2020 Honda Pilot
HEADROOM, F/M/R 39.5/40.9/38.9 in
LEGROOM, F/M/R 40.9/38.4/31.9 in
SHOULDER ROOM, F/M/R 62.0/62.0/57.6 in
CARGO VOLUME BEHIND
F/M/R
82.1/46.0/16.0 cu ftCURB WEIGHT; DIST, F/R 4,285 lb; 56/44%
GROUND CLEARANCE 7.3 in
APPROACH/DEPART ANGLE 19.7/20.8 deg
TURNING CIRCLE 39.4 ft
TOWING CAPACITY 5,000 lb
38 MOTORTREND.COM MAYTHE BIG TEST I 3-Row SUVs
LAYOUT, HONDA PILOT
66.3”70.^6
”78.6”66.3” 111.0”
196.5”cousins. We loved the deep and spacious
center console and the ease of getting into
and out of the third row, which is ample
enough for city drives for adults.
DrivingAlthough these players
aren’t necessarily known for being great
athletes, you’ll want an SUV that has
enough punch to pass an 18-wheeler
when necessary, a suspension that makes
the ride pleasant, and enough sound
insulation that you can hear your kids
in the back.
We headed to Southern California’s
spectacular Palos Verdes Peninsula. Its
twisty and hilly roads overlook the Pacific
Ocean, and its neighboring streets and
reachable freeway made it a great spot for
vehicle evaluation.
If we were to award a gold medal
for performance, ride, and handling,
the Mazda CX-9 would be the champ.
With its stiffer steering, well-balanced
suspension, and peppy 2.5-liter turbo-
four engine, the CX-9 delivers on Mazda’s
“Driving Matters” mantra. “No SUV in
this group is as engaging and—dare I say—
rewarding to drive as the CX-9,” Seabaugh
said. “Its steering is well weighted,
accurate, and pure.” With 227 hp and
310 lb-ft of torque, the CX-9 was tied for
the torquiest SUV (along with Explorer),
and its six-speed automatic transmis-
sion, though old, still gets the job done.
Rechtin agreed: “It’s definitely the most
entertaining drive of the bunch if you still
want the feel of fun.”
Although 0–60 times are almost
irrelevant for this segment, sometimesyou need that extra giddyap. We were
surprised to see the Honda Pilot winning
the chase in 6.2 seconds. “Once the VTEC
kicks in, this engine feels and sounds
great,” Walton said. Its standard 3.5-liter
naturally aspirated V-6 produces 280 hp
and 262 lb-ft of torque, and its nine-speed
automatic was updated for 2019 to make
shifts smoother and downshifts quicker.
It’s not perfect, but the gearbox feels like it
has improved, though we wish it wouldn’t
hunt for gears when going uphill. Yekikian
noted a “squishy brake pedal that inspires
little confidence,” but during our testingThe Pilot still offers rear-seat entertainment
with a Blu-ray player and HDMI ports.