Honda Pilot test drive since 2009 SUV

WUPV

SUVs have long no longer fit into the framework of the same class, now the abbreviation SUV denotes a large automobile tribe with their classes and groups, from miniature to huge, from SUVs to serious rogues, from completely budget to real Luxury. And for the fact that Honda proposed, it is unlikely that the best definition is to select than off -road UPV, a station wagon of increased capacity.
You can argue for a long time about whether we have a lot to do with the inhabitants of North America, but the similarity of huge expanses, not particularly tightly covered with a network of roads, makes ourselves felt: we are also attracted by SUVs, these automobile personifications of independence from external conditions. Everything should be off -road and compact city self -round stools, and roomy family station wagons, and luxurious representative limousines. And this passion is not able to satisfy the choice provided by official importers, for most of which we belong to European influence zones. However, the market does not tolerate the void would be demand. So we also got Acura MDX, which we met a little over a year ago (cars, 5/2001).
In our time, universal unification would be naive to assume that a very successful platform will serve as the basis for a car belonging to the Luxury category: in the winter of this year, the family version of Honda Pilot was also shown at the Detroit car dealership. And, of course, barely at the beginning of summer, Pilot went on sale in North America, as it can already be easily bought in Moscow.
Reference points
As well as Acura MDX, Pilot is built on the shortened platform of the North American minivan Honda Odyssey and is made by the same Honda Canada MFG. In Allison (Ontario, Canada). 3.5-liter V-shaped 24-valve six (1 camshaft in each head) with the VTEC proprietary system (changes in the lifting height/phase of the valves), five-speed automatic transmission with the GRADE Logic Control algorithm, a unique automatic system of all-wheel drive VTM-4 ( See cars, 5/2001). The front suspension is MacPherson, the rear double levers. The almost complete repetition of MDX mechanics, with the exception of the end of the wheels: on the Pilot, the company sets only 16-inch wheels with high, currently, tires 235/70 R 16 104 S. So the starting stove for dancing can serve as already familiar to our customers Acura .
It is much more difficult to decide on real competitors. With MDX, everything was simpler her main rivals in the American market (BMW X5, Lexus RX 300, Mercedes-Benz Ml 320) are sold with us. In the case of Pilot, you should not remember about the American market: many of the competitors there do not appear, and those that are sold at unsuitable prices. If we talk about the money paid to the cashier, then for this amount in Moscow you can purchase a well-equipped Lexus RX 300, and a slightly sophisticated Mercedes-Benz Ml 320, and a 3.5-liter Mitsubishi Pajero with complete mince, and Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with a 5-liter engine. But it is painfully diverse that the set is obtained both in equipment and for its intended purpose. And the price of $ 55,000 can hardly be considered very moderate, apparently in this case it is a consequence of the novelty of the model and unity of supply (in the USA Pilot costs $ 28,34 thousand).
The unexpected approach was prompted by life itself: the current owners of CR-V, seeing Pilot in the Pilot car dealership next to the new CR-V and, apparently, amazed by the similarity of faces (really like a large-scale copy, though only in the form of the front), immediately begin to ask what kind of big CR-V, what are the differences except sizes and how much it costs. Probably determined with the next step in their authorship career. Well, I want like CR-V, but only a large approach is also, especially since the CR-V is very good as well as the best-selling Honda car in Russia.
Not on clothes
This is not to say that the appearance of Honda Pilot fights on the spot. Without frank flaws, but nothing impressive, and the back is already completely boring. And in this sense, of course, nothing in common with the more prestigious sister of Acura. However, the high just square body is already making it clear that inside it should be even more spacious than in the MDX salon. Is this possible? Even the long -legged driver Pilot provides the possibility of the most volitional landing, and at the same time no less tall passengers will comfortably be placed on the seats of the middle row for the knees with a margin. Actually, it is spacious in width here, and the main reason for some inconvenience of the three -piece planting is not so much barely noticeable tightness at the level of the elbows as a harsh bulging middle part of the seat.
Almost none of the SUVs of similar sizes are proposed even as an option. The third series of Pilot seats is incorrect and called conditional, it is quite full: if adult passengers have no excessive legs length, then sitting from behind will be quite comfortable. Of course, the width here is somewhat limited by the wheel arches, and you will determine the Pilot landing formula based on your own idea of \u200b\u200bthe norm of the width of the sciatic part: it will either be 7 seats, or 5+3. Moreover, these three should be understood not of small children, but at least adolescents, or even thin adults. At least, it is for three that the head restraints and the three -point seat belts with the original upper mount of the middle belt to the ceiling are provided here.
Trunk? Even if you go brown, he is not so small 461 liters. And if you add one or two back rows ... In the transformation of the Pilot interior, not only is not inferior to MDX, but, as it should be a later child, even surpasses. And this is possible? Fact! But just something: the third row of seats is not in half here, but in a proportion of 60:40, as well as the average. And with any ratio of the number of passengers/baggage, the suitable option is easily located. The salon is replete with witty and pleasant trifles, and comfortable (such as a hinged holder for a mobile phone) and stylistic (which are spectacular handmade handles with built-in lamps). In general, you might think that the appearance of the designers simply did not have a fuse left in the interior. Of course, it is a matter of taste, but still this decoration with metal and metallized panels looks much more elegant than a prestigious MDX that is largely under a tree, and probably would very much go dynamic, swift acura. Elegant salon! A beautiful, elegant combination of devices! Bravo!
IN HIS ELEMENT
The enthusiasm with which the engine operates at 4000 rpm will not allow you to doubt that you are dealing with the Honda engine. However, this does not mean failure in the bottom: a 3.5-liter engine provides confident traction in the entire speed range. If you have to accelerate sharply, then an automatic machine will come to your aid in a timely manner, the only drawback of which can be considered the absence of the D4 mode (although the brilliant transmission operation on the descent allows you to almost not notice this). The next then transition to high speeds is accompanied by a peppy branded thoroughbred tenor, to which the Honda motorist Motorists. In principle, this is the only reason for the nit -picking from the apologists of refined acoustic comfort, but, my god, will there be bores that will not appreciate him! The soul rejoices. The main thing is that the enthusiasm, which is instilled in you at the same time, is not a provocation at all, because the riding properties of the car are quite adequate to the active style of driving.
Of course, the tires of the 70th profile themselves do not contribute to the sophistication of control and, apparently, they are the reason for the appearance of one or two transverse vibrations with a very sharp breakdown of the steering wheel. Nevertheless, it is difficult to present claims to Pilot. The reaction to the turn of the steering wheel is alive, it is not acute, but it cannot be called thoughtful. There are rolls, but you can’t call the car at some point the roll just stops growing. A noticeable reactive effect (at least relatively many Americans) and even the zero position of the steering wheel can be felt with your hands, although, perhaps, not as accurate as we would like. And most importantly, the stability of movement at any speed, at least up to 150 km/h (just unexpectedly watering the rain did not allow to accelerate faster), which would be more accurate to call unshakability. By the way, the Pilot controllability greatly resembles CR-V, apparently the genes affect.
GODYEAR intEGRITS All -season passenger tires begin to be written much earlier than they actually release the road, and this can be regarded as a warning. However, in a critical situation, the Pilot behaves predictably starting to smoothly slip all four wheels out of turn, and in response to the discharge of gas goes into a controlled skid. I remember that the favorite of the public CR-V did not behave so unambiguously. There is almost nothing good to say about the smoothness of the course. Only during the end of the end on deep potholes, the suspension can sometimes get a limiter, but once it was possible to catch a vertical buildup, but on an openly provocative site there are two gentle waves in a row, and our speed, apparently, turned out to be the most suitable to get into resonance. The brakes are magnificent, only on a raw road ABS begins to panic early, which, in fact, does not cause much inconvenience.
A separate conversation about patency. Without claiming the finality of conclusions (finding liquid dirt was extremely difficult this summer), let's say that Pilot has considerable potential, taking into account, of course, its universal orientation. At least on it you can feel much more confident than in CR-V. The units from below are well selected and even slightly protected, the VTM-4 system works flawlessly: storming the sandy quarry in search of a perspective for photography, we even forgot about the existence of the lock mode and without it did a great job with most of the proposed obstacles, including diagonal hanging.
Like acura mdx, but even more functional
Having three children, and therefore, being a biased observer, your humble servant has not yet seen a car of increased cross -country ability on the market, which satisfied such criteria: not too large sizes, miniva capacity and transformation of salon, passenger control and comfort. Now such a car has appeared.
Text Dmitry Filonov photo Alexander Nozdrin
 

Source: Cars