Currently in its third generation, the Honda Pilot is a five-door mid-size crossover SUV that has been in production since 2002. Sharing a platform with the Honda Odyssey, the Acura MDX, and the Honda Ridgeline, the Pilot provides three rows of seating for seven or eight occupants.
While there are many speculations of a hybrid variant, for the 2022 model year, the Honda Pilot is offered in seven trim levels with prices starting from $36,830. Under the hood, all the models sport a powerful 280 hp 3.5-liter V6 that sends 262 lb-ft of twist through a nine-speed automatic transmission. This is enough juice to give the new Honda Pilot a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds with the standard FWD and 5,000 pounds with the optional AWD. The 2022 Honda Pilot is a family-oriented SUV that is packed with the latest safety and infotainment tech to keep your family safe and entertained. Read on for eight features that make it an outstanding crossover SUV.
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8Ample Storage
One of the things that makes the 2022 Honda Pilot a perfect family hauler is the ample storage space it offers. Behind the third row of seats, it boasts 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space, and with the third row folded, it can increase to 46.8 cubic feet. With all the rear seats folded, the new Honda Pilot has a huge 83.9 cubic feet of space to stow your goods.
As far as carrying capacity is concerned, this is way above the class average for midsize crossover SUVs. It hauls more than most three-row midsize SUVs like the Ford Explorer, the Nissan Pathfinder, the Mazda CX-9, and even the Toyota Highlander. Thanks to the cavernous cargo hold, the 2022 Honda Pilot is nearly as practical as the Honda Odyssey which shares the same platform with it.
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7Excellent Fuel Economy
Honda vehicles are notable for their fuel efficiency, and the 2022 Honda Pilot continues the legacy despite its large size. The 3.5-liter V-6 powertrain gives the new Pilot (front-wheel-drive) an EPA rating of 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. If you opt for the all-wheel-drive model, you'll enjoy 19 mpg while commuting in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
This is a higher rating than what is obtained in the Chevrolet Blazer, the Lexus RX 350 L, the Volkswagen Atlas, and the Kia Telluride. With the 19.5-gallon fuel tank filled up, the 2022 Honda Pilot will take you more than 400 miles before you need to stop for gas.
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6Honda Sensing Suite
The 2022 Honda Pilot comes with a long list of standard and available high-tech safety features that make driving stress-free for the driver. Every model comes with the Honda Sensing suite, which has adaptive cruise control that helps maintain a safe distance between the Pilot and other vehicles on the road. Features like the road departure mitigation system and the lane-keeping assist system adjust the steering as needed to help keep you in your lane.
In the event of an imminent frontal collision, the collision mitigation braking system will apply the brakes to help lessen the impact. Other driver-assistance features include a tire pressure monitoring system, vehicle stability assist, and a multi-angle rearview camera to help when backing up the Pilot.
5Spacious Interior
As a family-oriented SUV, the 2022 Honda Pilot boasts a spacious and well-equipped interior that is ideal for ferrying your family in comfort. It boasts heated and ventilated leather bucket seats with a ten-way power adjustment for the driver and a four-way power adjustment for the front passenger.
The tilt/telescopic steering column sports a leather-wrapped heated steering wheel with illuminated controls, while the tri-zone automatic climate control comes with air filtration and humidity control. Apart from the map lights available in all the rows and the cargo hold lighting, LED ambient lighting is also provided in the top models. Garment hooks are also provided in the second row, while illuminated beverage holders are provided in all the rows.
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4Anti Theft Tech
In addition to making the new Honda Pilot safe for the occupants, Honda has also used advanced technology to make it as theft-proof as possible. Every new Pilot comes with high-tech security in the form of a valet function, perimeter alarm system, and an engine immobilizer system.
The valet function disables all car features apart from locking and unlocking to guard against unauthorized access when your Honda Pilot is being valet-parked. When armed, the alarm is designed to go off if there is an attempt to open the car door, cargo hold, or start the engine. If unfortunately, the alarm is bypassed, the engine immobilizer, which is wired into the Pilot's ignition system, will not allow the engine to start.
3Proximity Key/ Push Button Start
The 2022 Honda Pilot comes with a smart entry system that allows you to unlock the car simply by standing close to it without manual activation. Without touching the key, the system will enable you to open the door, start the engine, drive and at the end, shut off the engine and lock the car.
All the system needs is the key fob to be close to the vehicle, and you can just grab the door handle and open the door. To start or shut down the engine, just press the start button, and the engine will respond accordingly when the system senses the fob. You can lock the car at the end of your trip by pressing the lock button on the door handle when the engine is off and the key fob is outside the car.
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2Smart Cargo Access
With the hands-free access power tailgate, Honda provides you with a convenient, innovative, and stress-free way to access the Pilot's cargo hold. This feature doesn't require any button to be pressed to open the tailgate - it needs a kick motion towards a sensor underneath the rear bumper.
The proper foot motion will activate an electric motor that opens the tailgate when you have your smart key fob within 32 inches of the vehicle. The sensor, which only detects a kick motion towards it, does not recognize any other foot movements. This system is ideal for those moments when your hands are full and for owners who cannot open the tailgate due to age.
1Remote Engine Start
Apart from unlocking your Honda Pilot remotely, you can also start and shut down the engine remotely without using the ignition key. With this innovative feature, you no longer have to freeze while waiting for your car to warm up on cold days. When you are not more than 100 feet from the Pilot, the remote engine start allows you to start the engine by pressing a button on the key fob.
The automatic climate control and the seat heaters will swing into action, and the engine will run for 10 minutes before shutting down. If there are objects or buildings between the vehicle and the key fob, the operating, range will not be up to 100 feet.
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Jay Moren is a car enthusiast who loves everything with an engine. When he's not writing about cars, he plays the saxophone and keyboard. He also plays as a goalkeeper for a non-league side in his native Nigeria
