2011 Honda Pilot Features & Specs

What's New for 2011

The 2011 Honda Pilot returns mostly unchanged from last year. Navigation is now available on the EX-L trim level and a rear entertainment system is now included on the Touring model.

Introduction

At a glance, the 2011 Honda Pilot would seem to do a fine job as a family hauler. There's plenty of space for kids and cargo, it boasts excellent crash scores and comes with Honda's sterling reputation for reliability. Yet, there are three key areas that send the Pilot to the back of the pack: its sluggish acceleration, weak brake performance and middling fuel economy. Any one on their own could be forgivable, but together, they conspire to set this Pilot adrift in a sea of very worthy competitors.
On the bright side, Honda has made a point of giving the Pilot third-row accommodations roomy enough for actual adults to fit back there; if you're looking for a minivan alternative, this one might just work out. Traditional Pilot traits like a well-cushioned ride, a smooth powertrain and optional four-wheel drive are also present and accounted for. This year's sees only minor changes in a couple of feature availabilities -- navigation is now an option on EX-L models and a rear DVD entertainment system is now included on the top-of-the-line Touring trim.
In sum, we think the 2011 Honda Pilot is an adequate choice for a midsize or large crossover SUV. But more savvy consumers who test-drive the competition will likely find that the Pilot comes up a bit short -- sterling reputation or not. The Ford Flex is a great all-around contender in this arena, offering a more comfortable interior, more features and improved performance. The Chevrolet Traverse (and its Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia twins), Hyundai Veracruz, Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander are also solid picks. It might seem atypical to say it, but this Honda just isn't a very competitive pick in its class.

Body Styles, Trim Levels, and Options

The 2011 Honda Pilot is a midsize crossover SUV offered in four trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L and Touring. Each is available with either front- or all-wheel drive. The LX comes standard with 17-inch steel wheels, keyless entry, rear privacy glass, a trailer hitch, automatic headlights, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control, front and rear air-conditioning, 60/40-split second- and third-row seats, and a seven-speaker audio system with an auxiliary audio jack and CD/MP3 player.
The EX adds 17-inch alloy wheels, foglights, painted body molding (versus black plastic), roof rails, heated exterior mirrors, an eight-way power driver seat (with two-way power lumbar), steering-wheel audio controls, tri-zone automatic climate control, an in-dash six-CD changer, and satellite radio. The EX-L upgrades to leather upholstery and steering wheel, heated front seats, power passenger seat, a sunroof, increased sound deadening, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror with integrated back-up camera. Optional on the EX-L is a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a voice-activated navigation system bundled with Bluetooth, an iPod interface and a 10-speaker premium audio system.
Both the EX-L's optional features are included on the high-end Touring model, which further adds a power liftgate, tire-pressure indicators, driver memory functions and rear-window sunshades.

Powertrains and Performance

The 2011 Honda Pilot is motivated by a 3.5-liter V6 that generates 250 horsepower and 253 pound-feet of torque. A five-speed automatic is the only available transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, but all Pilot models are available with an all-wheel-drive system that automatically apportions power to the rear wheels -- up to 70 percent -- when front slippage occurs. This system also has a driver-selectable "lock" feature that routes maximum torque to the rear wheels at speeds below 19 mph.
In performance testing, we clocked a Pilot Touring from zero to 60 mph in a pokey 9.7 seconds, a full second or two behind many rivals. Fuel economy is aided by Honda's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system, which shuts down half of the V6's cylinders when they're not needed. Still the Pilot's EPA estimates of 17 city/23 highway mpg and 19 mpg combined (16/22/18 for AWD models) are merely average for this segment.

Safety

Standard safety equipment includes stability control, front-seat side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags. Antilock disc brakes are also standard, but they don't do a very good job in panic stops, requiring a very long 149 feet to halt the Pilot from 60 mph. Only vehicles without ABS or heavy-duty trucks tend to match that distance, which is at least 20 feet longer than most competitors.
In the government's new, more strenuous crash testing for 2011, the Pilot earned an overall rating of four stars out of a possible five, with four stars for overall frontal crash protection and five stars for overall side crash protection.The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety likewise awarded the Pilot its top "Good" rating for both frontal-offset and side-impact crashes.

Interior Design and Special Features

Mimicking the 2011 Honda Pilot's utilitarian exterior styling, the interior features a rugged and blocky theme. Like many current Honda vehicles, the center stack is packed with far too many small buttons and controls. Operation of these controls is made a bit easier by a logical layout, but it still takes some time to get used to this needlessly complicated setup.
The Pilot also keeps stride with the competition with its roomy third-row seats. In a segment where third rows are meant for child-size passengers only, the Honda Pilot is one of the few that can accommodate adults in relative comfort. Unfortunately, though, the seat cushions for the second and third rows are too low, forcing longer legged passengers into a squatting, knees-up position. The larger Ford Flex and Chevy Traverse are much more comfortable in this regard.
With the second and third row seats stowed, the 2011 Honda Pilot can hold up to 87 cubic feet of cargo, which is technically less than some rivals, but its boxy shape accepts bulkier items with ease. For smaller items, there are plenty of thoughtful storage bins and pockets throughout the cabin.

Driving Impressions

In terms of performance, the 2011 Honda Pilot is burdened by a lack of power and a hefty curb weight. Acceleration off the line feels anemic and even Honda's VTEC engine technology does little to help higher in the rev range. On curvy roads, the Pilot also feels rather cumbersome. However, on choppy city pavement its soft suspension tuning pays dividends as it readily soaks up ruts and bumps.
The Pilot's brake pedal has a positive feel, which may make it seem confidence-inspiring on a brief dealership test-drive. In our testing, however, that positive feel ran counter to the Pilot's rather long stopping distances.

Colors

Exterior

Interior

Exterior

Tires and Wheels

• Steel wheels
• 17 x 7.5 in. wheels
• Steel spare wheel
• P245/65R17 105T tires
• All season tires
• Underbody mounted spare tire
• Temporary spare tire

Roof and Glass

• Variable intermittent wipers
• Privacy glass
• Rear defogger
• Intermittent rear wiper

Doors

• Manual flip-up lifgate window
• Rear liftgate door

Towing and Hauling

• Cargo tie downs
• Trailer hitch
• Trailer wiring

Measurements

• Width: 78.5 in.
• Height: 71.0 in.
• Length: 190.9 in.
• Ground clearance: 8.0 in.
• Front track: 67.7 in.
• Rear track: 67.5 in.
• Wheel base: 109.2 in.
• Cargo capacity, all seats in place: 18.0 cu.ft.
• Maximum cargo capacity: 87.0 cu.ft.

• Maximum towing capacity: 3500 lbs.**
• Curb weight: 4319 lbs.
• Angle of approach: 27.8 degrees
• Angle of departure: 24.5 degrees

Mechanical

Engine & Performance

• Base engine size: 3.5 L
• Cam type: Single overhead cam (SOHC)
• Cylinders: V6
• Valves: 24
• Valve timing: Variable
• Torque: 253 ft-lbs. @ 4800 rpm
• Horsepower: 250 hp @ 5700 rpm
• Turning circle: 38.6 ft.

• Base engine type: gas

DriveTrain

• Drive type: front wheel drive
• Transmission: 5-speed automatic
• Brake hill holder

Suspension

• MacPherson strut front suspension
• Multi-link rear suspension
• Four-wheel independent suspension
• Front and rear stabilizer bar

Fuel

• Fuel type: gas
• Fuel type: regular unleaded
• Fuel tank capacity: 21.0 gal.
• Range in miles (cty/hwy): 357.0/483.0 mi.
• EPA mileage est. (cty/hwy): 17/23 mpg

Safety

Safety & Security

• 4-wheel ABS
• Front, rear and third row head airbags
• Dual front side-mounted airbags
• Child seat anchors
• Emergency braking assist
• Ventilated front disc / solid rear disc brakes
• Rear door child safety locks
• Daytime running lights
• Engine immobilizer
• Dusk sensing headlamps
• 2 front headrests
• 3 rear headrests
• Passenger airbag occupant sensing deactivation
• Rear center 3-point belt
• Front seatbelt pretensioners
• Stability control
• Traction control
• Electronic brakeforce distribution
• Front height adjustable headrests
• Rear height adjustable headrests
• Passenger head restraint whiplash protection system
• Driver head restraint whiplash protection system
• Tire pressure monitoring

Warranty

• Basic: 3 yr./ 36000 mi.
• Drivetrain: 5 yr./ 60000 mi.

Interior

Front Seats

• Front head room: 40.0 in.
• Front hip room: 58.6 in.
• Front leg room: 41.4 in.
• Front shoulder room: 61.5 in.
• Height adjustable driver seat
• Cloth
• Bucket front seats

Rear Seats

• Rear hip Room: 56.9 in.
• Rear head room: 39.8 in.
• Rear leg room: 38.5 in.
• Rear shoulder room: 62.2 in.
• Split-folding rear seatback
• Reclining rear seats
• Folding with storage center armrest
• Manual folding split-bench third row seats
• Rear ventilation ducts with fan control

Power Features

• Remote power door locks
• Power mirrors
• 2 one-touch power windows

Convenience

• Cruise control
• Front console with storage
• Front, rear and 3rd row cupholders
• Front and rear door pockets
• Overhead console with storage
• Front seatback storage
• Speed-proportional power steering
• 12V front, 12V rear and 12V cargo area power outlet(s)
• Tilt and telescopic steering wheel
• Cruise controls on steering wheel

Comfort

• Interior air filtration
• Front and rear air conditioning
• Cargo area light
• Front and rear reading lights
• Front and rear floor mats
• Dual illuminating vanity mirrors

Instrumentation

• Clock
• Tachometer
• Trip computer
• Low fuel level warning
• Compass

In Car Entertainment

• Element antenna
• 7 total speakers
• 135 watts stereo output
• AM/FM in-dash single CD player with CD MP3 Playback stereo
• Speed sensitive volume control
• Auxiliary MP3 audio input
• 1 subwoofer(s)
• Radio data system