Honda

Review: 2010 Honda Pilot EX Front-Wheel Drive

Family Friendliness: 8.6

Recommended: Yes

Specifications apply to EX Front-Wheel Drive models

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By Keith Buglewicz

As crossovers replaced minivans as the primary choice for family haulers, they gradually lost much of their truck-like styling in favor of more wagon-like designs. The 2010 Honda Pilot, however, retains its boxy looks, even though most Pilots are front-wheel drive and won’t do any more off road driving than accidentally backing over a lawn. In spite of its unfashionable clothes, the Honda Pilot remains a strong seller, and after spending a week with this eight-passenger crossover, it’s easy to see why.

Model & Pricing

Our test car was a front-wheel drive 2010 Honda Pilot EX with no options boxes checked. As such, it came in at $31,455, including a $710 destination charge, not bad for a full-sized eight-passenger crossover. Since it’s only an EX, the Pilot’s DVD entertainment system, backup camera and navigation system aren't available even as options; you have to step up to more expensive models to get them. However, Honda got the basics right with the Pilot EX. Along with the usual accessories such as power windows and remote locks, the Pilot EX comes standard with three-zone automatic climate control that included pillar-mounted vents for the rear. The one thing we think should be standard equipment are backup sensors, which instead are a $500 dealer-installed accessory.

Safety

While the Pilot isn't missing any major safety equipment, it doesn't break new ground, either. It offers standard stability and traction control, three-point seatbelts for all eight seating positions, and side-curtain airbags that extend all the way to the third row. The shoulder harness for the second and third row middle positions feature a quick-release latch and store in the ceiling, allowing good shoulder positioning for taller passengers without dangling in your rear view all the time. The Pilot also boasts very good crash test scores, with five stars in front and side government tests, and Good scores across the board from the independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Utility & Comfort

The 2010 Honda Pilot is comfortable, roomy, and pretty quiet at a cruise. Front seat passengers have plenty of space, as you’d expect, but second and third row passengers won’t have reason to complain, either, thanks to plenty of head room and decent leg room in both positions. Important audio functions are repeated on the steering wheel, as are the cruise control switches, and everything else is easy to find and understand. Power from the 3.5-liter V-6 is more than adequate, although it’s a little noisy when you’re accelerating onto a freeway.

If you decide to buy a 2010 Honda Pilot, keep track of where you put your sunglasses, because there are so many storage compartments that you may just lose them forever. For example, the entire center console between the front seats is a storage area, thanks to Honda’s decision to put the Pilot's shifter up on the dash, rather than the floor. The glovebox is plenty big, and the area above it is a divided shelf for small items. The center armrest is also a big bin, there are cupholders everywhere you look, door pockets, map pockets, two hidden compartment in the cargo area (one in the wall, the other in the floor)…and so on.

Cargo space behind the Pilot's third row is pretty good, and is enhanced by a compartment under the floor; secure the floor panel to the third-row seatback and you add an extra cubic foot or so of space. One must-have option is the $99 Advance Cargo Net. This mesh shelf stretches behind the third row seats, doubling your floor space and dramatically enhancing utility. For example, you could put your stroller under the net, and then use the net itself for groceries or other items without having to fold down one of the Pilot's third-row seats. It’s especially handy considering the Pilot’s rearmost glass opens independently of the hatch, making it easier to load small objects without opening the entire rear liftgate. If that’s not enough space, the split third and second rows fold flat, giving you plenty of space for big items. Note that the load floor slopes toward the rear though, so objects may wind up piled against the rear hatch.

Family Friendliness

Do the math and the 2010 Honda Pilot ranks as one of the most Family Friendly crossovers you can get. This holds up in the real world, too. For example, the seats in our EX model were covered in a durable but comfortable cloth that stood up well to the repeated trampling of child-sized feet. Both sides of the second row slide out of the way to allow easy access to the third row, and the big release handle is easy enough for a kindergartner to use, but not without deliberate effort. It was easy to attach and detach a LATCH-equipped child seat in the second row, but a little tougher in the third row thanks to the Pilot’s stiff third-row cushions. If you need extra cargo room but still have to carry three smaller kids, we were even able to get three booster seats in the second row without difficulty.

We found the EX to be well equipped, but there are still three must-have options in our opinion. The first is the $500 backup sensors, since rear visibility in the Pilot is only so-so. The second is the aforementioned $99 Advance Cargo Net. Finally, if you have small children we strongly recommend running boards. The Pilot’s truck-like styling means that it sits high, and your small frys may have a hard time climbing in without running boards. Prices start at around $450 for basic black steps to nearly $800 for fancy lighted running boards. Also remember that you must move up to a $36,305 EX-L if you want a factory DVD entertainment system, or a $36,705 EX-L if you want navigation. If you want both, then the $37,755 Touring model is your only choice. With other manufacturers offering navigation in lower-end models, we think Honda should rethink this price structure.

The only real area of disappointment with the Pilot was its fuel economy. During our week we racked up 300 miles on our Pilot, with about 100 of that on a freeway cruise. Still, we managed only 15.4 mpg, well below the EPA estimate of 19 mpg, and even below the 17 mpg city rating.

Conclusion

Overall, we’re very impressed with the Honda Pilot. It’s a comfortable and capable family hauler, and we mean hauler. There’s plenty of space for people and things in virtually any combination. The Chevrolet Traverse outscores it in Family Friendliness, due mainly to its larger cargo area, but the Pilot can seat more people. Its truck-like styling may not be very fashionable, but it results in a bigger interior than, say, the Ford Flex. We wish Honda didn’t make you step up to the most expensive models just to get navigation, and we would definitely pine for better fuel economy, but overall we found the 2010 Honda Pilot EX easy to Recommend.

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