I love Hondas. I love them for their refinement, their understated good looks and above all their solid build quality. So it was with great expectations that I looked forward to driving the new Honda Pilot last weekend, but sadly, I was in for a disappointment. As I climbed in, what struck me immediately was that quality wasn't up to scratch. Hard plastics that even lesser carmakers would not think of using have found their way onto the Pilot's dashboard. Not the best of first impressions.
So what's new about the 2012 Honda Pilot? Nothing much. Apart from a few minor additions like a new grille, a satellite navigation system, Bluetooth connectivity and 18in alloys in the new Touring grade, it's still that big, boxy SUV which replaced the MR-V in our region a few years back. And its price tag still baffles me. When you pay Dh165,000 for a car, you expect a minimum standard in features and build quality, and the Pilot doesn't quite deliver on those fronts.
Honda should have known better and realised that a mid-life refresh of the front grille and a few gizmos are not going to be enough to ward off competition from rivals who are offering vastly improved models with loads of standard equipment — and with smaller price tags.
Does that mean that you should ignore the Pilot? Not really. Because it rather depends on what you're looking for in your next 4x4. If you're in the market for a large SUV that can seat eight people in comfort and offer the peace of mind and reliability that Honda is known for, as well as a decent, fuel-efficient engine, then the Pilot makes complete sense.
But definitely not in the top banana Touring grade. My advice: go for the base model that sells for Dh130K, and you get everything except sat-nav, Bluetooth and rear-view camera and your wheels will be an inch smaller. If you can live with that, then what you get is the smooth 253bhp, 3.5-litre V6 that has proven itself over the years in the Accord saloon, mated to a five-speed automatic transmission. If you thought, like I did, that this lump would be inadequate to pull 2,120kg of metal, then you'd be wrong. The V6 is surprisingly responsive, while returning fuel economy figures of up to 12 litres-per-100km combined.
And even more of a revelation was the handling. As pointless as it might seem to talk about an SUV's handling, I must admit that the Pilot is an impressively manoeuvrable 4x4, considering its 1,845mm height and 202mm ground clearance.
Ride quality is good while cruising along, although it's still not as comfy as the Toyota Land Cruiser or even the Prado. The four-wheel drive system features a Lock mode that sends maximum torque to the rear wheels when you get stuck in loose sand about 30 yards from the road, as I managed to do.
If you're ready to overlook the low-rent plastics and the not-so-exciting layout, the Pilot's interior is generous and functional, and the third row is actually spacious enough for adults, although you'll have to eat into cargo space to do that.
Of course, safety is a big consideration for a family SUV buyer. So it will be heartening to know that all three rows get side-curtain bags, while other safety features like vehicle stability assist, ABS, electronic brake distribution, hill start assist etc are standard in all models. Then there is also the ACE body structure found in all Honda cars that reduces the impact during a frontal collision.
Verdict
As I mentioned earlier, the Touring variant is not at all a good choice for the cost-conscious buyer. With my sensible hat on, I don't see any reason why someone should pay Dh35,000 extra for leather seats and a few additional gadgets that are standard in most of the other cars in the segment.
So if you're looking for a large SUV and are sold on Honda reliability, then the base model of the 2012 Honda Pilot should be your best bet.
Specs & ratings
- Model Pilot Touring
- Engine 3.5-litre V6
- Transmission Five-speed auto, AWD
- Max power 253bhp @ 5,700rpm
- Max torque 347Nm @ 4,800rpm
- Top speed NA
- 0-100kph NA
- Price Dh164,999 as tested
