Whole Lot of Love: The 2007 Honda Pilot by Saurabh Sharma

It's impossible to talk about any SUV in today's geopolitical landscape without mentioning the importance of fuel economy. Honda buyers usually have looked for reliability rather than style and performance in their vehicles are now expecting better fuel efficiency as well. Honda has responded to this challenge with brave new designs and better engines. The 2007 Pilot, for example, has a smooth ride, seating for eight passengers, curtain airbags for all three rows, and the ability to turn off 3-cylinders to save fuel. (EPA is 18 mpg city, 24 mpg highway). The Pilot, built on the Accord chassis, has a smooth ride compared to the truck-based Toyota Highlander, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Dodge Durango. Additionally, the Pilot's highly functional inner cabin takes it into the kinship of more expensive SUVs such as the Lexus RX 330, Mercedes ML 350, or Acura MDX. However, the Pilot's price range of $26,995 to $35,245 may convince you there's plenty of SUV here for the money.

One of the unique attributes of the 2007 Pilot is its versatile carrying capacity. For example, the second and third row seats can easily (and quickly) be folded to create a cargo area of 90.3 cubic feet that's more than GMC Envoy or Chevy TrailBlazer (80.1 cubic feet), Ford Explorer (81.3 cubic feet), or Toyota Highlander (80.6 cubic feet), or Nissan Murano (81.6 cubic feet). Both rows of rear seats are split 60/40 so you can carry stuff while retaining seating capacity on either side. With the third seat folded, there is 47.6 cubic feet of space. With the third seat up, there is still a respectable 15.9 cubic feet of cargo. Additionally, there's ample room for people 6 feet tall in all three rows of passenger seating. The 2007 Honda Pilot's seat versatility demonstrates Honda's sound engineering acumen.

The 2007 Honda Pilot's versatility is not limited to the cabin. It also has a remarkable engine that's engineered to move more efficiently. The standard 3.5-liter V6 engine is available in both a front-wheel drive and an all-wheel drive version. Both trims offer 244 horsepower at 240 pound-feet of torque. (Towing capacity is modest with a max of 4,400 pounds available on the all-wheel drive version.) Both engines benefit from Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) which increases fuel economy by selectively turning off 3 of the 6 cylinders as necessary. When power is needed, the engine adjusts to full capacity. If you have ever owned a Ford Explorer, Chevrolet TrialBlazer, Nissan Pathfinder, or the Toyota Highlander (non-Hybrid) you'll feel the difference of higher fuel savings. According to Honda, plans for a Hybrid Pilot are on the table, should reach market by 2009.

The 2007 Honda Pilot is available in three trims the LX, EX and EX-L; the latter being the most luxurious. Nearly all models offer standard equipment such as air conditioning, cruise control, power windows, keyless entry, rear window defroster, and a CD player. The EX is differentiated with alloy wheels, automatic headlights, better front seats and automatic climate control. The EX-L adds leather, a sunroof, XM satellite radio and a DVD satellite navigation system as options. Regardless which Pilot you choose, each model has earned a Five-Star (the highest) Safety Rating for front and side impact collisions. Four- wheel anti-lock brakes with power assist and front and side airbags are also standard equipment. The 2007 Honda Pilot is an amalgamation of the family car, a long distance cruiser, and a vacation vehicle in one mid-sized SUV. Introduced in 2003, the Pilot was engineered to be more versatile than any other SUV. At the time, it was also the only sport utility that did not have a truck chassis. For 2007, the Pilot continues with tradition been completely redesigned in 2006. It now features sharpened body creases, a redesigned front grill, hood, fenders, wheels, bumpers, headlights and taillights. Additionally, the engine can switch from 6 to 3 cylinders for better mileage, and the Pilot's carrying capacity has jumped to 90.3 cubic feet of space - not bad if you need to haul hockey equipment, cabinets, or 8 humans. The 2007 Pilot shows Honda's steadfast love of designing and engineering versatile SUVs.

About the Author
Saurabh Sharma is an avid motoring enthusiast who is inspired by cars, and emerging automotive technology. His fascination with automobiles began during his infancy when his father brought him matchbox cars from a trip to Singapore.

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