2009 Honda Pilot

 The 2009 Honda Pilot is the next evolution of Honda's large crossover. This year's model finds Honda moving away from the crossover and into the direction of the SUV segment. The exterior has a boxier, brutish style, as opposed to the sleeker and more subtle styling of the 2008 edition...  

My test drive of Honda's new 2009 Pilot started with an unusually high degree of suspense: it sat in my garage for a few days before I was able to drive it.  

WICKENBURG, Ariz. -- We're grasping for grab handles and straining the safety belt, trying to keep our torso planted firmly in the driver's bucket as the new rendition of Pilot, Honda's mid-size crossover utility vehicle, bumps and grinds, scampers and scoots through deep tracks of sand on cactus...  

When the Pilot launched in 2002 as an '03 model, it was a little ahead of its time.  

Since we have a long-term 2008 Mazda CX-9 in our fleet I found myself hard-pressed not to compare the two crossovers.  

Now that Leg 4 of the trip is complete, and we can take a look at how the Pilot fared on mileage and packing.  

The new Honda Pilot is roomy, surprising--and pricey. As-tested price: $40,665 Drivetrain: 3.5-liter V6; 4WD, five-speed automatic Output: 250 hp @ 5,700 rpm, 253 lb-ft @ 4,800 rpm Curb weight: 4,590 lb Fuel ...  

"Honda models showing increased sales included the all-new Pilot, up 18.6 percent." ...  

Honda's redesigned Pilot sport utility, built at the Japanese automaker's Alabama factory , posted an 18.6 percent jump in sales last month, bucking the sagging sales trend among mid-size SUVs.  

There were no "wow" factors for my family in the 2009 Honda Pilot, but there were a lot of little touches that were noticed and appreciated.  

The all-new Honda Pilot, the Grand Comfort Cruiser, is now on sale in Saudi Arabia. The mid-size SUV offers a unique blend of fuel efficiency, room for eight passengers, and SUV functionality.  

Honda offers iPod integration on some of its models, but the Accord isn’t one of them. You can still listen to an iPod or any other MP3 player with the standard auxiliary input jack on all 2008 and 2009 Accords, but you won’t be able to control the iPod through the stereo’s controls or charge it...  

Boxy urban utility vehicles have a strong following in many Asian countries, and have been around for many years.  

 2008 HONDA PILOT STYLING | [7 out of 10] Car and Driver: "is beginning to feel a bit dated" Cars.com: "a clean look" Edmunds: "This one manages not to look like a minivan" In a world where so many bland SUVs look alike, the bland 2008 Honda Pilot looks an awful lot like a lot of...  

Alabama's own Honda Pilot is making a splash in the Middle East. The SUV, built in Lincoln, faces a sagging market in the U.S., but demand is strong in places like United Arab Emirates.