Used 2009 Honda Pilot SUV Consumer Reviews
See Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
I like it
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.
Not as fun but better then 06 MDX
I went from an 06 MDX touring with Nav, RES and running boards. Priced the same vehicle for another 3 year lease and would have to take an additional $100/month out of my pocket for 39 months. Once I test drove the Pilot, I fell in love. I will say that it is not nearly as fun to drive but functionality and space overcome the need for speed. Comfort matches if not beats the 09 MDX I tested. I also tested the GM equivalents including the overpriced fully-loaded Enclave. For a family of 5, and for about $200/month less than the MDX I recommend the Pilot Touring.
- LX 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,9957 mi away
- EX-L 4dr SUVMSRP: $7,49590 mi away
- EX 4dr SUVMSRP: $6,95093 mi away
Happy with Honda!
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.
So Far So Good
Purchased Pilot after looking at a lot of competition. Our last Honda (88 Accord) had 250K miles when we sold it and was still going strong. We have taken this vehicle on several trips, including one to the mountains, and have averaged 20.5 MPG overall in 7700 miles, and have seen 25 MPG on short trips. The wife loves all of the places to store stuff. I wish the tires were quieter, and the RES allowed for the kids to listen to a different radio station than the driver. The hard plastics inside scratch much too easily, and the passenger seat doesn't have enough thigh support. Rear camera should show up on display instead of mirror. Need better cushioning under cargo area carpet.
Great Choice
Looking for more space and knew I liked my mom's 2006 Pilot as well as Honda's great reputation. Also was considering the new Ford Flex b/c my husband works for Ford, and although it drove well, I decided to go with the Pilot and couldn't be happier. Space is phenomenal and I like the new interior styling much better than previous models, especially the shifter on the dash, storage cubbies, and blue convenience lighting. Don't think there's another SUV in this class with so many standard features for price, like backup camera, leather, sunroof, and RES. Comfy drive and tight handling and I don't hear the gas sloshing like others mentioned. Neg: headrests tilt forward and some road noise.
My first Honda
This is the first Honda I have purchased and so far, I am very pleased. The style of the car is what first caught my eye. I test drove every midsize SUV on the market before choosing this one for its size, style, cargo space, V6 not V8, and smooth ride. Great on gas for the size, love it for my family of four & dog on road trips.
Excellent Choice
We looked at every Mid-size SUV on the market and the 2009 Honda Pilot was at the bottom of our list. My husband test drove it first and said I should really check this car out and I am so glad I did. It is beautiful inside and out, fun to drive, easy to park, great stereo, kids love it, and it has every bell and whistle you can think of. I am extremely pleased with the new Pilot. Who needs a mini van when there is an SUV like this on the market?
Don't hesitate
Very safe, steady car. Wonderful to ride. Big comfy inside with a lot of space, Fits 8 adults.
A great vehicle!
Just finished the first 1000 miles on the 09 Pilot Touring with R&N 4wd. This vehicle is so comfortable and fun to drive. It is very quiet, roomy, and the features are never ending. I also have a 2004 Pilot that has also been great, but I must admit that the new body style is greatly improved. I have been pleasantly surprised at all the nice electronic features that have been added. Have not complaints at all at this point. Gas mileage is about 20, very similar to what the 2004 Pilot gets.
Good car
I have found this car to be very good for a family of 5. There is lots of room for when traveling. It fits both me and my husband I am 5 ft he is 6 ft. seats are comfortable and nice, seems to go well in the snow.
Honda Surprise
There are a lot of negative comments about this car. We LOVE IT. It feels like a truck when you sit in it. It seats 8 COMFORTABLY. It drives so quiet and so smooth. The toys are great. The sound is amazing. We gave it a test drive to dismiss it and drove it off the lot!
Good Vehicle
I bought my 2009 Pilot in January 2009. I enjoy the vehicle. Road noise could be less. Occasionally I can hear gas swishing in the tank on curvy drives, but not too often. Its very comfortable inside, the ride is standard for a SUV, not car like, but its fine. I live in the city of Boston, so most of my mileage is city driving. Disappointed with the gas mileage. I do about 90% city, I average about 14.5 per tank overall city/hwy. I installed a wood grain dash kit to cover cheap looking plastic dash. The radio buttons a bit busy but you get used to it.The pick up is good, no problems with the power. Overall I am happy with the Vehicle.
Love It!
We were torn between a Toyota Highlander and the Pilot and went with the Pilot because of the cavernous interior and more comfortable seat. We definitely made the right decision! We've only had the car for about a week. Others have complained about the lack of pick up but we don't have any complaints. We love the interior. Although it feels so roomy, it is much easier to park and maneuver then it looks. I do agree with the others who stated that some of the interior components seem a little cheap. Also, I've never had a rear wiper before and I've gotten OCD about keeping the darn thing clean. Are they always so prone to dirt? I seem to be spraying and wiping constantly.
Great Buy
We purchased our Honda Pilot last week and so far we love it. The interior design is wonderful and there is plenty of room. The new exterior looks great. The quality of the leather and plastic are nice. So far we are averaging 17.3 miles, but we have only driven 200 miles and I am sure after the break in period our average should improve.
2nd Pilot - Worth the Wait!
This is the 2nd Honda Pilot that I have owned. Previously, I had the 2005 Honda Pilot under a lease program. I ordered my 2009 Honda Pilot in Feb 2008. It arrived in June 2008. It was worth the wait. I purchased this one, it was better than leasing it. I have been a Honda fan since 1994. This truck has everything I wanted in a truck and more. Look no further!
No buyer's remorse
This vehicle has been great and I have recommended it to friends. The tire pressure, fuel and service notices are very helpful. This car is smart and takes the headache away from the driver. The turn radius is impressive. This car is smooth to drive and the entertainment including speakers and listening to music makes travel fun from taking kids to practice to driving coworkers at lunch. Reliable, easy to drive and park and looks and feels like a luxury vehicle. The new grille looks good. I also have the leather seats that are heated which I think not only look good but are also comfortable.
Glad I decided to buy it. It's awesome.
I "traded up" to the 09 Honda Pilot Touring after driving a Honda CRV for 18 months. I had no complaints about my CRV other than I wanted that "luxury" feel and needed more room. I drove many vehicles in my search and decided on the Pilot because it drove the best and gave me exactly what I wanted for a lot less than the Acura MDX and I liked the interior better than the Highlander. The pilot is a dream to drive and although it won't win any races, it has plenty of power. Love at first drive for me. :) My gas mileage is in line with what others seem to be getting. In mixed driving, around 18 mpg.
Best vehicle that I've ever owned
I've had this car for over a year, and it has been great! It's averaged 20.5 mpg. It has a smooth ride. It tows like a champ, and handles off-road very well.
Best SUV ever purchased!
I purchased the 2009 Honda Pilot touring suv with navigation system. It feels more solid and quieter then the 2008 Toyota Highlander. It also has decent power delivery. After just few weeks of this purchase I notice that this Honda Pilot is giving better gas mileage then my previous car which was the 2007 Camry V6(traded in for Pilot). No car maker can beat Honda/Acura engineering!
Not too proud of honda
After purchasing a 2009 Honda ex-l pilot I realize that the pre-wiring connection was a dummy connection. I am not able to connect a trailer wiring harness unless I purchase the expensive kit from Honda. The kit cost more than if I had bought the tow hitch separate and had it wired. I also found out splicing into the wiring voids the warranty. Then I learned that remote start is a problem. Turning the car off after remote start just to enter the car is the dumbest idea I ever heard. It is my understanding both of these feature was pre-figure to get you to come back to Honda. I just wonder what else have Honda done to steer you back to them. My first Honda and my last. Bad mistake of Honda.
Pulls to the Right
My only problem with this vehicle is it pulls to the right when you're not holding the steering wheel. The dealership already made wheel alignment twice to no avail. Also,the material they used for the interior scratches easily - cheap plastic. But over all this is a nice and reliable vehicle so far.
First SUV
Replaced a horrible GMC Safari with the Honda Pilot. Should have done it sooner. Took pilot on a 500 mile trip to Myrtle Beach and got 22+ MPG during break in. Fit, finish, reliability on ours has been perfect (1500 miles so far). Rides quiet and smooth--sometimes I think it has shut off sitting at a light. Mileage is as advertised, although the mileage readout feature on dash can teach you to be light-footed and bump the mileage up some (AWD gets close to 16 in stop and go commute and close to 23 mpg on I-95 with its occasional slowdowns). Turning radius makes it easy to handle. Seating comfort and room is 100% better in 2009 than 2008.
2009 honda pilot lx 4wd
This vehicle has been with us for more than a year now and we are just completely satisfied with it. We drove it to the central and eastern US, never had a problem with it. It's so comfortable and has a lot of room (we have 2 boys and a ton of toys). The pilot is solidly built and make us feel really secure. It is fun to drive and I feel like I am always in control.
I Love My 2009 Pilot
I like the look of this vehicle and how it drives. We've used it to tow a horse trailer with no problem. I wish that there was more room behind the third row seat. There really isn't much. The stereo, XM radio and DVD player are great. I enjoy driving this vehicle. I have had no issues with the cruise control or acceleration speeds. I'm not a big fan of the middle console between the front two seats. It's a weird size and junk gets lost in it. The glove box is pretty much worthless.
WhoooHoooo I love it!
This is my second Honda Pilot, I liked my 2005 even though I thought the styling was blah. I get all the equipment I can get on my vehicles and the only thing I left off this one was the rear entertainment and AWD, neither of which I need or want. This Pilot is fantastic...I'm getting 20 mpg in town and 26 on the highway (I'm a grandmother that doesn't "hot-rod"). It's luxurious and that's what I was looking for. I do agree that the glove compartment is stingy with room, but it's a minor flaw. The Navi drives me nuts, but I'll get used to it. Can't learn to trust the back-up camera, still need to look first. Thanks Honda, you did it again.
This Pilot doesn't Fly
This 2009 Honda Pilot has been a real disappointment. With approx. 5200 miles since new in August 2008 we are not pleased with the over all quality. At less than 1000 miles the rear windshield wiper assembly flew off when I turned it on. The battery has died twice while parked with everything off. This happened at approx 3200 miles and just this week with 5000 miles. The side trim panel on the drivers side door next to the window fell off. The entire vehicle rattles and squeaks as if there were 105,000 miles on it (Our 02 SAAB & 03 VW are quiet!) The right front passenger seat is jerky when you use the forward-back adjustment. The shift lever make operating or tuning the radio uncomfortable.
Satisfied!
My first SUV and I am so impressed with the way my Pilot drives. I am having fun and love it. All my family are proud and happy for me and my friends are complimentary. Was not sure I would like SUV but am very satisfied.
Reliable
Owned the Pilot now for 2 years. No problems! Mileage is 20 mpg, wish it was higher but it is a 4wd vehicle. Leather seats are comfortable, (5'11" driver). Some small paint chipping around front of rear wheels where body flairs out a little. Installed running boards and that stopped stones from hitting side. Exterior styling adopted from a school bus design studio. Overall like the vehicle and would probably buy another. No problems with hatch/roof.
My First Honda
I have had this 2009 Pilot for two months now and it has been so far the best I have ever owned. The ride is great and the fuel mileage is better than I excepted for the heavy SUV. My wife also likes this SUV and rather drive the Pilot rather than her Lincoln Crossover. Overall the 2009 Pilot is a great SUV. I replaced a 2006 F150 with this 2009 Pilot EX.
Best vehicle ever owned
Every time I drive my pilot I enjoy the experience. The pilot is not the most powerful or the fastest stopping or the smoothest riding midsize but when you add everything up it is very capable and a beautiful vehicle. hwy mileage up to 26mpg- city 16mpg--it all depends on driving habits and conditions. I love the way it looks-- love the grille-love the way it drives. Some of the reviewers are not that impressed with the pilot but it is a vehicle that I love to see in my driveway. Most people pay more for a crv than I did for my pilot. Honda has hit a home run with the pilot. Absolutely trouble free- and hopefully it will stay that way!!!
What a Vehicle
We set out to buy a Saturn Outlook but after test driving all the competitors, took a look at the 2009 Pilot just to rule it out. Immediately we had to have it. Don't know what the fuss is with the styling, we like it from every angle. We have the Mocha Metallic ext. with beige leather and think it is a very classy combination. I love the drivetrain. With concentration I can feel the VCM but it is very imperceptible. Ride is very smooth without being floaty. Handles great. Very solid feeling, doors slam shut like a Mercedes. Awesome seats and features for the money. Would not mind another couple mpg but easy on gas for a lg. vehicle. Love the dual exhaust looks and sound.
Great Vehicle
The Pilot has a smooth and quiet ride which was a bit of a surprise. Handling and braking are great. Although you won't win any drag races with the Pilot, the acceleration is more than adequate.
Wife's first Honda
We purchased our Honda in August 2008 and have put on nearly 10000 miles since owning it. We've not had any problems. We average nearly 24 miles on the highway and 18 in the city. The ride is comfortable, even in the second and third row seating. I am 6 foot and sat in both the second and third row. My wife loves the drive and the feel of the vehicle. All of the controls are in good placement for visual and ease of reach. The kids love the I-Pod hook up. My wife feels very safe in the vehicle, much better than the last SUV we owned. All around, very happy with the car. I do wish it came with the wiring harness for the towing, I had to purchase the connector/wiring harness from Honda.
Perfect SUV for us
Love the vehicle! To christen the purchase, my wife and I and our three surviving, 80+-year-old parents left on a 700-mile round trip getaway. The five of us were amazed at how much comfort and privacy were afforded by the third row seating combined with the rear entertainment system. My mother (54) sat in the third row the entire trip and concluded that the rearmost seat was just as comfortable as the second row. Gas mileage has been decent for a vehicle of this type: 22 mpg on the trip with 5 adults + luggage; 19 mpg mixed city/highway; 16 mpg city-only driving; 14.5 mpg city-only with poor driving habits.
Pilot - A Cut Above
Relative to other vehicles we test drove, we simply found the Pilot a cut above anything else out there for the money we had budgeted. This vehicle replaces a 2002 CRV, so it's obvious an upgrade. Feature-wise, we're quiet happy with it. We looked seriously at Saturn Outlook, 2006 Pilot, and Toyota Highlander. Outlook, from a driver's view, just didn't feel right. Highlander felt pretty decent, but didn't care for fit for passengers in 3rd row. 2006 Pilot felt great from a driving standpoint, but felt like it had less leg room in 2nd row than our CRV. After two test drives on the 09 Pilot and there was little doubt. This was a smart pick.
Great SUV!!!
I am thrilled with my Pilot. I traded in my BMW X3 and I don't regret the decision for a second. I enjoyed the BMW driving experience but for twenty thousand dollars less, I have a roomy, comfortable, nice to drive SUV. Everyone in the family is able to ride in comfort. This is my second Honda (1987 CRX) and I expect this one to be as reliable as the first.
Pull to the right?????
I've only had the car for three weeks and took it to back to the dealer because it was pulling heavily to the right. After I left it felt like nothing had been fixed and next time I had to ask my wife to take it back. The service people told her that there is nothing wrong with the car since Honda vehicles pull after a few seconds. This sounds like a big fat lie to me. Has this happened to anyone else?
Excellent Choice
I strongly considered buying a GM product. Test drove the Pilot & I was sold. The deals Honda was offering were much better than GM. I have owned Hondas in the past and have been extremely satisfied with the reliability. The ride & acceleration are smooth. The seats are comfortable- front is roomy. Plenty of features- Honda put a lot of thought in this vehicle-mirror for viewing the backseats, MP3 jack, console with lots of room. Plenty of storage in the doors. Gas mileage is acceptable-could be better. I have zero complaints. One small drawback is the small cargo space if you are with more than 6 people in the car. However, we were able to take 7 people to the beach with room for our beach gear.
Love this car
Handles great, sound system with the exl-res dvd system is fantastic because you get the 510 Watt premium sound system with it as opposed to dealer installed dvd system. Also if you you join aaa you get a great price from participating dealerships. Tried it with and without them and automatically got the best price. 34,000 for exl-res. Yes I know you can get a stripped down lx model a lot cheaper but it was worth every Penny. Was still to cheap to spend for touring model with navi, I always have my tom tom gps to fall back on LOL.
Great Vehicle
My family & I are really enjoying our Pilot. It's much better than my 06 Frontier crewcab! It's true that the interior materials are not as upscale as other Honda vehicles (compared to my wife's 07 CR-V or a new Accord), but it's not offensive at all & I like it just fine. Braking has been great for me in real-world conditions. Power has never been a problem; I pass & merge with ease. Sprung for the DVD & our daughter loves it. Seats are very comfortable. Cylinder shutoff is noticeable & takes some getting used to. Road noise is minimal. Wonderful little details included in the design, such as the grocery hooks, cargo net, hill assist. Sound system is clear/crisp, but not as good as expected.
Pulls to the right!!!!
Our Pilot also pulls heavily to the right!!! This is very disappointing since it otherwise would be a great car.
Good but far from perfect
Very solid performance, smooth riding, good brake, good acceleration. However, I found the building quality is not so good.
I love my Pilot!
This vehicle has power, and a beautiful, smooth ride. I drove fords for years, and find this vehicle to be exceptional in quality, ride, and feel. The Pilot has a wider wheel base than my Explorer, and rides deep into a turn so you remain seated at normal speeds. I get very little if any pitch, and roll from the suspension. The car is very stable. Lots of interior space as well. The looks of the car are not great, but that is the only part I would want improved. I STRONGLY recommend this vehicle.
Value for the money
Solid performance. Strong build. Excellent fuel economy (got 23 mile on long trip and inner city around 19).
Snow white finds her prince
This was the best option for my family. The people at Carway we're very poliet and courteous. Once I purchased my car I had some slight issues however, they were fixed promptly.
- Safety
- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value
So far, so good
We have owned the vehicle for three weeks. If it wasn't totally irresponsible I would buy another one. This vehicle is a pleasure to drive. Honda did a nice job addressing road noise issues and giving the vehicle a luxury feel without loosing its utility personality.
Excellent Choice
We chose the Pilot over the Buick Enclave and traded in our Buick Ranier (which we had thoroughly enjoyed for almost 5 years). The Pilot has more than exceeded our expectations and, at this point, is the most enjoyable vehicle we have ever owned. Increased gas mileage over the Ranier is also a plus. The Pilot has the best-designed and most usable, roomy interior we have ever seen. Combine that with a striking exterior and fun-to-drive performance, then wrap it up in Honda dependability and you have a package that is hard to beat. Did I mention that the Pilot was $6000 less than the Enclave? We also own a Honda Ridgeline and love both of our Hondas!
This is one amazing truck 2 Honda
I just picked up my new Pilot after researching all the SUVs. We have an Odyssey that has held up for the last 3 yrs without a problem, so decided to look at the new Pilot. I am glad I did as I was close to buying a Highlander. The technology and design of this truck were well thought out. The handling is solid, plenty of power to get going. Lots of Room for the kids and their stuff. Fuel economy so far hgwy was 23.3. The truck performs well,is very smooth. The turn radius is incredible. Buy this truck if you need room and luv tech toys.
First Honda
This is the first Honda I have owned. I have a wife, soon will have 3 kids, a dog, and a boat that we need to pull. Looked at everything that seated more than 5 people, had decent fuel economy, and could pull a reasonable sized boat. Honda was last on my list to look at but when we did we ended up buying it. So far we really like it. We get about 17 mpg city and as much as 21 mpg on the highway. Lots of room in the inside, good storage, comfortable. We are impressed. The closest competitor would be a Toyota Highlander and it doesn't hold a candle to the Pilot.
So far So Good
I purchased in January 2009. I like almost everything but a little disappointed in the gas mileage. The inside nice and roomy, I love the leather seats. I added a woodgrain dash which gave it a very rich look. I also installed after market remote starter, alarm and keypad entry. I am quite satisfied after 7000 miles, but definitely needs better mileage. I live in the city of Boston so 90% of driving is city miles. Probably getting 13-14 mph city. The pickup could be a little better, but its adequate. I have a heavy foot. Overall I am happy.