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Consumer Reviews for the Honda Pilot
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Seven year mark - we are just getting started!
SG, 07/21/2021
2012 Honda Pilot EX 4dr SUV 4WD (3.5L 6cyl 5A)
I've had my Pilot now for seven years. The car has been the most reliable vehicle I've ever owned, and I've owned 2 Hyundai's, 3 Chevies, 2 Jaguars, 2 BMWs and 1 Acura SUV. This vehicle, hands down, is the best SUV for my needs. Let's review step by step.
1. PRO: Spacious, huge SUV. I think, the only SUV with more space out there may be the Suburban. This one has a third row seat … for up to 8 passenger transport, and you'll still have some space left in the back for some bags.
2. PRO: Gas Mileage/Economy. Mine, with a healthy mix of a smaller city/highway driving, has 19.7 mpg average on display. Highway easily gets 23 mpg, and if you fill your tank literally to the brim, you will be able to go around 400 miles on one gas tank. I've seen as much as 425 and as little as 375 highway. That's ridiculously good.
3. PRO: Utility/Towing. Yes, this vehicle is perfectly capable of towing a small trailer filled with firewood, mulch or lawn equipment. I'm quite sure I've towed around 1 ton before. You need to be gentle with heavy loads, and absolutely follow the maintenance schedule and have your timing belt service every 100,000 miles!
4. PRO: All-Terrain Capability. Absolute champion! I recall being in a freak snow storm, where roads went from nothing on them to 2.5 feet of snow. Seemingly, my vehicle was one of the very few that actually got places with no problem, just hit that wonderful 4x4 differential button, and off you go. This thing is a beast when it comes to terrible driving conditions on the road. I would not recommend doing any crazy off-roading on it, that's not what it's built for. However, on-road driving is just excellent, regardless of how crappy your tires are.
5. PRO: Reliability. Aside from recommended maintenance, you will have a vehicle that's "turn the key and go". Yes, your key fob will most likely fall apart after 7 years. Hopefully you'll get two of them to start. But overall, I have had absolutely no problems. Windshield wipers, tires, brakes and fluids will be all the things to worry about, other than that not much else. I'll share a few things under "cons", but those are not "must-fix" items.
6. PRO: Comfort. Yep, even with cheap cloth seats this thing floats from Pennsylvania to Oklahoma like a boat, with minimal driving fatigue to speak of. Driver and passenger seats are exceptional, the third row not so much - it's for occasional use only, you'll have your third row folded for extra space in the back most of the time. The vehicle is heavy, so you won't be feeling bumps on the road like in a smaller sized car or a huge pickup with stiff suspension. Also, at 145,000 miles original suspension (shocks/struts) are still just fine. I'll touch on the sway bars in a bit.
7. PRO: Value. I purchased this with 38,000 miles back in 2014, and with all the dealer "extras" it was right around $27,000. Good luck finding such SUV these days close to that price. On top of that, today's trade-in value is well above $8,000 (not that I'm planning to give up my Pilot).
1. CON: You "may" experience some issues with engine mounts. Mine are basically done for, which causes some internal vibration from the engine and more noise - while idling. You don't experience those things while moving. According to a reputable mechanic of mine, it's not a critical issue and the engine "won't go anywhere". It's a comfort/noise issue, which I don't care about, it sort of feels like a performance vehicle this way.
2. CON: Sway bars going bad. Yes, unfortunately SUVs are top heavy and need those pesky sway bars as a part of suspension package. Those things can go bad anywhere around 90k mile marker to 120k mile marker. Basically you'll hear this joint clunking sound either going slowly over bumps or making turns. Repair per each is around $200 give or take. Again, not a crucial component, but something that gets on your nerves, so you'll probably get it done. I have.
3. CON: Economy mode can act finicky. This car, from what I understand, has the "HEMY"-like ability to shut off half of the cylinders in economy mode when your RPMs are just over 1000. Your transmission may show signs of jerkiness once in a while. This is no big deal, and is not something that gets worse. Just FYI.
4. CON: Acceleration of a huge SUV. Yes, it's just that. Huge SUV that's good on gas, so don't expect to race this thing with a 6-bucket engine. Just enjoy the car for what it is. When you really need to pass something, just put the pedal to the metal, and it will get the job done.
I hope you find this review enjoyable and helpful! Good luck on the road, and keep it rubber side down!
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