2006 Honda Pilot Model Update

This Honda's at the Head of the Class

Honda's midsize Pilot SUV gets a mild makeover and remains one of the most popular midsize SUVs.

The midsize Honda Pilot is a well-equipped, well-mannered and practical sport utility vehicle that shares both platform and powertrain with its more luxurious sibling, the Acura MDX, and the new-for-2006 Honda Ridgeline pickup truck. All three, in turn, are based on the Odyssey minivan. It's available with front- or four-wheel drive.

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The Pilot is Honda's first midsized SUV. It debuted as a 2003 model and became an immediate success. According to CNW Market Research, it remains one of the top-selling models in its class, thanks, no doubt, to a lower ride height than most truck-based SUVs, sophisticated ride and handling and bullet-proof Honda reliability (Consumer Reports rates it "much better than average").

Available in LX, EX and EX-L trim levels, a mid-cycle freshening for 2006 adds features and refinement. While the Pilot continues with a sophisticated 3.5-liter, V6 engine that generates a lively 244 horsepower, FWD models now incorporate Honda's Variable Cylinder Management system. This feature automatically and imperceptibly shuts down half the engine's cylinders when not needed, such as under light acceleration or at cruising speeds, to boost the vehicle's fuel economy. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates fuel economy for FWD models to be 18 mpg in city driving and 24 mpg on the highway, which isn't great, but is OK for a midsized SUV. Four-wheel-drive models get worse mileage, with an estimated 17 mpg city/22 mpg highway.

Front-drive versions also now include Active Engine Control Mount and Active Noise Cancellation systems to reduce noise, vibrations and harshness in the passenger cabin. A smooth-shifting, five-speed automatic transmission remains the only available transmission on all models.

The Pilot's available Variable Torque Management-4WD system combines the best aspects of four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. As with most all-wheel-drive systems, most of the engine's power goes to the front wheels most of the time. The system sends power to the rear wheels automatically when needed, but when conditions become seriously slippery, the driver can engage and lock 50 percent of the power to the rear wheels at the push of a button. Because it lacks the low-range gearing offered in most truck-based SUVs, the Pilot is not suited for serious off-roading. Honda's Vehicle Stability Assist system is standard on all vrsions.

Exterior updates for 2006 make for a more butch look, thanks to revised taillight and headlamp designs. Fog lights have been added to EX and EX-L trim levels and sportier wheel designs on LX and EX versions. Amazon Green Metallic is a new exterior color.

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For 2006, head-curtain airbags that cover all three rows of seats become standard across the line. Also added is a Maintenance Minder system to help keep track of oil changes and other required service intervals.

Inside its spacious and comfortable cabin, the Pilot is able to seat as many as eight passengers with a third-row seat that easily and conveniently folds into the floor when additional cargo space is needed. With the third seat upright, the space that it folds into serves as a handy well for carrying groceries and other objects that might otherwise roll around the vehicle.

The optional navigation system is revised for 2006 with a larger seven-inch video monitor. The nav system incorporates a new bumper-mounted rear-view video camera that displays a rearward view on the system's monitor to ease parking and help avoid hitting objects behind the vehicle that may otherwise be obstructed from view. An updated backseat DVD entertainment system is optional and now includes a nine-inch LCD screen. XM satellite radio capability is now included on the top EX-L version (subscription fees aren't included in the vehicle's price) and is a dealer-installed option EX models.

The navigation and DVD entertainment systems are the only available options and can only be ordered on the top EX-L model.

The Pilot scores five out of five stars on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's side and frontal crash tests and four out of five on its rollover test.