2019 Honda Pilot Touring Road Test Review

A number of small changes make a big difference

Honda has given its popular Pilot mid-size crossover SUV a fresh new face for 2019, and I really like what they've done to the design. Honda toughened up the grille and front fascia, giving it a bolder more assertive presence, plus added standard LED headlamps and even more sophisticated looking full LEDs in my tester's top-line Touring trim, while attractive new LED taillights join a revised bumper at the back end.

I also like the stylish silver skid plates just below the front and rear bumpers, these changed to matte or gloss black in base and Black Edition trims respectively, while the Touring model includes a bit of additional bright metal on the lower front fascia and door handles, as well as gorgeous new 20-inch machined alloy wheels with sporty black painted pockets. The look is wholly improved from front to back, impressive considering how subtle most of the updates are.

Styling improvements are joined by mechanical refinements

Honda could have just modified the new Pilot's styling and left it at that, but instead they let their engineering team improve the top-line models' idle-stop system for quicker and smoother restarts, while my tester's nine-speed automatic transmission was reworked for smoother shifting. Honestly, I liked this gearbox before, but I certainly can't complain with the improvements. Its shift increments are now just as blissfully smooth in the city as on the highway, while it also flicks through its nine forward cogs with greater precision, for a sportier feel off the line, through curves or when passing slower moving traffic.

It should be noted that all other trims, from the Pilot's $41,290 base LX to its mid-range $43,290 EX and $47,090 EX-L Navi models, utilize Honda's well-proven six-speed automatic transmission, while all Pilots incorporate the brand's equally dependable 24-valve, SOHC 3.5-litre V6. It remains strong for this class, with a robust 280-horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, plus it comes standard with direct-injection, i-VTEC, Variable Cylinder Management (VCM), which turns off a bank of cylinders when not needed in order to improve efficiency, plus it features an Active Control Engine Mount (ACM) system that reduces noise, vibration and harshness levels, benefiting overall refinement even more. To this end the Pilot Touring was as hushed inside as many premium mid-size crossovers.

Strong performance and excellent fuel economy come standard

Quiet yes, but the Pilot is no slouch off the line. Its standard Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD certainly helps put power to pavement, the high-tech drive line supported by Honda's Intelligent Traction Management System, which combined for acceleration that's as energetic in a straight line as it felt agile through the corners. I realize that I'm talking about a mid-size three-row SUV that's good for up to eight occupants, but it truly feels sporty compared to most competitors, even when pushed hard down a tight, winding back road with less than ideal pavement patches.

Strong performance and excellent fuel economy come standard

Quiet yes, but the Pilot is no slouch off the line. Its standard Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD certainly helps put power to pavement, the high-tech drive line supported by Honda's Intelligent Traction Management System, which combined for acceleration that's as energetic in a straight line as it felt agile through the corners. I realize that I'm talking about a mid-size three-row SUV that's good for up to eight occupants, but it truly feels sporty compared to most competitors, even when pushed hard down a tight, winding back road with less than ideal pavement patches.

Perfectly sized for large active families and all their gear

Speaking of family outings, it's probably time to book that favourite summer camping spot, and whether pulling a small boat or tent trailer you'll be happy to know that all Pilot trims are good for 1,588 kilos of trailer weight, unless you opt for an available tow package that ups its capability to 2,268 kilograms.

Another positive is the amount of cargo space available in back, with 524 litres behind the third row, or 510 litres when measuring up the Touring or Black Edition, plus 1,583 litres when laying its 60/40-split third row flat. On the occasion you need more, the Pilot provides a range of 3,072 to 3,092 litres (depending on trim) with all rear seats folded, which is ample for building materials and more.

As noted earlier, the standard Pilot can manage up to eight occupants including the driver, while optional sliding and reclining captain's chairs reduce that total to seven, yet provide more comfortable second-row seats with a handy floor-mounted console featuring cupholders and storage in the middle. My Touring tester included the latter, standard with flip-down armrests and heated cushions no less, while I also enjoyed the open and airy panoramic sunroof overhead, this also standard with Touring and Black Edition models.

Loads of features provide excellent value

Now that I'm talking Touring trim features, my $52,690 tester included the more advanced full LED headlights noted earlier, as well as standard power-folding and auto-dimming side mirrors, blue ambient interior lighting, acoustic glass for the front windows, rain-sensing wipers, an ultra-advanced electronic pushbutton gear selector, ventilated front seats, a sensational sounding 600-watt premium audio system with 11 speakers including a subwoofer plus 5.1 Surround, a wireless device charger that really proved helpful throughout my test week, Honda's innovative new CabinTalk in-car PA system (parents will love it), HondaLink Subscription Services, a Wi-Fi hotspot, the "How much Farther?" app (I wish I had this when my kids were young), a rear entertainment system (ditto), an HDMI input jack, a 115-volt household-style rear power outlet, blindspot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, and more.

Some additional features pulled up from the EX-L Navi model to Touring trim include an acoustic windshield to further enhance quietness, memory-linked sideview mirrors with reverse tilt-down, a heated steering wheel, a four-way powered front passenger seat, very accurate navigation with nicely detailed mapping, satellite and HD radio, front and rear parking sonar, the heated second-row seats mentioned before (albeit integrated into the bench seat's outboard positions), second-row side window sunshades, one-touch access buttons that allow for easy ingress and egress to the third row, a powered liftgate, plus more, while features added to this Touring model that get pulled up from EX trim include LED fog lamps, LED turn signals within the side mirror housings, roof rails, illuminated vanity mirrors, a Homelink universal garage door opener, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 10-way power driver's seat with memory, and more.

Not to forget the base Pilot LX and its plentiful list of standard features that also get grandfathered up to Touring trim, the list includes remote engine start, keyless proximity entry, pushbutton ignition, a windshield wiper de-icer, an overhead conversation mirror that does double-duty as a sunglasses holder, tri-zone automatic climate control, three-way heated front seats, the HondaLink Assist Automatic Emergency Response System, and much more.

Impressive technologies make for more connectivity and greater safety

One of the first things I noticed when sitting down in the driver's seat was the big 7.0-inch multi-information display (MID) integrated within the gauge cluster, its high-definition TFT monitor delivering crystal clear, colourful graphics and easy functionality from a nicely organized set of steering wheel-mounted switchgear, while over on the centre console is a large 8.0-inch tablet-style touchscreen filled with even more features, such as standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, Bluetooth connectivity with streaming audio, and one of the best standard backup cameras in the industry, featuring dynamic guidelines and unique multi-angle viewpoints, but it was the stylishly colourful arrangement of easy-to-use tile graphics that truly won me over, this being one of the best infotainment systems in the industry.

Once on the road I was occasionally alerted of adjacent traffic when attempting to change lanes, Lane Departure Warning being just one important feature within the Pilot's standard Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems, with others being Lane Keeping Assist, Road Departure Mitigation, Forward Collision Warning, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Adaptive Cruise Control, and automatic high beams, while when these latter items are mated up to the Touring or Black Edition model's cornering-capable full LED headlamps, this 2019 Pilot achieves a best-possible Top Safety Pick + rating from the IIHS, whereas all Pilot trims get a five-star safety rating from the NHTSA.

Roomier than most key competitors

Of course, safety is key in a vehicle primarily designed for transporting your family and loved ones. Even if your kids are growing up into sizeable teens, or if you regularly bring along mom and dad, there's room to spare in all three rows. As noted, the front seats are spacious and wonderfully comfortable, while the second-row captain's chairs might even be more so, but to my great surprise the Pilot's third row was amply large for my five-foot-eight, long-legged, medium-build frame, even leaving room under the second row for big winter boots when the seat ahead was pushed all the way rearward, plus there were about four inches ahead of my knees and plenty of room over my head. The rearmost seatbacks provided good lower back support, and there were holders for each passenger to store multiple drinks and other goodies along the sidewalls.

If you hadn't already noticed, I became a big fan of this 2019 Pilot during my weeklong test, and therefore won't hesitate in recommending it to anyone requiring a comfortable and accommodating three-row sport utility. It looks great, drives very well, is plenty efficient, and holds more passengers in comfort than most rivals, with cargo room to spare, making it more than worthy of your consideration.

To find out more about the 2019 Pilot, or to book a test drive, make sure to give Vancouver Honda a call at (855) 971-0607, or feel free to come by our showroom at 850 Southwest Marine Drive, Vancouver.

Story credit: Trevor Hofmann
Photo credit: Karen Tuggay