into this vehicle.
Honda Pilot
Looking forward to another one when my lease is up. The only thing which may change my opinion is Honda's low factory warranty. I may take a look at the new Hummer H3 for kicks, but Honda has my business.
Love our Pilot!
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.
4th one and will continue to buy
This is our 4th Honda, and, because of the quality, resale, and reliability, we will continue to buy Hondas.(Our first was an 88,had 380,000 miles, and sold for $1400!)We were going to wait and buy a used Pilot, but the demand was too high, and there were too many people on the waiting list. We just couldn't resist and bought our 2004.We put alot of miles on our cars because of family living far away, keep our cars,and we don't try to keep up with the Joneses.Our Pilot has made driving very enjoyable and makes us feel very safe on the road.Our first grandson will be born next week, and I feel great about his safety with us! Roomy,efficient,safe,reliable, attractive--I'd love to get another!
A+ for the Honda Pilot
The Pilot is a great SUV - fun to drive, pretty good gas mileage for a car this size, and features that are very easy to use. Also very comfortable to drive. You also make friends instantly - other people driving Pilots tend to wave at you.
2005 Pilot EXL with Navigation
Love the 2005 Pilot! All the colors are great. It's a great looking vehicle, not to mention great driving. Great for people with a lot of children who do not wish to drive a big suburban, etc. very good on gas!
Know what you want
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.
Honda Pilot 2005 EX
We owned a 2003 and have a 2005 Honda Pilot. We originally bought the 2003 LX because that was all the dealer had. The 2005 EX has more interior refinement re A/C and audio. We love both cars. We upgraded because of the great deal we got from the dealer.
Love this vehicle!
This is my first SUV - have only driven sedans until now. Was amazed how the Pilot handles like a car, despite its 4400 lbs! It does seem big behind the wheel, but that's because of its height -- and it's not too big to handle -- same length as my old Accord. It gives an unbelievably smooth ride on the highway, and I feel very safe in it. Despite some reviews/reviewers, I love the styling of the exterior. The interior is beautiful too. I am biased toward Hondas, and this Pilot isn't likely to change my mind on that...
New Oilot
Car has fantastic pickup to the point I find myself frequently over the speed limit, yet handles more smoothly than most cars I've driven.
Honda Pilot
Best test drive I have ever had. This SUV drives nice and tight, closest feeling to car that I have found in an SUV. The gas mileage seems to be improving as I break the motor in more. Wish I went for the leather, but other than that, no regrets yet. I would buy one again.
Nice vehicle but needs a few adjustments
It is hard to go wrong with a Honda. However, there a few quirks with the 2005 Pilot. While the interior is spacious and the instrument panel well laid out, leg room comfort of the driver is less than desirable. Honda needs to rethink the placement of the emergency brake - it interferes with those of us with moderate and long legs. It is hard to strech out and take advantage of the foot rest with brake pedal where it is. The stiff rear-hatch tension makes it hard to close an open hatch - particluarly while carrying something. Acceleration is often jerky and unrefined - particularly in city driving. The sound systems is OK, but could use improvment - my cd changer was broken at delivery
Excellent Family SUV
I never thought I would buy an Van much less an SUV but Honda proved me wrong. Their vans and suv's in mho are the best on the market. Thanks for making an SUV that seats 8. Having 5 in our family gives us the ability to go on long trips and have room for everyone and our stuff. Now you have a truck and my husband is actually considering buying it. He never wanted a truck before.
So far so good
Good mid size SUV. Honda reliability with nice interior features. The ride is adequate and better than most SUVs I have driven. This is expected from an elevated ride with this much weight. Excellent horse power and turning radius. The gas mileage is a bit lower than I would like but I compromised as I wanted an SUV.
Outstanding SUV
Excellent handling, great performance, large interior, very functional, exceptional in snow.
Love my car other than...
Before I purchased this car, I did my thorough research on the market. Even made a marketing plan for school on this vehicle. This car was absolutely for me. Having owned a previous Honda, I assumed the Pilot's reliability and quality would be as good as my CRX. To my dismay, I've had an intermittent rattle noise in the dash that has not been repaired after numerous attempts at the dealership. Please be warned. Having that said, everything else in the car is wonderful and you won't find a better SUV under 30K.
Michael S Pilot Review
Really like how the various controls are in good reach and seem easy to run. Roomy and well made, I like the little additions that make it comfortable. Only drawback seems to be space around the driver's seat...you lose something down the sides and it's almost impossible to retreive.
Best in class....
I absolutely love my Pilot. My prior vehicle was an Accord, so I had a good idea what I was getting into with this Honda. After doing my research, and a couple test drives, I found the Pilot, not to be to cliche', while not the leader in most catagories, it did very well in all of them. I suprisingly found that it doesn't feel as big as it seems. To look at it, you'll think you'll be driving a land yacht, but after a few miles, it feels more like standard car, just higher.
2005 Honda Pilot
The Pilot is a very solid feeling vehicle. It is roomy and the interior fit and finish is impecable. It is suprisingly agile and is fun to drive. It is extremely quiet around town, but there is some road noise at highway speeds. Honda's reliability has always been exceptional and the Pilot should be no different. I would recommend this SUV to anyone.
Excellent SUV
We took this SUV on a road trip through Yellowstone and the Rockies, excellent gas mileage of 23/28. We never thought we would get such good mileage from a big vehicle. The ride was very smooth and comfortable. According to one of the cons of owning this vehicle is the feeling that one feels to big behind the wheel. I am only 5'2" and didn't have any problems, I did not feel as though the vehicle was to big to handle. I felt very comfortable driving it. Excellent vehicle!
2005 EXL w/Navigation
Just went over 1000 miles with new Pilot. My wife kept her 4 X 4 Chev. Suburban, but I doubt she will use it very much...the Honda is easier to get around in, especially in shopping center parking lots. Great riding car with a great sound system. Looking forward to the Honda reliability. Wish gas mileage was better, but it beats our Suburban hands down!
2005 Pilot Great value
This suv drives so solid and handles very well. The turning radius is exellent. Compared the Toy Highlander which felt cheap inside,the rx330 and acura MDX were 8-10 grand more-def. not worth it. Got quotes on the internet then asked my local dealer to match the lowest, Paid 30,100. A GREAT VALUE! No negotiating with the dealer, a very pleasant experience.
My Pilot
This vehicle has power when needed. I hit a deer on the highway and the car took the brunt of the impact; I hardly felt it. It didn't look very good until it was fixed but drove great.
Be Your Own Pilot
The Pilot has it all...plenty of room, solid handling and great reliability. It handles just as easily as a car so those who don't like the typical truck handling of an SUV have nothing to worry about. It has met all of my expectations.
So far so good...
Took delivery of a 2005 EXL about 10 days ago. Initial impressions are very good with only a few gripes on this vehicle. The Pilot drives very much like a large car with little of the vague handling you might find with the more common body on frame type SUV's. Power is close to best in class, though torque data would suggest this isn't the SUV to buy if you plan to tow much and there is no hitch installed as standard. Overall styling in and out is a bit bland but can be helped with some of the dealer installed body options. Biggest issue I have is the large and heavy tailgate which opens very quickly and can be a bit of a handful to close. Overall I am very happy with this car.
Great SUV, just like all Hondas.
This is the 10th Honda our family has owned. First SUV. Have had it 3 months and it performs more like a car than an SUV. Has excellent performance and if fun to drive. So far, no problems, build quality is excellent. I think the transmission "hunts" for gears and downshifts more often than I would like, but I am told this should improve as the transmission "learns" how we drive it. We bought it as a 3rd vehicle to have when we have more than 5 people to take somewhere or need more space to haul something larger than a "breadbox".
Fun and Functional SUV
We bought our Pilot to replace a Yukon XL. We test drove the Pilot and fell in love! The dealership was a breeze to do business with, we got an excellent deal. The ride of the Pilot is so smooth and the shifting of the vehicle is hardly noticable, huge plus from the Yukon. We have two children and they LOVE this SUV! Both have lots of room and seating choices...they DON'T have to sit by each other. The DVD system is a lifesaver on long roadtrips. We can't say enuf about our Pilot!
a real thoroughbred
fun to drive, lots of power, all features are easy to use: radio, cd, navigation. Lots of cargo capacity, tight steering radius, easy to park.
My New Pilot
Great vehicle - never thought I would like driving an SUV, but with typical Honda design, it is a pleasure to drive. It has a very smooth ride and handles just like my Honda Accord. Interior layout is excellent.