Hero from the flying squad

text: Oleg Kalaushin

/ photo: Igor Kuznetsov / 05/07/2018

Price: RUB 2,990,900 On sale: since 2017

Tell me, have you ever seen a third generation Honda Pilot on the street? So, no matter how hard my colleague and I tried to remember such a day, we could not. But this car has been on sale for almost a year, and is selling relatively well. At least that's what the dealers say. Then what is the reason for this obscurity? Firstly, according to the same dealers, most cars go to the regions, which is quite logical: a large, reliable car for reasonable money has always been popular in the periphery, especially if the periphery has money. And secondly, you most likely might not recognize him, simply confusing him with Honda CR-V. Yes, after the company decided to move away from brutal design, the Pilot became “like everyone else.” And if the previous generation model was difficult to confuse with anything, now it’s possible to single out the Pilot from the crowd of similar appearance crossovers have become much more difficult.

Despite its dimensions, the car does not look overweight.

Nevertheless, the Honda Pilot is a rather harmonious crossover. With its almost five meters in length, it does not seem bulky. By the way, this is why many people confuse it with the CR-V: it is very difficult to assess the true dimensions of the Pilot if it is not standing next to the CR-V, but it looks a lot like the CR-V. Moreover, it is not without its own design solutions, be it the radiator grille flowing into LED optics, or slanted rear lights, making the rear of the car not as heavy as it could be, given the dimensions. The profile of the Pilot is also not without a flight of design thought, however, here the aerodynamic problem was solved first of all, and the body panels themselves, apparently, were drawn according to the residual principle. As a result, it looks neat and, most importantly, without challenging conservative consumers. In general, everything is exactly as they like it in America, because it was for its market that this car was primarily created. And there, as you know, the simpler and the more, the better.

But if recently “simpler” has become much more complex, which cannot be avoided in the age of technological progress, then “more” - as it was more, remains so. And this is clearly visible, as soon as you open the door, it doesn’t matter which door you open, it could be the driver’s door, the second row door, or even the trunk door - what you see will shock you with its dimensions. It's no joke, but even with the third row of seats folded down, the trunk volume under the ceiling is 524 liters. By the way, by folding out the third row of seats in the Pilot, you get not two additional seats, but three, which in essence and according to the technical data sheet makes the car an eight-seater. Moreover, not only children, but also fully formed individuals can sit in the third row seats with relative comfort. And although, traditionally in such cars, you have to get to the third row through the second, thanks to the competent kinematics of folding the right seat of the second row, this is not very difficult, and the passage is quite wide. The second row also comfortably accommodates three people, and at their service there is not only a climate control unit, but also a 9‑inch overhead monitor. You can connect to it via a variety of connectors on the back of the middle box, located between the front seats.

Instead of the central box there could be another chair, there is enough space.

The second row is no less spacious than the front row, and passengers are free to choose for themselves comfortable temperature. A monitor in the ceiling will help you have fun on a long journey.

In the eight-seat configuration, the trunk volume under the ceiling is 524 liters. In a five-seater - 1583 liters.

Theoretically, this box could also be called an armrest, but the armrests of the first row seats are integrated into the backrests and, if necessary, recline from them. However, if the armrest was above the box, it would be much more convenient, because then it would be wider, and so the driver front passenger you have to make do with relatively narrow elements of comfort. But this is perhaps the only ergonomic miscalculation when it comes to the front row of seats; otherwise it’s difficult to find fault with anything. There is plenty of space, even if you put a third seat, but those that are there are comfortable and conducive to a long stay.

The driver's seat is also not satisfactory. Everything is in your mind, everything is at hand. The instrument panel is easy to read. The display on the center console is no less clear. Through it, the driver actively communicates with the car, displaying information that does not fit on the instrument panel. In particular, fuel consumption can be accurately assessed. And when this information is not needed, you can monitor traffic, especially since recently the multimedia complex has been supplemented with the Yandex Navigator application. In addition, the monitor is a screen that displays an image from either the rear or right side camera. The latter is activated by pressing the end of the left steering column switch and greatly facilitates maneuvering when changing lanes, showing the dead zone.

The instrument panel looks quite modern. At the end of the steering column switch there is a button for the right dead zone camera. The infotainment system supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

In Russian Honda market The Pilot is available with a 3.0-liter engine and a 6-speed transmission. The 249 “horses” of this engine are quite enough to be on par, but, of course, it doesn’t turn the Pilot into a car. The car has an impressive mass, which determines the calm dynamic characteristics. So if you decide to fly on the Pilot, then this is not the case, but if you are planning to go on a long and very comfortable trip, then welcome aboard this aircraft. The car copes with all bumps surprisingly easily. The smoothness of the ride is excellent, one might even say soothing. At such moments, you begin to regret that the car does not have active cruise control in its arsenal. But he can do a lot of things that are inaccessible to competitors. So, in particular, in order to save fuel, it can turn off two or three cylinders or, for example, create turning torque on the rear wheels due to dynamic torque distribution, which significantly improves cornering.

And he, of course, knows how to drive off-road. Its abilities cannot be compared with real SUVs, but you can drive off the asphalt if you wish. Intelligent Traction Control (ITM) allows you to change the throttle opening pattern, gear shift pattern and operation all-wheel drive adapting the car to specific road conditions, be it mud, snow or sand. After assessing the nature of the surface, the driver selects the most suitable operating mode with the corresponding button on the “beard” of the center console, and then... And then somehow, very easily and naturally, a car weighing more than 2.5 tons begins to overcome obstacles. Moreover, his abilities are limited to a greater extent geometric cross-country ability, and not all-wheel drive capabilities - after all, front-wheel drive and rear overhangs quite large, but the car itself is not small.

Yes, the Honda Pilot is not a supersonic fighter: the dimensions and flight characteristics, if we associate it with aviation, are not the same. However, it is quite suitable for the role of a business jet, especially since they are comparable in terms of comfort and passenger capacity. And for many, at a price...

iVTM-4 system

All Honda Pilot crossovers for the Russian market are equipped intelligent all-wheel drive system with iVTM-4 thrust vector control and ITM intelligent traction control system, which allows you to select several driving modes: standard, driving on mud, sand or snow. This technology will allow the driver to feel confident on any type road surface. We understand the intricacies of the work.

Specifications Honda Pilot
Dimensions	4954x1997x1788 mm
Base	2820 mm
Curb weight	2008 kg
Full mass	2650 kg
Clearance	200 mm
Trunk volume	305/827/1779 l
Fuel tank volume	74 l
Engine	petrol, V6, 2997 3, 249/6000 hp/min -1, 294/5000 Nm/min -1
Transmission	automatic, 6‑speed, all-wheel drive
Tire size	245/60R18
Dynamics	192km/h; 9.1sdo100km/h
Fuel consumption	14.3/8.2/10.4 l per 100 km (city/highway/mixed)
Competitors	Mazda CX-9, Nissan Murano, Toyota Highlander

• Spacious and comfortable interior. Economical. Comfortable suspension and good sound insulation.
• Discreet appearance. Insufficient number of driver assistants.

Honda Pilot returns to its roots. The first generation of this SUV was, in fact, a greatly enlarged copy of the CR-V. The second is brutal, square, with excellent off-road potential and, unfortunately, the same harsh, rough and not particularly comfortable interior. The current, third generation of the Honda Pilot, again in many ways resembles the CR-V in design, is in no way inferior or even superior to its predecessor in off-road capabilities, and the interior decoration is still a little shocking.

Other planet

I remember my acquaintance with previous generation Honda Pilot. Then, at the dawn of my career in auto journalism, my colleagues and I were traveling from Kyiv to Transcarpathia. The journey was long, along a variety of roads and directions, but before it began, I could not understand why other crews were snapping up the CR-V and Crosstour, while passing over the Pilot, because it is the most suitable for off-road driving. suitable option. A little later everything became clear. Along the way, we lost our course several times, made our way through areas where nothing but our “tank” could have passed, but by the end of the route my fellow travelers and I felt so exhausted that we didn’t even really want to have dinner. Pilot squeezed all the juice out of us. And the fault was mainly the interior. Hard chairs with a simple profile, rough plastic, minimal multimedia equipment. All this did not create a feeling of comfort, did not allow us to relax.

The interior of the Honda Pilot pleasantly surprised not only with its level of comfort, but also with its technology. I was especially pleased with the image from the camera hidden in the right side mirror. Information from the instrument panel is easy to read, and in general workplace the driver is thought out perfectly

Interior of Honda Pilot 3rd generation

The new Pilot is a completely different story! It has only one thing in common with its predecessor - a huge 7-seater interior (even 8-seater, based on the number of headrests). Only third-row passengers can complain about some cramped seating, and then only in terms of legroom. The width and height of the cabin are sufficient for any of the riders.

In the second row, for example, three adult men of normal build and above average height feel quite at ease. An important role here is played by the absence of a central tunnel and the correctly selected rigidity and profile of the sofa. Access to the third row is powered, tilting the backrests of the second row by 15 degrees.

Moreover, even in the gallery there is:

• air deflectors;
• speakers;
• cup holders.

In the second row of seats:

• heated seats available;
• own climate control;
• separate entertainment system with a 9-inch screen, mounted in the ceiling.

The latter can be connected external devices(via HDMI, RCA or USB), you can watch DVD movies, listen to the radio, wearing headphones so as not to disturb the driver, and for all this you don’t even have to reach for the buttons on the ceiling - the wireless remote control solves the problem.

Front row of seats

It is important that the screen above the second row does not block the driver’s view through the interior rearview mirror. And in general, it’s a sin for the pilot of “Pilot” to complain:

• An excessive number of buttons have disappeared from the front panel;
• the chair is now comfortable, with large adjustment ranges, memory, heating and ventilation;
• on dashboard– 4.2-inch color TFT display with a lot of information;
• heated steering wheel;
• there are voluminous niches and pockets around;
• audio system with 10 speakers, subwoofer and 540 W amplifier;
• 8-inch screen of the Honda Connect multimedia complex running Android operating system.

Everything, as befits a good modern car, without reference to whether it is a large SUV or compact hatchback. The only thing I personally don’t like is individual central armrests on the front seats. They hinder more than they help.

Honda Connect

Honda Connect needs to be discussed separately. This system has good potential, beautiful graphics and many functions, but the speed of operation and the logic of control still needs some work.

The most annoying feature is this: if you turn on the power in the car and do not respond to the system warning for a long time about the need to take precautions while driving, the screen will simply go dark and lock. The only way to bring it back to life is to stop and turn the car's power off and on again. There is probably a magic button somewhere, but scientific poking has not revealed it.

You can love the multimedia content of Honda Connect for three reasons:

• Garmin navigation with free updates for 5 years;
• clear picture from the rear view camera;
• an incomparable camera in the right mirror, which provides an image on the screen with an angle twice as large as can be seen in the mirror.

In fact, you see not only the adjacent row on the right, but also the row after one. This is even better than blind spot sensors. Just turn on the right turn signal, and the picture will automatically appear on the screen of the multimedia system.

Trunk capacity

Returning to one of the key advantages of Honda Pilot - internal volume, - I note that in the three-row configuration there is almost no space left for luggage -
only 305 l.

With the third row of seats folded, the trunk volume increases to an impressive 827 liters, and if you fold the second row, you get as much as 1,779 liters. Moreover, both the second and third rows of seats are laid on a flat floor. The loading height is expectedly high, but the fifth door is equipped with an electric drive. No effort required, no hands dirty.

Drive

Third Honda generation Pilot, as before, is built on a common Acura MDX platform (McPherson struts at the front and multi-link at the rear), albeit with some differences. The shock absorbers have become amplitude-dependent, the offset of the front wheels and the tilt of the drive shafts to reduce vibrations and eliminate the steering effect are less. Coupled with improved noise insulation and changes in the operating algorithms of the elements power plant all this gave the driver a feeling of softness, smoothness and even impressiveness of the car. They are manifested in how delicately the suspension works out defects in the asphalt (knocks are audible, but practically not perceptible), and in how leisurely and imperceptibly the 6-speed automatic transmission with a torque converter changes gears, and in how easily the steering wheel turns at low speeds. . Driving the big “Pilot” is easy and pleasant.

Engine power and consumption

The 2017 Honda Pilot received a flexible 3-liter naturally aspirated V6 VTEC with distributed injection and a shutdown system for two or three cylinders. The engine, by the way, was modernized, achieving a reduction in friction losses, which immediately affected fuel consumption. If the second generation Pilot was distinguished by its exorbitant appetites, now everything is more or less normal - 10 liters per 100 km on the highway, 13 liters in the city (in Eco mode). A couple of additional liters in the urban cycle will be added if the Eco mode is turned off. Interestingly, this engine “eats” 92 gasoline without problems.

Despite the arsenal of 249 hp. and 294 Nm, the engine does not give a feeling of explosive dynamics. Everything happens quite quickly, but linearly. Firstly, peak naturally aspirated torque is available only at 5000 rpm. Secondly, the reduction in body weight during the change of generations still did not take the Pilot significantly below the 2-ton mark. Nevertheless, acceleration from zero to “hundreds” decreased from 9.9 to 9.2 s, and the top speed increased from 180 to 192 km/h.

Patency

I won’t say that the Honda Pilot works wonders off-road, but it is really capable of a lot. Get out of snow captivity, sand, climbing a hill, not giving up if one or two wheels lose contact with the road - no problem. To achieve this, the Pilot has 200 mm of ground clearance and an iVTM-4 all-wheel drive system with three modes – “Snow”, “Mud” and “Sand”. Similar technology is installed on the above-mentioned Acura MDX. In fact, iVTM-4 is a development of the SH-AWD (Super Handling) system All-Wheel Drive), which simulates the operation of the center clutch and cross-axle differential, distributing traction not only along the axles, but also between rear wheels. Everything is given over to electronics, no forced blocking, but after torturing the Pilot for some time light off-road, not the slightest hint of problems with passing reasonable obstacles was found. Nothing overheated, nothing turned off. I didn’t have to run after the tractor, and that’s the most important thing.

conclusions

The new Pilot is very good. It's still the same tank, but now comfortable and technologically advanced. In its rich and only available configuration in Ukraine, it costs $55,300, and, in my opinion, this price is adequate to its capabilities.

The Pilot is a bit big for the city, but this feature is compensated by excellent maneuverability thanks to the large turnout of the front wheels. The turning radius is less than 6 m. Even in the narrow courtyards of residential areas of Kyiv, I was able to go around cars parked everywhere without much difficulty. At the same time, you can park yourself in places where ordinary cars won’t go. In a small snowdrift, for example. And by the way, in basic equipment Pilot in Ukraine includes remote engine start, which is very helpful on frosty winter mornings.

Among the shortcomings - the electric power steering, for example, does not pamper the rich feedback, and the brake pedal travel is somewhat long and “washed out,” but the creators of the Pilot did not strive to satisfy anyone’s driver’s ambitions. Honda has other models for this.

Afterword

Despite the fact that Honda closed its representative office in Ukraine several years ago, Japanese brand has not left our market at all. Its interests are officially represented by Pride Motor, a company with a long-standing and good reputation. It is to her that we are grateful for providing Honda test Pilot. They also shared with us the information that the good news in 2017 does not end with “Pilot”. A debut in Ukraine is expected soon updated models CR-V and Civic. Look forward to!

High level of comfort, good off-road capabilities, huge interior, rich equipment

The front seat armrests are uncomfortable; the multimedia system takes some getting used to

It would be strange if Honda were ignored by global trends. In the model range of almost every company, style becomes a victim of unification. The third-generation Pilot is like a grown-up CR-V. Head optics in the same way it merged with the radiator grille in a burst of design inspiration. Deliberately smooth lines are striking everywhere. They are deliberately and precisely rushed, because in our heads Pilot is still depicted in rough, square shapes. Therefore, having walked around the car, I still check the nameplate: “Is this really him?”

The second and third generations of Pilot have nothing in common externally. At all

The interior is also unrecognizable. In terms of quality of materials, equipment and ergonomics, the Pilot has risen to a higher level. However, this does not mean that there is anything special in the cabin. I just pulled myself up to modern standards.

A scattering of buttons on the center console replaced an eight-inch touchscreen. The instrument panel has gone from archaic to fashionable with a TFT screen in the middle. The seats finally have normal lateral support and adjustments in all major directions. Speaking of functionality, for some reason the Honda people insisted on the fact that for the first time the Pilot received a rain sensor and keyless entry. Although it would be a sensation (and, to be honest, a shame) if the above were absent.

To modern car didn’t look like a dinosaur among others, he has to be friends with gadgets. Pilot is ready to accept any computer equipment. There are four USB connectors, two HDMI connectors, more sockets, AUX, AV... While the husband and wife listen to music, the children back row They play on the console using headphones, connecting it to a retractable screen. This is in theory. I was unable to create such an idyll in practice. And not because of the lack of family. It’s just that the multimedia in the pre-production “Pilot” turned out to be in the status of a dead man. You can wander through the menu, but almost nothing works, not even the radio. Honda explained this by old firmware. I hope that with the system update the terrible “brakes” will disappear. We were able to truly evaluate only the excellent quality wide-angle image from the rear view camera.

The Russian version of the Pilot was deprived of many of the safety systems that the American version acquired. We won't have lane keeping, forward collision warning, or full blind spot monitoring. There is only the LaneWatch system familiar from Accord - when you turn on the right turn signal, an image from a camera installed in the rearview mirror is displayed on the screen

Seven eight

While the “Pilot” was turning from a simpleton into a dude, he did not lose his breadth of soul - read: space in the cabin. One box under the armrests is worth it! It seems that eight “trunks” will fit there, one per passenger. That is, I wanted to say - a woman's handbag, a tablet and a couple of bottles of water.

The crossover grew by 7.9 cm in length, most of which went to the wheelbase. Even those who sit in the “outsiders” on the third row will not complain about the lack of space. Although, of course, you still won’t last long there - the flat seats and the “feet up” mode make their presence felt. Honda proudly calls its model an eight-seater. Competitors modestly stop at the number seven. But let's be honest - if in a Toyota Highlander or Ford Explorer just add another seat belt, they will also become eight-seaters. The sizes allow it.

In four movements I turn the Pilot into a two-seater with a large, flat rookery behind. 305 - 827 - 1779 liters - this is how the trunk increases as the seats are folded. Not a record, but a very respectable figure. Other “seven-seaters” don’t even have two hundred liters when everything is assembled.

“I’m 42, I have two children”

Our country will receive Pilot in an unusual international form. A Japanese crossover of American origin will come to Russia with a Chinese “heart”. Instead of a 3.5-liter engine, there is a three-liter V6 with distributed injection, “strangled” to 249 horsepower. Is it more important for the owners of Pilot to save 25 thousand rubles a year from the tax authorities than to get an extra 40 horses? This is what Honda thought, given that Moscow is the main region for the model. It sounds logical, but I have a hard time believing the declared power.

Neither by sensations nor by approximate measurements does the Pilot show the passport 9.1 seconds to hundreds. And it's light. Up to three thousand rpm, the naturally aspirated engine seems to have no traction at all and makes you believe in your strength only at six thousand. The six-speed automatic transmission does not help keep the engine in good shape, which I especially felt on “drunk” roads in the mountains of Armenia. No matter what the turn, the automatic transmission rather casually drops the gear at the wrong moment, as if upset and apologizing: “Sorry, it’s not working...” With such a phlegmatic character, a gearbox would do well. sport mode. But Pilot didn’t know about it and especially the steering wheel paddles in the last generation, and still doesn’t know about it.

We must pay tribute - Honda was puzzled by the development of the “Pilot” version especially for Russia. The word “adaptation” hides a heated steering wheel, windshield wiper rest zones, standard remote engine start, ground clearance increased to 20 cm and brake discs extended to 33 cm.

Attempts to try on the role of a mountain fighter on the Pilot had no effect on the silence in the cabin. The howls of the engine are audible, but they seem to be somewhere far away. The rustle of tires and the whistle of the wind are also faintly heard. In the meantime, the ears are calm, the eyes are happy with the numbers on on-board computer. Having put “hundred” on a straight line, I got 10.5 liters. “Getting into the top ten” was possible thanks to the VCM function, which turns off two or three cylinders depending on the driving mode. But this engine still runs on 92 gasoline without any problems.

“Don’t rock the boat!” - under the same slogan, obviously, the engineers tuned the suspension. If you think that Russia has broken roads, then you have not been to Armenia. And along these misunderstanding routes, the Pilot goes smoothly and softly, avoiding breakdowns in seemingly inevitable situations. I would say - too softly. The palpable rocking, like on the waves, sometimes simply lulls you to sleep.

The Pilot can demonstrate its off-road capabilities in several modes. Using a button on the center console, the type of coating is set - “Mud”, “Snow” or “Sand”. The choice significantly affects the responsiveness of the gas pedal, the operation of the automatic transmission, the stabilization system and the distribution of traction. To set up the “mud” mode, the car was tested in Russia in the Tula region

Naturally, we are not talking about sharp, easy handling. But I don’t really want to twist into turns in the Pilot. And in this way it doesn't look like its premium cousin, the Acura MDX. The Honda crossover received a less complex all-wheel drive system - electro-hydraulic with two separate clutches on the rear axle shafts. Up to 70% of the traction can go back, and all of it goes to one outer wheel for more confident cornering. Vehicle Stability and Agile Handling systems have also become assistants. The latter brakes the inside wheel when cornering.

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But the Pilot does not perceive the driver as daring, sharp and nimble. “I’m 42, I have two children,” I try to imagine the average buyer calculated by Honda... And then I float serenely along the waves of useless Armenian roads, again thinking that the company probably missed the mark with the name. The “pilot” would be more suited not to the air name, but to the sea name Sailor or, say, Marine...

Pay and wait

Honda has not yet announced prices. There are more than six months before the start of sales in Russia, and the cars for our country will still be perfected. So far we only hear the routine promise to “be in the market.” But in this very “market” there is a wide range of prices. For example, Nissan Pathfinder on this moment will cost 2,290,000 rubles, a Ford Explorer can be purchased for 2,449,000 rubles, and for a Toyota Highlander you will have to pay 2,728,000 rubles. If Honda keeps with the change generations of Pilot price of 2,379,000 rubles (although this is hard to believe), there is a good chance of attracting some buyers to yourself.

Who buys crossovers with three rows of seats and why? Fathers of families? Mothers of many children? Or maybe those who just need an XL size car? We suspect that most owners of seven-seaters do not fold out additional seats at all, or do so extremely rarely. We came to this conclusion after riding on large Honda crossovers Pilot, Hyundai Grand Santa Fe, Kia Sorento Prime along the city streets and secretly observing the passengers of the same “buses”.

The Honda representative office, having “served” faithfully for 11 years in the Russian automotive “army” and having sold about 250,000 cars in our market during all this time, after the New Year goes into standby mode with sales only by pre-order. But Honda goes “to the reserve” not empty-handed, but reverently clutching a demobilization suitcase in which it is carefully packed new flagship model range - crossover Pilot. We have already managed to get acquainted with the Pilot, despite the fact that sales of the car will begin in our country only in the spring.

The second-generation Honda Pilot had many advantages, but they were offset by a huge disadvantage: the car looked like a big boxy SUV, while buyers preferred neat, sedan-like crossovers. In the 2016 model year year Honda will offer a third-generation Pilot, which will be completely free of the brutal appearance of its predecessor, not to mention the use latest technologies in the field of safety and fuel economy.

We brought together six of the most popular competitors in the CUV category and had a brutal battle. The rules were as follows: the base cost of each specific model with the selected equipment level should not exceed $40,000, this amount can only be increased through optional equipment. The car should have three rows of seats, a V6 engine and an all-wheel drive system.

The fate of these rather large SUVs is similar. Designed specifically for American market, but then the geography of their distribution expanded. Both have been sold for quite a long time in our country and have managed to undergo restyling.

Gone are the days when you could drop everything and go for it, throwing a change of underwear, a couple of cans of stew and a bottle of port into your backpack. Now, even for a trip to the dacha, you need to order a Gazelle, because three children, a wife, her best friend, mother-in-law and father-in-law and your faithful St. Bernard Sharik will not fit into any car. This means the new Honda Pilot will be just the right size for you.

Bam-bam-bang! No, the Pilot is fine, we’re just rushing along Karelian roads, apparently built in the middle of the last century and after that never saw any repairs. What's that annoying creaking noise in the trunk? Oh, this is just a lunch-box, carefully placed by Honda representatives in a wicker basket. It's time to stop and have a snack on the shore of a picturesque lake. Kill three birds with one stone: have lunch, enjoy the scenery and test the cross-country ability of the new crossover from Honda.

Honda company will begin sales this year Russian market new model - the second generation Honda Pilot SUV. Today they are even known Russian prices for this car, but in showrooms official dealers The new item has not arrived yet. We offer you a test drive American version Honda Pilot SUV in the maximum Touring configuration.

Stories about road trips on the Honda Pilot

The whole photo shoot

Usually our photographer, having learned that a crossover or SUV is to be photographed, strives to capture the car in the lap of nature. So this time, it took us a couple of hours to get to the prepared point on the outskirts of the Moscow region - all that was left was to drive off the asphalt onto a dirt road leading into the field. This is where the problem arose. According to a colleague, the last time he came here a few months ago, the convention was normal...

Now the rains have washed such a hole that even real SUV. But Pilot is not one of those: despite off-road appearance, it's more of a large, elevated station wagon than an off-road conqueror. But you have to go - don’t come back! In addition, three not very sober residents of a nearby village had already come to gawk at the free show, promising, if anything happened, to go get a tractor. True, they say, the tractor driver is already drunk, but he will get out even in this state. In a word, a cheerful future is in sight!

All I have to do is select the “dirt” mode using the button on the central tunnel (there is also a standard mode, as well as “snow” and “sand”), accelerate a little and then keep the speed in the region of 2.5-3 thousand. Let’s go - we’ll take the pit diagonally . Honda Pilot falls into a ditch with its left side, right rear wheel ends up in the air, but we continue to confidently move forward. We plunge waist-deep into the mud slurry, and... nothing bad happens. The crossover didn’t even think about slowing down - and so, on steady throttle, the Pilot got out of the hole with opposite side. The natives were even slightly upset that the show ended just before it began. True, it took us a long time to wash the car, fortunately we took several bottles of water with us.

Volume matters

Almost five meters from “nose” to “tail”, almost two in width and a little less in height - this car is impressive in size. Combined with a rather aggressive “face,” this suggests that he should definitely be respected on the road.

However, the predecessor model still seems more brutal to me thanks to its “square” design. But the new generation looks much more modern. The crossover added 79 mm in length, became wider by 2 mm, while decreasing in height by a significant 58 mm. The wheelbase has increased by 40 mm. Ground clearance, as before, is 200 mm.

Under the hood is a 3-liter naturally aspirated six with a power of 249 hp. - other options power units No. There is no alternative to the 6-speed automatic transmission, as well as the all-wheel drive system with automatic rear axle engagement. The suspension has been adapted for Russian roads. Also, especially for our country, the Pilot received a heated steering wheel and windshield wiper rest zone, and even additional sound insulation.

The interior design compared to its predecessor is heaven and earth. Instead of archaic architecture, the design has finally become modern. Americans are known to be very unpretentious in the quality of interior trim, which is why cars created for the local market often suffer from hard plastic and sloppy assembly, but I have nothing to complain about here. Gaps between interior panels small and smooth, and the upper part of the front panel and door trim is made of soft material.

The multimedia interface screen, as is customary, is touch-sensitive and responds to touch quickly enough. Among the conveniences, I would like to note the presence of Yandex.Navigator - however, for it to work, the smartphone must distribute the Internet. Another proprietary Honda feature is the right side view camera, which neutralizes the blind spot. It turns on when you press the right turn signal and is displayed on this very screen.

But the touch volume control is inconvenient; fortunately, you can use the keys on the steering wheel. There is one more strange thing about the screen: if you do not have time to press “OK” after starting the engine, when a warning message about the danger of using while driving is displayed, the monitor will only show the time. To turn it on later, you will have to press the “back” touch button or the same day/night mode button.

The automatic selector, as always with Honda, moves along a straight slot, which is why unknowing people complain that they skip the Drive position and turn on L mode, which forces the gearbox to work at lower gears. In fact, you just need to release the lever unlock key immediately after it starts moving, and then it stops clearly in the Drive position.

The front seats in all directions are like on a bus. Between the seats, instead of an armrest, there is a huge box that can easily accommodate several 2-liter bottles of water. You can't reach the right door. The seats are wide and soft, without lateral support, but they have folding armrests on the side of the central box. And of course, like a real “American,” there are plenty of different cup holders and pockets. There are also sockets and inputs for electronic gadgets.

In the second row you can sit cross-legged. The sofa is flat in shape, but is equipped with adjustable backrests and heating. There is no central tunnel, thanks to this, as well as the large width of the cabin, three large people can easily fit here. Passengers have access to a separate climate control system, mechanical window shades and a 9-inch diagonal retractable ceiling screen with a wireless remote control. However, you can only watch DVDs - TV programs are not available. Armrests, pockets, cup holders, headphone jacks and power outlets are included.

I press the button at the end of the sofa cushion - and its back reclines forward, and the seat moves, opening the passage to the third row. I make my way there and settle down quite comfortably with my 180 cm. My knees do not reach the backs of the middle sofa, and there is enough space above my head. There are ventilation system deflectors, cup holders and speakers. According to the passport data, here, as in the second row, there should be room for three if desired, as evidenced by the middle headrest, but in reality there is only room for two.

The trunk in the 8-seat configuration is small - only 305 liters. However, if you fold the third row, the volume immediately increases to an impressive 827 liters. And when the second row is folded, the luggage compartment turns into a cave with a volume of 1779 liters. Spare wheel It is located under the bottom, so in case of a puncture, the luggage does not have to be removed. One problem: in bad weather, you won’t be able to stay clean when changing a wheel.

Antisport

Moving in space on a Honda Pilot is fundamentally different from driving the vast majority of European cars, starting with the process of moving away. I turn on Drive, release the brake pedal, and the car slowly, like a train, “departs.” The accelerator pedal is heavily damped, and this is followed by automatic transmission transmission To achieve truly powerful acceleration, you need to “stomp” on the right pedal like a man and wait a couple of seconds. Now it’s a different matter! Although the slowness of the “machine” does not cure even the D4 mode, which disables two high gears.

Steering light, not sharp (three and a quarter turns from lock to lock) and, as at first it seems, uninformative. However, having driven a car, you understand that everything is in order with the information content of the steering wheel - you just need to get used to the slight effort on it, as well as to the leisurely reactions to control actions. There’s just no need to rush anywhere with this crossover - it’s inherently anti-sporty. When you understand this and stop demanding quick reactions from a heavy crossover, you begin to evaluate it differently. Suddenly it becomes clear that the Pilot handles perfectly within the framework of its paradigm: the steering wheel is quite accurate and “transparent”, and the balance is absolutely magnificent, thanks to which I felt the car perfectly and understood its capabilities.

Pilot is ideally suited for long-distance voyages. Gorgeous directional stability on a straight line and in gentle turns allows you to ignore unevenness and ruts and feel relaxed. Soft suspension lulls passengers, but does not annoy them with rocking on the waves of the road surface. And the sound insulation is excellent: neither the engine nor the tires are completely audible, and the wind only whistles barely noticeably in the large mirrors. Is it possible that on bumps with sharp edges the suspension will “kick”? unsprung masses, but this behavior is typical for heavy vehicles with soft chassis settings. And one more important point, useful for long-distance trips: the crossover can be fueled with 92-octane gasoline.

So, the Honda Pilot is a spacious, impressive, practical and comfortable car. An excellent candidate for the role of a family vehicle for all occasions. True, comfort costs money. Most available equipment“Japanese” will cost 2,999,900 rubles, the top version is offered for 3,599,900 rubles.

Author Dmitry Zaitsev, columnist for Avtopanorama magazine Edition Autopanorama No. 9 2017 Photo by Kirill Kalapov

Technical Honda Pilot characteristics
Dimensions, mm	4954x1997x1788
Wheelbase, mm
Turning diameter, m
Ground clearance, mm
Trunk volume, l
Curb weight, kg