Honda Pilot test drive since 2009 SUV

Pereging point

A large crossover is a point where the development paths of different types of cars converge: minivans, cars and SUVs. What features of these classes do our today's heroes carry in their DNA? The journey to Rybinsk helped to answer this question.


Ford Explorer
One day is enough to use the iPhone to fall in love. It is pleasant to hold it in his hands, and thanks to powerful processors, the word slows down forever disappears from the lexicon. For many, Apple products have become cult. Ford decided to repeat the path of Steve Jobs and created a new type of IUV: Internet Utility Vehicle. According to the Fords, the modern buyer is most important for multimedia functions. Explorer is equipped with an operating system developed by Microsoft. And this is not the best choice, because the Bill Gates empire loses its position, and Windows Mobile was completely defeated in the Android and Apple market. Maybe Explorer will be more User-Friendly?

Outside and inside
Alas, the Microsoft Sync system on the Windows CE platform, which combined all the entertainment functions of Explorer, quite clearly demonstrates why buyers are increasingly turning away from Bill Gates: reactions for every touch on the Touch-Screen display have to wait at least a second Two, in the cold, the system desperately hangs, and the organization of the menu itself depresses with illogicality. For example, heating the seats cannot be turned on with a button, you need to climb into the submenu. In the cold, I could not activate heating for 12 minutes until the temperature in the cabin increased and the display was not thawed. Communication with SYNC would not have disappointed me so much if I had not acquired an iPhone a couple of weeks before the test. So if you are a fan or at least Apple user, then the new Explorer is not for you.

If you perceive Ford primarily as a car, not a gadget, then everything is not so bad. The ergonomics of the American crossover car without any stretch. A rare case: along with two planes adjustable in two planes, there is also an electroregulation of the pedal node. The driver’s seat can be omitted almost to the floor, and the seats themselves are quite wide, but also hard -fingers and with good lateral support. You can only find fault with a short pillow.

It is impossible not to say about such a chip as Mykey. This is an intellectual key that has long been available to many American models, now got to Russia. Mykey allows the owners to limit the speed of the car 140 km/h, and the volume of the audio system at the level of 40% of the maximum. Additionally, you can turn on other restrictions: the inability to disable ESP, the inability to turn off the reminder of the need to fasten the seat belt and a warning about the unsteady seat belt, which will not turn off and will allow the sound on the car radio until the passengers on the front seats are fastened, early warning about the low fuel level (activated with the residue necessary to overcome 120 km), the inability to disable additional security systems, for example, a monitoring system of blind areas. A useful thing, if you give it to scree your crossover inexperienced drivers, for example, your children.

In move
Firstly, the steering wheel on Explorer is poured with effort, and the suspension does not allow rolls. On the way to Rybinsk, I boldly attacked turns, like in a car. Secondly, a powerful V6 with a juicy, caressing hearing voice easily accelerates a heavy SUV and gives confidence in overtaking. Thirdly, the suspension, although tough, is quite energy-intensive. From Uglich to Myshkin, the road in some places becomes like a washing board, but Ford allows you to maintain a speed of 100120 km/h without pending fences. Although, of course, vibrations are quite noticeable. Fourth, Explorer has beautiful brakes: powerful, with a perfectly configured gas pedal, which allows you to precisely dose slowdown.

But there are clear punctures. So, the automatic transmission is disappointed with too large pauses during switching. As a result, more powerful Explorer feels slower than Highlander. The gas pedal is also upset. You press a little bit and nothing happens, you crush more hard and Ford jumps forward. As a result, it is inconvenient to maneuver at parking speeds, conquer a snowy country and even just climb the mountain. In the second row, unexpectedly crowded. Little space for the knees and for the feet. Moreover, the American is also inconvenient to climb the thresholds too wide, and the shape of the foundation of the seats limits the opening of the legs. In addition, the rear passengers have not at their disposal not climate control, but only air conditioning. But to the third row of claims there are no spacious, comfortable and not even too much swinging on irregularities just due to a hard suspension.



Denis Halfin, editor-recrecer

Despite the American origin and large sizes, Glamor won here, replacing the traditional cowboy fee. This trend is also traced in the interior of the SUV. High -quality materials, stylish layout, spectacular shapes, add here the still rich electronic filling of Explorer and beautiful, and smart, and strong. As for functionality, with all the abundance of shine and gloss, control elements clearly suffer from overload of information. In the traditional desire to please the consumer in terms of volume and in terms of comfort Explorer, he was significantly heavier not only in the presentation of information, but in everything else, including sled habits. Whether the bourgeois abdomen will interfere with him, in the end, the buyer will decide.
 

Honda Pilot
Rybinsk, where we headed on three crossovers, was not only in the old days the largest transit point, but also the Burlat capital of Russia. So Honda Pilot seems to be a typical Burlac: wide shoulders, high growth and tired look. In fact, this is just a well -completed citizen with a load -bearing body and connected through a coupling with all -wheel drive. Will he just be a thick mattress?

Outside and inside
Pilot’s practically cubic form may not be liked from the outside, but it is precisely thanks to this that the Japanese crossover affects the royal expanse inside. Frankly, with such an internal volume, I came across only once, when we had a Chrysler Grand Voyager on our test. But the point is not only in the form, but also in the amount of: Pilot, for nothing that it is traditionally attributed to Mid-Size SUV, more Full-Size Chevrolet Tahoe! Add to this the lack of a frame, and the secret of the spaciousness will be completely revealed. The back is almost as free as in Toyota, and on the third row is even more spacious. Moreover, if you move forward the middle row, then in the third row it becomes even more volitional than on the second! In addition, Pilot is an eight -seater car! Only here is a full -fledged triple sofa with belts for three. In fact, Pilot is an all -wheel drive minivan with an enlarged clearance.

The minivan here is the architecture of the salon: the automatic transmission lever perched on the central console, and in its place there are two giant trays with a common cover and a couple of cup holders, into which the bottles of 1.25 liters of our tests climbed! And behind all this wealth there is also a armrest hiding another box in which you can settle a child if you wish. Due to the absence of the frame, the floor was made very low: the chair sinks unusually low, and there is no central tunnel behind. At the same time, the seats themselves are deep, wide and quite soft, but still better than in Toyota. The back can be put almost vertically, and the stuffing is still tougher than that of Highlander, the back was not ill even after long trips. Everything is so big and thoughtful here that I want to stay!

Nevertheless, something is not so thought out in some kind of Pilot. So, with the floor folded by the third row of seats, the floor has a slope, and if the gallery is laid out, then bags fall out of the resulting trunk site. In addition, the glass does not open separately from the back door, and the trunk in a 3-row configuration is the smallest in the trio. And there are too many buttons on the console. For four days of active driving, I never learned to touch the climate or music buttons I need. A large display can be safely turned off on it only navigation and the picture from the rear view camera, but the navigation itself perfectly verses the intricacies of Rybinsk streets. Clothing!

In move
Honda is not only large, but the highest in the trio. It is most similar to an SUV. Therefore, the most cargo is on the go: the rolls are much larger than the rest of the test machines, the steering wheel is a very long 3.7 turn from the stop to the stop. In addition, the effort on the steering wheel is the lowest in the trio. The brake pedal is cotton, then you will uninstall, then you lack. The engine is the lowest, acceleration is the longest, but the machine operates no worse than Toyota. But the smoothness of the course is inferior to Highlander. It seems to be not so strong on the seat and steering wheel, but when the large holes and pardon are passing, you feel a small trembling through the body and floor, and the wheels overcome irregularities with a roar. But this is if you go in the rhythm of Toyota, and if you slow down to the Ford values, then the smoothness will be quite at the level, and the efforts on the steering wheel will be enough. Unfortunately, the noise from tires and especially from the wind does not disappear even at legal speeds.

And what is the giant on the off -road? In search of a beautiful frame, the photographer drove me to a snowmobile path, the snow on which seemed firm enough. The first five meters we drove normally, and then still fell through the front wheels. And not to say that in such a situation you can also be in the usual yard. So, on his own, the Japanese giant could not get out. They would have sat deeper, would have settled longer and completely remain without all -wheel drive: the Pilot coupling quickly overheats.



Sergey Gerasimov, System Administrator

When you hear the name Pilot, you can imagine a sports car with excellent controllability of the heir to the legendary NSX. When you see a hefty SUV instead, you expect from him at least good patency and a rich salon. Instead, you get a shed with a salon of cheap plastic and a bunch of buttons. There is neither Civic cosmos nor sportswoman Accord. He also does not shine by cross -country ability. It seems that my Corolla will pass where Pilot gets stuck! But he is comfortable on the go, thought out inside and very spacious there are no questions. Here, a full -fledged third row was enough for me to have enough space, and I, to put it mildly, not small. Probably a large American family appreciates all this, but for the money that costs Honda, I would prefer another car. Yes, at least Explorer! He is the most stylish, the most youth, and what is the sound of the motor

 
Toyota Highlander
If Ford is a mixture of a car with a gadget, then Toyota is still a car. And you won’t even understand if this car is passenger or an SUV. The low, elongated and fried body of Highlander seems small against the background of Honda and Ford. But it seems to customers to taste. In Russia, Higlander is almost as popular as its older brothers Land Cruiser 200 and Land Cruiser Prado. And I seem to be able to understand why.

Outside and inside
Inside Toyota, it looks like an office of a small but successful company. Let the finishing materials do not shine with quality skin cheap, wooden plastic, and the tree is plastic but the build quality at the height, ergonomics is successful, and the design pleases the eye. Let the pedals are not adjusted, but it is convenient to sit down without problems. A soft wide chair in the city created a home comfort, but on the return road from Rybinsk tortured. Due to the fact that the back cannot be put in a vertical position, the feeling of a car worsens, and a soft back leads to back pain. Had the way! But behind the expanse of the two healthy men 190 cm tall, they easily sit down one after another, without touching the knees, respectively, the cover of the glove compartment and the back of the seat. The services of medium-sized passengers are climate control, a socket and a whole table with cup holders, which can be installed instead of the central section of the sofa. The third row is as spacious as in Ford, although the trunk, with a third row raised and less than that of an American, due to a higher sex.

In move
On the go, Toyota made me almost fall in love. Let the sound of the motor and not as solid as Ford, albeit only 5, and not 6, but the car makes the impression of the fastest in the trio. But the main plus of Highlander suspension. The fact is that technically the highlander is an elongated Camry with all -wheel drive and a universal body. And on the move it is noticeable! Toyota is even more light than Ford! There are no krenov at all, the steering force on the steering wheel is even better than that of the new Camry, and the suspension perfectly copes with bumps. Where Ford had to limit himself, albeit at the level of 100 km/h, Highlander allowed to go as fast as we wanted. There would be other seats and the best transport for traveling around Russia!

And now about the minuses. The car from the press park ran 25,000 km in a year and a half, which allows you to evaluate the durability of the car. So, the skin on the seats is like new, there are no scuffs on the steering wheel, and the salon did not begin to creak. But Highlander visited several travels. But on the back, age, alas, is noticeable. Chrome began to bubble and peel off in places, and rust appeared on the fifth door! The brakes were also disappointed: the force that has to be attached to the pedal is too large. Sometimes it seems that Toyota simply cannot stop.

As for off-road adventures, the highlander was twice in situations when we had to go for help: at first we drove onto a football field, covered, seemed, a small layer of snow. Toyota at first quickly pierced her path in the deeper virgin land, and then just sat on the belly. Our strength was enough to push the car without the help of the tractor, but the protection of the bottom suffered. The fact is that the protection on Higlander is installed not only under the engine, but also under the fuel tank and bottom. One of these panels has unfastened with us. It seemed from the side that our crossover was torn by the bottom, but in fact there were 300 rubles. And three screws instead of the lost so that the defense rises into place. Great! And between the field and the overpass Toyota visited the ditch. A wide road to the airfield, on which we removed the dynamics, turned out to be a fiction: Grader at the same time cleaned the side of the road! As a result, Highlander pushed soft snow from the edge of the road, and it instantly sucked into a snow quagmire. Fortunately, the car did not captivate, and in general there were without damage, but the Japanese car could not leave in the footsteps. I had to follow the tractor. I would like to say many thanks to the tractor driver Sanya for pulling us out of the trouble. Good people in Rus' have not yet been transferred!



Denis Halfin, editor-recrecer

If you compare Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander, it is not clear which of them is a Japanese and who is an American. Judge for yourself: the Japanese clearly loses to the American in IQ, but the lack of rich electronic intelligence Highlander compensates for the simplicity and honesty in the manage. If in the case of Ford time it takes to understand it and get used to it, then the Japanese guy from Soha to contact comes at a glance and from a semi -outlook. Particular gratitude to the highlander for his beautiful energy -intensive suspension. Highlander soared over Russian reality, remaining indifferent to the bumps and pits of our provincial roads. For this, he could also forgive the signs of obvious savings in the design of the salon, but still the price in comparison with the Explorer assembly is overestimated. Toyota Highlander is a good friend, but it costs a little expensive.

 
Summary

The calculation of the points showed that Toyota won! Highlander is perfect for traveling around Russia: its suspension easily copes with irregularities, good handling allows you to quickly go along the twisted provincial paths, and the salon will comfortably place a whole family. But this is never an SUV. This is precisely the universal and all -wheel drive Camry. And the maximum of this car is the fight against the country road.

Pilot is the least passenger car. Let it be a little rustic, let it be the slowest and the worst. But it is the most spacious, the most universal, the most comfortable and cheapest. It has much more from minivan than from a real SUV. This is a city resident who should not leave asphalt.

And what about Explorer? Stylish, modern, powerful, high -tech. Nevertheless, he could barely get ahead of Pilot and was very behind Highlander. Everything would be different if Sync did not hang out, and the machine had not stupid. For the first puncture, Ford lost two points, for the second one more. Otherwise, it is no worse than Toyota. So if you are not a racer and not an advanced user, I won’t dissuade you from the purchase. Moreover, Explorer is the most charming in this trinity. You should have seen how Rybinsk girls escorted him!
 

Source: Cars