Overview & Reviews

User Reviews:

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  Even better than my 2005 EX-L - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Tom McColl - June 3 - 10:51 am

  The new Pilot is hugely improved in every aspect over the outgoing model. I find the looks are much nicer than the outgoing boxy model, which I didnt like compared to the original Pilot design it replaced. I had my 05 Pilot EX-L for over 11 trouble-free years and 168K miles. The new 16 blows it away for gas mileage. Ive been getting way better than EPA estimates. My old Pilot was typically 17-18 city and around 22-23 highway with a best of 25 mpg. For first 2,000 miles, the new Pilot returned 22 mpg city and 27-28 highway mpg with one tank a legitimate 30.6 mpg in ECO mode! Keyless key system is great. I wanted a Black Forest Pearl EX cloth AWD but the only one that finally showed up was one with Homda Sensing, $1000 more. I got it. The sensing is okay but to me, its a bit of a novelty and I find to get the best mileage, I dont use it nor do I use cruise control if the roads are not flat. XM radio is great, as is the other electronic features. I hope they last.

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  No Headroom - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Greg - May 29 - 8:24 pm

  I test drove the 2016 pilot lx awd. There is no headroom for someone 61" or taller. The EX has power front seats but even then you find yourself looking at the visor. I have a 2014 CR-V and I can see the sky. Both have decent headroom the problem is the design of the 2016 Pilot leaves you looking right at the visor. Wow, and I wanted to buy one. It is a problem they decided to overlook. I guess I am leaving Honda because I want and need (towing) the midsize suv.

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  Not impressed - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Michele - May 28 - 7:26 am

  Poor service. My 2016 Pilot is in for the 3rd time due to a poor seal on the rear hatch allowing water in the vehicle when I go through a touch free car wash, the top roof rail blows off in car washes and the drivers window rattles. The 3rd time in to get fixed and they offer me a comparable loaner (a bottom of the line KIA minivan). I called Honda corporate to complain about the issues with Pilot, the service and the loaner only to be told that I was lucky to get a loaner as Honda usually only covers parts and service for their warranty work. I have bought a lot of Hondas but this will be the last. If you cannot go through a car wash without the inside of the vehicle getting soaked and the poor service that goes along with it. Overpriced! Not impressed with the quality of this Pilot or of the service. My Pilot has now been to the shop more times than I can count. They finally fixed the water getting inside during the car wash. It is in the shop for the 5th time for the top rails coming off and has been in the shop 3 times for laud noises when i hit the brakes. The drivers window still rattles. Biggest mistake I have ever made. I miss Honda quality.

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  I absolutely love my 2016 Honda Pilot ex-l - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Terri - May 15 - 11:56 am

  I bought the 2016 Honda Pilot Ex-L AWD in white pearl with beige leather interior. I traded in my 2009 pilot Ex-L which had 71,000 miles for the 2016 model, and couldnt be happier. The car handles beautifully on the road and accelerates with ease (maybe too much ease, I really have to watch my speedometer!). It is a quiet, smooth ride compared to the 2009 model. The interior is gorgeous. I wasnt sure Id like the beige leather, but its a bit darker than I expected when I saw it in person and I loved it. The only complaint I have about the interior is the right arm rest for the driver is small. I was used to resting my entire arm on the big console in the 2009 pilot, and now its a slim but moveable shadow of what it used to be. The center console lies deeper in between the two front seats making more room for setting your purse or phone down which is why they changed it probably. I have been reading about issues the infotainment center has been giving some people, but I have had no issues whatsoever. I enjoy being able to listen to music from my phone wirelessly and think the sound is great. The Bluetooth and phone system works fine as well with a great connection, I drove through a 1-mile tunnel today and my call never broke up. I have not bought the Honda link (Aha) app after reading the many unfavorable reviews, so I cant speak to that yet, but other than that the infotainment center works great. I dont find it complicated at all and I use the steering wheel controls for the radio, iPod or answering calls while driving so no need to fumbling with the touch screen endangering myself as some people have complained about. I also enjoy how the center screen below the speedometer which tells me the mileage, tire pressure, compass, etc., all super easy to go between using the steering wheel control. I have used the remote starter which is a nice added touch, especially on a cold day in the northeast when my car is outside. I can jump in and its nice and toasty and ready to go. The storage space is great and the third row seems roomier than the 2009 pilot, though no one has utilized that seat for a trip yet. I absolutely love this vehicle and all the improvements Honda has made. This is my third pilot and by far the best. Good job Honda on making a beautiful, reliable, safe and fun vehicle. I look forward to driving in luxury for years to come.

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  Better than the 2010 - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By dpbrew1 - May 14 - 10:15 am

  We traded in the 2010 Pilot at about 50K miles. The shocks were in need of replacing and it was time for brake work. We had averaged 15-16 MPG. This Pilot in mixed driving is giving me 20 mpg. We also dumped a 2010 Toy High Hybrid which when my wife drove it in town was 17 mpg. With the Pilot we love all of the thoughtful places to put bottles, cups, brushes, and other "necessities". The ride beats the 2010. I bought this on 12/30/15 seeking to get that end of the year deal and I guess I did OK. I wanted one with all of the assist packages, but they claimed none were in town at the time. We purchased a 2016 Volvo XC60 for my wife, but for travel we both prefer the comfort of the Pilot. Ive had no problems so far and had none with the 2010. I am extremely fond of this vehicle. Im 64" and have lots of room.

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  What Hype?? We love ours!!! - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By RoadTrippin - March 15 - 6:21 am

  To begin my review, I dont know what Larry Pines means by hype. No one should be buying a car because of a "hype". Especially a new car...he sounds like he needs a car that drives like a sedan, sounds like a sedan, and feels like a sedan. But I think that might be too much of a hype for Larry and family.. Yeah, the plastic is super glossy. Did you not test drive this thing before you bought it? I put so many fingerprints on the test drive car, I almost felt bad. Whatever...even satin finish surfaces get fingerprints. 9-speed shift? its CVT...it "continuously" shifts. Theres a brochure about it. It might not be the smoothest shifting transmission, but its to save a little bit more on gas, right? anyways, I could go on for what "could" be better about the vehicle. But you know whats so great about it?? Its got room! Its like minivan, but in a SUV body. You dont want sliding doors and look like youre driving a get-away car? this would be it. But it IS a get-away car. I was impressed with the acceleration with econ mode off for how much it weighs. Its a SUV, not a sports car. The entertainment system/panoramic sunroof? Definitely a plus! My daughter loves watching Frozen and she doesnt cry. She likes pointing out birds, and says tweet-tweet. She ca barely say mama or dada on good days. Remote start? Awesome. Auto-idle? yeah its annoying in bumper-to-bumper. But you cant tell me its so hard to press a button thats right next to your finger when youre just cruising down the road...its probably easier, safer, and quicker than checking texts on your phone. Jumping battery? meh...if you can afford auto insurance for the Pilot, Im sure your plan has road-side assistance. Otherwise, carry a screwdriver in the car. boom. problem solved. Horn sounding a bit weak? screw it. high-beams and a finger always work just fine. How about that auto trunk?! I love it. The range of auto start is definitely a plus. It starts the heater or A/C depending on temperature. How cool is that? You want heated seats? How about cooled seats? Have you checked out Toyota highlanders range on their auto start? not cool... Navigation? My daughter loves that the car on the navi looks like a plane. It might be clunky, but that review is all over the internet. Probably shouldve checked it out if the reviews are saying its clunky. I installed running boards. Yes, please. Safety features? You can turn them off...the safety features are for people who are distracted anyways...Honda Pilot is not advertised as self-driving car for crying out loud. The lane thing is pretty cool. I love that I can take my hands off the wheel if I wanted to. But if the car cant see, it lets you know. I dont "fight" anything. A little nudge here puts the car right back where it was. The vehicle is quiet. Its a SUV. Its not meant to be aerodynamic...its not meant to be the best ride you can have in a vehicle. The seats are a bit stiff....that I didnt like. The lumbar option doesnt have as much adjustability as my Hyundai Santa Fe. That might be my only comfort complaint. Oh the steering wheel controls can be re-done..but how many times are you pressing those things while you drive anyways? You want more dashboard car information? get yourself a bluetooth OBD reader and download Torque. Problem solves and youve got whatever information you need/want from your car. Look, the Honda Pilot isnt for everyone. If youre good with the EX-L, then great. If youre good with the Elite, great. The point is, do your homework and make sure you know what youre getting instead of listening to any "hypes". Thats just a terrible way to purchase a vehicle. Im sure the Highlander has some advantages over the Pilot. But it doesnt have what I was looking for, so it didnt cut it. Oh, and try sitting in the 3rd row of the Highlander.

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  Embarrassing FM stereo quality, customer service - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Rochelle Webb - March 5 - 8:53 pm

  Similar reports have shown up in many varied places concerning the embarrassingly horrible sound quality of the FM radio on several 2016 Honda Pilot models. Despite this, what is more troubling is that Honda seems to be giving owners with this issue terrible customer service, ranging from denying there could possibly be an issue, to assigning case managers who eventually deliver a message that nothing can apparently be done about the issue. This type of services is unacceptable. Had we been aware of this issue and the lack of concern for it from Honda, we would most certainly have looked at other brands. Our 2008 Odyssey had a better radio! Regardless of speed or setting, including the SVC setting, the volume fluctuates up and down randomly every 5 to 60 seconds on any FM station. The sound is great while using a bluetooth connected device or SiriusXM. It is only the FM radio sound quality and volume that is terrible, regardless of station, radio setting, or speed of the vehicle.

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  Serious problems with Sound System and Navigation - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By JI - March 5 - 8:29 pm

  Purchased July 2015 - Problems started in September 2015 with navigation and sound system. Navigation screen would go blank - and display a Clarion Extraframework has stopped error. Dealer performed update to navigation system - error has not appeared since but sound system sounds terrible - sounds like an AM radio from the 1950s. Dealer tells us Honda is aware and working on problem - but still no fix and it is now July 2016. Sound system has this problem on XM, FM and memory stick.

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  Transmission failed - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By Joseph - March 3 - 10:37 am

  I purchased my 2016 Honda Pilot in September of 2015. I was fairly happy with the purchase, but I did notice some unusual transmission experiences. Well this week, it got worse. The gears banged into place and made loud noises. Sometimes it would not shift and just stay in gear with the engine revving really high and then banging into the next gear. The problem? The cooling coil in the transmission failed causing anti-freeze and trans fluid to mix throughout the transmission and the cooling system. According to the dealership, this is the third one theyve seen like this in their shop. They also told me that their friends who work at the Acura dealer nearby are having the exact same issue with the MDX. They are going to replace my transmission and flush the cooling system. The car has 18,000 miles on it.

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  Have everything you need, missing some wants - 2016 Honda Pilot
  By K Shah - March 2 - 9:01 am

  Overall a great buy. Excellent mileage for a vehicle this size. I consistently track 23.5 mpg on city roads + interstate commute. Very roomy. Longer than regular SUVs and hence need a full garage length to park it. Great exteriors. Highway lights could be a little better in rainy conditions. The interior has everything you would want, but a few items one may want are missing. Navigation has active traffic - estimated time of arrival and best route are not always correct. I have learnt to rely on apps such as Waze if i am in a traffic situation as opposed to the navigation. Bluetooth connection is awful - I have an iPhone 6S and bluetooth connection does not always transfer to the in car system despite the display showing a successful connection. Make sure you buy a model with the honda sensing package. The leather in the elite model is much better than the touring model. Pros: Roomy, comfortable, mileage, everything i need is there. Parking, Lane keep assist and ACC are absolutely fantastic Cons: Interior finish could be more elite, bluetooth navigation could be more reliable