2005 Honda Pilot Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Honda Pilot rides on the same platform as the Acura MDX and Honda Odyssey minivan, and it borrows some of the best elements of both vehicles. The Pilot’s ride and handling are surprisingly calm and tidy, both of which are characteristics of the minivan world that we all enjoy.

The drivetrain is shared with Acura’s MDX, which means a new 3.5-litre V6 with power specs of 255 horsepower. That’s more than plenty for the Honda Pilot, which at a curb weight of just over 2,000 kilograms (4,400 pounds) gets moving with gusto with the new engine on board. The Pilot returns solid fuel economy and low emissions, too, while helping to reduce overall weight in the vehicle. It’s coupled with a five-speed automatic transmission that is unflappable in any driving conditions and remains smooth even through hard acceleration. Though the gearbox isn’t new, the software controlling has been tweaked. The system monitors throttle position and other factors to keep the transmission in the right gear. As a result, the transmission holds lower gears longer to improve performance on hill climbs and can help provide engine braking on the descent side.

The 2005 Pilot has a rugged look, but deep down it’s a people hauler, and everything about its design leads back to that core purpose. The second and third rows are slightly elevated over the front seats to improve visibility for passengers, and the second-row seats recline slightly for more comfort. Though the cabin has been optimized to get the most space for the most people, the Pilot's third-row seats are short on legroom and are best reserved for children. At least getting into the “way back” is easy, thanks to a sliding seat design in the second row.

With the third row folded down, the Pilot offers an impressive cargo hold, and is a class leader in cargo space with both back rows of seats folded down. There's also a 120-centimetre-wide (4-foot-wide) load floor, which gives it the ability to haul wide cargo like building materials and lawn equipment.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) tested the current-generation Pilot in 2003 and found that the airbags deployed late in front crash tests. Following that revelation, Honda modified the airbag design, and the Pilot was retested by the agency. The Good overall rating that we now see for the 2005 Pilot is a result of that revision work. This still did not prevent a Poor rating for the cloth seats and head restraints, though the leather upholstery helped bump that rating to Marginal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gives the Pilot five stars in its front and side crash tests and four starts for rollover resistance.

Forward and side airbags for the front row, tire pressure monitoring, four-wheel disc brakes and antilock brakes (ABS) are standard equipment on the Pilot. Traction control and a new stability control system are equipped on the EX-L trim.

The LX trim starts in Canada at a new car MSRP of $39,000 and has the basics to make it a competent family vehicle along with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). (Note: Honda refers to this system as four-wheel drive, and it includes variable torque management.) The EX trim starts at $41,500 and has most of the good stuff: A power driver’s seat, premium audio, and more. This stands in stark contrast to competitors from GM and Ford, many of which have complicated and extensive options packages that can drive their prices far north of the Pilot’s. The Honda Pilot EX-L adds leather seats and a sunroof and is priced at $44,000, while adding the rear entertainment system brings that price to $46,200.

Fuel economy rating for all trims of the Pilot sport utility vehicle come in at 14.2 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving and 9.9 on the highway.

Note: Images show a US model.