Honda is a car company, make no mistake about that.  They don’t do trucks.  Back when sport-utility vehicles were just trucks, Honda’s Passport SUV was really an Isuzu Rodeo with Honda badges.  It seemed a shrewd decision at the time; Honda knew nothing about building trucks, so it left the truck business up to truck people.

More recently, of course, the SUV market has changed.  Buyers want more carlike sport-utes these days; trucks like the Toyota Highlander aren’t even intended to take to the trails.  More like cars?  “Now you’re talking,” said the folks at Honda.  Out went the Passport, and Honda set about creating its own, carlike sport-ute.  Starting with the platform used for the Acura MD-X, Honda whipped up a sport-ute with three-row seating and so many family-friendly features that on paper it sounds more like a four-wheel-drive minivan.

Photographs don’t quite do the Pilot justice.  It’s bigger than it looks.  The boxy design gives it a very substantial look–Honda calls it “athletic.  It’s the widest truck in its class, too.  Honda says the big brick’s design was influenced by the notably rugged Pelican brand of equipment cases, and it shows.  The Civic-ish headlights and high-stepping stance give the Pilot slightly more personality than an old Volvo station wagon…but not much.

Inside, the Pilot is a revelation.  Most noticeable is the “backpack-inspired” interior, with easy-to-cram net-sided storage on the doors and beneath the console.  It’s hard to reach, but it’s a great use of space for infrequently used necessities like umbrellas.  This mid-sized SUV will seat eight, thanks to generous interior space.  The middle and third row seats are raised, theater style, for improved comfort and passenger visibility.  All of the rear seats fold flat into the floor, and with them out of the way the Pilot will swallow 90.3 cubic feet of cargo.  This sport-ute has learned a few tricks from the minivans, too, with a DVD entertainment system and a kid-friendly rear-seat tray complete with compartments for Chicken McNugget dipping sauce on the options list.

The Pilot feels uncharacteristically heavy, for a Honda.  This isn’t a bad thing, though.  We’ve never minded family vehicles that felt substantial and strong, and that’s the feeling we get from the Pilot.  It’s not overweight by a long stretch.  The 3.5 liter SOHC V6 isn’t particularly taxed by freeway or hard acceleration.  The V6 makes 240 horsepower and is equipped with a version of Honda’s VTEC variable valve control system.  A five-speed automatic transmission is standard, and the Pilot can tow up to 3500 pounds.

All Pilots hit the road with four-wheel drive.  Honda’s Variable Torque Management 4WD (VTM-4) is good for medium-duty off-roading.  VTM-4 splits the difference between on-road and off-road four-wheel drive systems.  It’s an on-demand system, sending power to the rear wheels under acceleration.  This allows torque to be split proactively, instead of waiting for wheel slippage.  The system also features a locking mode, just like the serious off-roaders.  “Lock” mode automatically disengages at speed.  The pilot can climb a 31-degree paved slope, which is nothing to sneer at.  It’s not a hard-core off-roader, but the Pilot will tackle some extremely hairy terrain, even though it’s happiest on the road.

On the road, in fact, the Pilot’s quite a nice place to be.  Four-wheel antilock brakes are standard equipment, as is carlike rack-and-pinion steering.  The fully independent suspension is largely free of the pitch and roll that characterize many other sport-utes on the road.  It doesn’t feel like a tall Accord; the Pilot is considerably more weighty, and stable in spite of its height.  We’d pick it over almost any minivan for a road trip.  Around town, the feeling of heft can get tiresome, and fuel economy isn’t that great, either.

Available in two models, LX and EX, the Pilot winds up mid-pack on the mid-size pricing board.  The base LX model starts at just over $27,000; the EX is a step up at just over $30,000.  Bet you never expected something like this from an avowed “car” company, did you?

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2003 Honda Pilot EX, which we tested.
Length:         188.0 in.
Width:            77.3 in.
Height:            70.6 in.
Wheelbase:        106.3 in.
Curb weight:        4416 lb.
Cargo space:        16.1 cu.ft. (all seats up); 90.3 cu.ft. (all seats folded)
Towing capacity:      3500 lb.
Base price:        $29,730 (est.)
Price as tested:     $30,980 (est.)
Engine:         3.5 liter SOHC V6
Drivetrain:         five-speed automatic, four-wheel drive
Horsepower:         240 @ 5400
Torque:         242 @ 4500
Fuel capacity:        19.2 gal.
Est. mileage:        17/22

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