2003 Honda Pilot...Continued

The interior is perhaps the most important aspect, with a clean dash with instruments contained in a tight cluster, and lots of storage nooks. The high mounted radio and heater/AC controls keep the driver's eyes on the road. There is the possibility of 8-passenger seating if the rear folks are kid sized, and each rear seat rises above the row before; a welcome design detail. There's good support and shape in the front seats, but the layout is utilitarian in the rear. Yet with panoramic glass and lots of room (it appears to be 4.5 in wider than the mid-sized competition), Pilot will satisfy family needs. And the kid's activity tray in the center and nine cup holders will keep lots of clutter in check and the DVD video player can make trips shorter.

With all seats folded, the Pilot provides a full flat cargo floor and the largest cargo capacity of any SUV in the segment. And with its wide wheel track, the Pilot can accept four-foot wide items like plywood sheets between the wheel wells with no tilting or scraping of interior surfaces.

The Pilot features a 240-horsepower, 3.5-liter, VTEC V-6 engine and Honda's patented VTM-4» (Variable Torque Management 4WD) advanced four-wheel drive system. VTM-4 combines the best features of modern on-demand and conventional four-wheel drive systems while minimizing penalties to vehicle weight, efficiency and interior space. VTM-4 delivers power to all four wheels under acceleration and when wheel slippage is detected in slippery conditions, but also benefiting driving dynamics and stability in virtually all circumstances.

The system goes one step further by providing a "locking" feature that effectively locks the rear differential for improved traction in extremely slippery or "stuck" conditions. We tested this in some obstacles that would challenge the best of the truck-based utilities, and no suburbanite need fear the winter or avoid the camping life. With Pilot's 8" ground clearance, 21-degree entry/departure angles and tow hooks front and rear, there is no reason to get stuck. More likely, Pilot will be pulling some trucks out of ditches.

With rack-and-pinion steering and four-wheel disc brakes, Honda has good reason to be proud of Pilot's on and off road and winter performance. They have used a wide wheelbase not only for interior comfort, but to minimize roll and pitch in winding roads.

The Pilot employs highly efficient body crumple zones and sophisticated airbag technology, and is expected to achieve a Five Star safety rating for both frontal and side impacts. The advanced safety systems include dual-stage, dual-threshold driver and front passenger airbags; a front passenger side airbag with Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and headrests and three-point seatbelts in all eight seating positions.

The Pilot will be a Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) with excellent fuel economy and is constructed with 90 percent recyclable components. The Pilot will be available in two trim levels, LX and EX. LX models will come well-equipped with a host of standard equipment including air conditioning; cruise control; AM/FM stereo with in-dash CD player; and power windows, mirrors and door locks.

Pilot EX models add such features as 16" aluminum alloy wheels; synchronized front and rear automatic climate control; a seven-speaker, high-powered stereo; and options including leather interior, a Honda Satellite-linked Navigation System or Honda's DVD Rear Entertainment System.

The Pilot will be built alongside the Acura MDX and Honda Odyssey by Honda Canada Mfg. in Alliston, Ontario.