Honda Pilot test drive since 2009 SUV
Increased strength
When it comes to fighting Trying to Play It Rumble
I Will Take You Twenty Rounds
I'M Just too Tungh, Too Tough
The Rolling Stones. Too tough
Bam-Bam Tarars! No, Pilot is in order, we are just rushing along the Karelian roads, apparently built back in the middle of the last century and after that, who did not know the repair. And what is annoyingly creaking there in the trunk? Ah, this is just Lunch-Box, carefully laid by Honda representatives in a wicker basket. It's time to stop and have a bite on the shore of a picturesque lake. To kill three hares at once: to have lunch, enjoy the landscapes and check the cross -country crossover from Honda.
Beauty! Slender pines, mirror surface, sand, almost steep walls of rocks a little further and Honda Pilot. I chew a sandwich, and I myself think that, oddly enough, the crossover fits very harmoniously into this primitive landscape. Pilot is especially well combined with all kinds of mountains and stones are the same angular, with sharp edges, it seems to be cut out of the monolith. I recall the words spoken by the representative of Honda at the presentation: working on the Pilot design, we were inspired by the appearance of the Panasonic Toughbook laptop. And, however, it looks like. There is something likely hiking, condo in appearance in both. Do you know what the ToughBook laptops are called computer scientists? Increased strength. Well, Karelia's roads are a great place to check whether the new pilot looks like an unknown laptop in everything. Lunch is finished, rather behind the wheel!
The Pilot interior continues ToughBook. The same deliberately angular, with sharp faces, monumental. Central console real block. Vizmash in the hand of Maesh Wesh! It is not surprising that it was easily located on the microclimate management, and music, and a huge cave of the information display, and the five -speed automatic control lever, and impressive nozzles of ducts, and a bottomless container for things. Having put in it, for example, a phone or a pack of cigarettes, you will have to then get them, climb there with your feet, armed with a flashlight! Various and volume boxes, cup holders, shelves and boxes are a feature of the Pilot salon. They are everywhere: in the doorway, on both sides of the front panel, in the center, in seats, in the trunk and the devil knows where else. Particular attention of the central console. A bucket of potatoes will accurately fit into the closing boxing box. There is a connector for connecting AUX devices, and a 12-volt outlet (apparently, to connect the same flashlight if something is lost). But that's not all. There is also a huge compartment with a sliding curtain. If, inventing the design, the Hondians looked back at the laptop, then here the roerances probably served as a source of inspiration! If the chairs were not equipped with ISOFIX, then the baby could be put here, having previously removed the cup holders and partitions.
In the configuration of Elegance) chairs with fabric upholstery, and the steering wheel is plastic, which is, of course, strange for a car of this class. Having paid 100,000 rubles and getting Pilot in the EXECUTIVE configuration, the interior puts on the skin, and additionally the car is overgrown with such pleasant options as Luke, electroregulation of front -standing seats for the driver, electric power drive
trunk, parking sensors with a rear view camera and curtains on the second row of seats. Sitting is convenient. The adjustment range (even mechanical in the Elegance version) is sufficient for tall drivers. I really liked the fact that the front seats perfectly support the shoulders. For 100 km of a broken Karelian asphalt, I have never set a seat. Planting is not as high as on most SUVs, which allows you to feel better. I liked the steering wheel. The section and size, in my opinion, are optimal. Three translucent dialing panels with red arrows are perfectly readable, although they look a little childish against the backdrop of all this adult irrepanence. Bam-Bam Tarars! I looked at the dairy devices. Again I caught a serious pothole. The broken asphalt of Karelia does not allow to relax. It is better to go around the pits on the pilot. Honda engineers will not be cunning, they say bluntly: Pilot is not an SUV! It's true. The suspension is almost the Mcphereson Posters in front and the short -flowing multi -link behind, which is clearly visible when hanging. The combination of breakdowns on irregularities with sharp edges and swing on gentle waves is especially difficult to affect the rear passengers. Once behind, after a couple of tens of kilometers, I realized that I have been experiencing a feeling that is forgotten since childhood!
But there are three seat belts on the second row. Three and on the last. Pilot is positioned as eight. But if on the middle row it is really comfortable even for the second time, if tall people are sitting in front, then in the trunk three uncles will be crowded. Together, wherever it went, but the third is clearly superfluous. And access to the third row of sites is difficult. But having folded them, you can get a huge luggage compartment. And how the abundance of space will appeal to the owners of ordinary sedans. Stop. What does sedans have to do with it, you ask? Everything is simple. The fact is that Honda marketers see the Pilot owners of those who traveled on an ordinary dynamic sedan (Accord for example), but who did not have enough aggressive appearance and large internal space. It is emphasized that Pilot is not deprived of dynamics. Of course, you can’t call a new new crossover from Honda, but 257 power forces of a 3.5-liter V6 power is enough for moderate acceleration of a two-ton giant. There is no other motor for the pilot. V6 in pairs with a five -speed automatic machine operates calmly and leisurely, automatic transmission settings (as, by the way, pendants) for Russia remained the same as for the overseas market. In response to the gas clipping to the floor, the long-awaited pleasant acceleration follows, but with a tangible delay. You can, of course, by pressing the Overdrive button, take away a couple of upper steps from the box, but this does not add particularly to abuse. And in a straight line, Pilot flies with dignity, and the long steering wheel does not interfere. Smoothly, quiet, comfortable, without shocks, jerks and fuss. The pre-trumped engine, suspension and transmission are barely audible for good sound insulation. Helps in this and know-how
Honda Hunting Supply Active Noise Cancellation, reproducing sounds in antiphase from the speakers of the audio system. During that picnic on the sidelines that I described at the very beginning, we decided to check what Pilot is capable of outside the road. You know, in the NBA there was somehow a large white center, Boston Celtics player Bil Lambir. Big, but did not know how to jump. They said about him that he could not jump over the album for brands. Pilot is somewhat similar to this basketball player. The appearance is serious, the wheels are large, the body is faced. I'M Just too Tung, how they sing Rolling Stones! But it is better not to climb into the mud and mountains on it. The transmission VTM-4, like the suspension, is clearly not designed for this. With diagonal hanging, the rear unloaded wheel breaks too quickly from the ground, and VSA comes into effect. But it will brake the wheel sluggish, allowing you to sink. The developers were not an SUV, but a large and aggressive -looking car.
Well, did Pilot confirmed in absentia awarded the title of increased strength? By the sum of the points, perhaps, yes: the appearance of the crossover shouts about this with might and main, the interior picks up, huge dimensions inspire respect and confidence in their abilities, the motor and box do not surprise, but do not annoy. Are the suspension and all -wheel drive rustic? So they said: not an SUV, but just a crossover. Feel the difference?
FOR YOUR INFORMATION
The Republic of Karelia is located in the north-west of Russia, is part of the Northern Economic District of the Russian Federation. In terms of size, Karelia takes 5th place among the republics of the Russian Federation, is comparable in the territory with Greece or Bulgaria and is four times higher than Switzerland, Denmark or the Netherlands. In the west, Karelia borders on Finland, in the south with the Leningrad and Vologda regions, in the north with the Murmansk, in the east with the Arkhangelsk region. In the northeast, the republic is washed by the White Sea. The western border of Karelia coincides with the state border of the Russian Federation and Finland and has a length of 723 km.
Four indigenous people live in Karelia: Karelians, Finns, Vepsa and Russians. Karelia is one of the most beautiful corners of our country. The amazingly attractive and kind northern nature with pure lakes, mountain rivers and waterfalls, virgin forests and a bottomless blue sky.
Body and safety
The body of modern Acura MDX is based. The front part is almost identical. The further difference is due to the larger Pilot wheelbase and other rear suspension architecture (Pilot uses a simplified version of the VTM-4 all-wheel drive transmission, also installed on the American Ridgeline pickup). The body for 52% consists of high -strength steel. It became tougher than its predecessor in statics by 41% and to twist by 15%. The use of ASCE technology (Advanced Compatibility Engineering) allows you to absorb the energy of the impact in the collision. The front of the car is loyal to pedestrians. And all three rows of seats are equipped with lateral airbags. There are active head restraints in the car and ISOFIX mounts in the second row and the right seat of the third.
The capacity of the salon
This diagram clearly demonstrates how much Pilot has grown in size and due to which it was possible to increase the internal space of the car.
V6 3.5 SOHC VCM engine
The Pilot motor is related to the power units of Honda Legend only a cylinder block. The Legend engine is much more technological, has two camshafts on each head and develops 295 hp. The Ridgeline motor is similar in parameters, is also equipped with an I-VTEC system, but in its arsenal there is no original VCM system (Variable Cylinder Management), but it is on Pilot. VCM allows you to automatically turn off part of the cylinders (2 or 3) in certain modes, thereby reducing fuel consumption.
Cross -country ability
Despite the rather large corners of the congress and exit, the Pilot geometric cross -country ability is significantly limited by the long base (2780 mm), a small clearance for this kind of car (203 mm) and absolutely non -decisive suspension (McPherson in front, multi -link behind) with very short moves)
Dmitry Krotov
A source: Motor magazine [September 2008]
