2013 Honda Pilot: The SUV That Carries All

Honda’s offers us this year their midsized SUV, the 2013 Honda Pilot. The 2013 Honda Pilot’s powertrain is a 3.5L V-6 engine capable of 250hp, 253 lbs. of torque, at a fuel rating of 18 mpg city/25 mpg highway. Acceleration from 0-60 mph is 8.9 seconds, and it can tow up to 4,500 lbs. Front-drive is the standard, with an option for all-wheel drive. Similar to the Honda Odyssey, there are three seat rows enough for up to eight passengers. Cargo space is at 18 ft³ with all seats up. Folding down the third row gives you 47.7 ft³ of space. Without the second row, total cargo space is at 87 ft³.  The Pilot also features a large storage bin in the rear cargo floor, and its roof can very much accommodate a carrier rack.

The 2013 Honda Pilot is available in four trims – LX, EX, EX-L and Touring with features varying on each trim. The base LX gives you features such as full power accessories, cruise control, tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, tri-zone automatic climate control, an 8” display with Bluetooth and phone connectivity, a 7-speaker sound system w/ CD player, auxiliary audio jack and USB/iPod interface.

Going for the higher trims lets you have other optional features like leather upholstery, a powered lift gate, heated front seats, a 10-speaker premium sound system, satellite radio, a voice-activated navigation system, and a rear-seat DVD entertainment system.

The 2013 Honda Pilot got good scores in safety and crash tests, scoring great ratings in frontal/side impact protection and in the roof strength test. Standard safety features include front side/side curtain airbags, antilock brakes, front head restraints, stability/traction control, daytime running lights and child safety locks.

The 2013 Honda Pilot does great thanks to its great cargo space and great standard features. Critics though aren’t so sold with the Pilot in terms of performance, especially off-road. Some also say the interior looks dry because of the abundance of plastic used.

*Based on 2013 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.