Overview
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The first all-new second generation 2009 Honda Pilot rolled off the assembly line
on April 17th at 10:05 a.m. in Lincoln, Alabama. to the cheers of more than 1,500
associates at Honda Manufacturing of Alabama. The Alabama plant is the exclusive
global production source of both the Pilot and the Odyssey minivan. It also produces
the V-6 engines for each vehicle. Early next year, it will begin manufacturing the
Ridgeline pickup truck. |
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The 2009 Honda Pilot improves on the popular Honda SUV formula by adding more SUV-rugged
aesthetics, more on-road refinement and enhancing interior functionality. Designed
around the concept of an "intelligent adventure vehicle" with the practical needs
of a family in mind, the eight-passenger Pilot provides bolder SUV styling, more
clever and more accommodating interior packaging and advanced technologies for safety,
fuel efficiency and convenience.
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The 2009 Pilot's wheelbase has been stretched 2.9 inches to provide for comfortable
adult seating - especially in the third seat. They have also enlarged the entrance
to the rear seat to make it easier to enter. Honda engineers have also creativly
utilized unused space by making adding tie-downs, power outlets, cupholders,
and numerous clever places to store your personal items.
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"The 2009 Honda Pilot sets itself apart from the crossover competition because it
values real utility, not just comfort and convenience. It gets there by applying
truck-think — appreciation for practical, intelligent function. In the end the Honda
Pilot never forgets that trucklike utility is part of its job description." Read
the full review of the all-new 2009 Honda Pilot from Edmund's Inside Line.
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2009 Honda Pilot Summary
- 8-passenger midsize crossover SUV
- Unit body platform
- 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 with 250-horsepower and 253 lb-ft. of torque
- Honda-estimated* EPA city/highway fuel economy of 17/23 (2WD) and 16/22 (4WD)
- ULEV-2 Emissions Rating (CARB)
- 5-speed automatic transmission (standard)
- VTM-4 four-wheel-drive (available)
- Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE®) body structure
- MacPherson strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension
- Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control and ABS
- Trim lineup - LX, EX, EX-L and (new) Touring
* Based on 2009 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning
with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before
2008. Actual mileage will vary.
New Features
More than 10 significant and new features exist on the 2009 Pilot. Notable items
include:
- Newest generation of Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) on all models
- Tailgate with lift-up glass hatch
- Standard integrated tow hitch
- Hill Start Assist
- Humidity Control System as part of standard air conditioning
- Four Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH), increased from two
- Driver's and front passenger's active head restraints
- Tilt and telescopic steering column
- Aluminum hood
- Interface Dial with Scrolling and Multi-Line Display (Touring only)
- Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink™ (Touring only)
- Power tailgate (Touring only)
Safety
The Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE®) body structure enhances frontal collision
compatibility with vehicles of different sizes and bumper heights. A pedestrian
injury mitigation design in the front of the vehicle is intended to help absorb
energy in the event of a collision. Additional standard safety equipment includes
Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), also known as Electronic Stability Control; side-curtain
airbags; front side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System
(OPDS); active front seat head restraints; and anti-lock brakes with electronic
brake distribution. Four Lower Anchor and Tether for Children (LATCH) positions
- more than any other SUV in the segment - provide room for four child seats compared
to two on the previous Pilot and most vehicles in the segment.
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body
A redesigned crossover SUV platform allows even more refined handling and ride comfort
to exist seamlessly with all-weather and medium-duty off-road capabilities. To further
enhance safety, the Pilot features the Honda-exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering™
(ACE®) body structure and the most extensive use of high-strength steel (52 percent)
in any Honda product to date. An aluminum hood is used for weight savings.
With its wide and solid stance, classic SUV proportions and clean design treatment,
the Pilot is designed to maximize utility and communicate traditional SUV character
traits including strength, durability and off-road confidence. Honda designers used
the three-dimensionally beveled lines of an ultra-rugged laptop computer as inspiration
to convey an active and intelligent vehicle design theme.
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Chassis
As a design that Honda helped make popular in the automotive industry, the crossover
SUV platform that underpins the Pilot is engineered to provide the best of the car
and truck worlds by integrating the refined traits and efficiency of a car design
with the utility, capability and packaging advantages of an SUV design.
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Interior
Three rows of seats provide a high degree of adaptability for people and large cargo
loads. The first row provides a commanding view of the road from two supportive
and comfortable bucket-style seats. A wide center stack and center console form
the styling anchor for the interior with a design that emphasizes spaciousness and
power, while allowing for convenient access to navigation (available), entertainment
and climate-control systems.
The 60/40 split second row, now more spacious, slides further forward for increased
ease of access to the third row. The 60/40 split third row, now supplies enough
knee room for an above-average-sized adult male to fit comfortably, making the Pilot's
third row among the most practical in the industry. Each side of the second and
third row independently folds down for cargo. A flat floor is created when the second
and third rows are folded down.
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Powertrain
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A 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine features the latest generation of fuel-saving Variable
Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) technology that operates in 6-cylinder mode for power
and 4- and 3-cylinder modes for efficiency, an improvement compared to the previous
Pilot's VCM system that works exclusively in 6- and 3-cylinder modes. A fully-automatic
Variable Torque Management® 4-wheel drive system (VTM-4®) is designed to deliver
decision-free all-weather traction and medium-duty off-road capabilities - while
minimizing the weight and fuel economy drawbacks of a conventional four-wheel-drive
system. |
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2009 Pilot vs. 2008 Pilot
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2009 Pilot |
2008 Pilot |
Change from 2008 |
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Wheelbase (in.) |
109.2 |
106.3 |
+2.9 |
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L x W x H (in.) EX 4WD |
190.9 x 78.5 x 72.7 |
188.0 x 77.5 x 71.7 |
+2.9 x +1.0 x +1.0
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Total Interior Volume*, LX (cu-ft.) |
174.5 |
170.4 |
+4.1 |
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Engine Size (L) |
3.5 |
3.5 |
Same |
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Engine Output (HP) |
250 @ 5700 |
244 @ 5750 |
+6 @ -50 rpm |
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Engine Output (lb-ft.) |
253 @ 4800 |
240 @ 4500 |
+13 @ +300 |
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Fuel Economy** (mpg city/hwy) |
17/23 (2WD)16/22 (4WD) |
16/22 (2WD)15/20 (4WD) |
+1/+1+1/+2 |
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Fuel Tank |
21.0 |
20.4 |
+0.6 |
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Emissions |
ULEV-2 |
ULEV-2 |
Same |
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Tires |
P245/65/R17 |
P235/70 R16 |
Larger by 10/5 R1 |
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Ground Clearance (Max.) |
8.0 |
8.0 |
Same |
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* Includes 2.8 cu-ft. inside the underfloor storage well (2008 model =1.5 cu-ft.).
The underfloor storage well can be fully combined with the above-floor storage by
securing the cargo lid to the third row seatback.
** Based on 2009 EPA mileage estimates, reflecting new EPA fuel economy methods beginning
with 2008 models. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before
2008. Actual mileage will vary.
Accolades
Among its numerous accolades, the Honda Pilot has earned Car and Driver Magazine's
prestigious "5Best Truck" award on six consecutive occasions (2002-2007). The 2008
Pilot is among an elite group of vehicles to receive both a "Top Safety Pick 2008"
from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a 5-star crash safety
rating for frontal and side collisions from the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA*).
* Government star ratings are part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's
(NHTSA's) New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard
side-impact air bags (SABs).
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