| Like its brethren, the CR-V, Odyssey and
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| | second and third-row seats each
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| new Element, the Pilot
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| | comfortably seat three passengers.
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| completes Honda's best-buy SUV and van
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| | Although unused during my test week,
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| line. And like any of those
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| | second and third-seat
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| offerings or anything else in Honda's
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| | passengers can view DVDs from a screen
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| arsenal, it's hard to find serious
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| | that pops down from the
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| fault with the Pilot.Introduced in late
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| | second-seat ceiling. Headphones are
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| 2003, the Pilot replaced the Passport and
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| | stored in a map/accessory
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| it shares the
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| | compartment behind the driver's seat.All
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| same basic chassis and powertrain as the
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| | three Pilot models have a long list of
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| MDX, the complementary
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| | standard features: tilt steering
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| choice from Honda's upscale Acura
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| | wheel, cruise control, 60/40 split
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| division.My test drive for the week was
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| | folding second and third seats, power
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| the top of the line's EX L 4-door wagon
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| | mirrors, windows and doors locks, remote
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| that includes both a navigation system
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| | keyless entry and AM/FM/CD
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| and second seat DVD
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| | player, among other items. The EX and
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| entertainment system. With those
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| | EX-L models include a six-disc
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| additions, the Pilot further enhances
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| | changer, steering wheel radio controls,
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| its position at the forefront of the
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| | automatic-off headlights and
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| midsize SUV ranks that include the
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| | allow wheels. Leather upholstery, heated
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| Ford Explorer, Nissan Murano and Toyota
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| | front seats, power sunroof and
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| Highlander.The three Pilot models all
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| | heated power mirrors are standard on the
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| offer a V6, 255-horsepower engine paired
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| | EX-L model only.Despite its best-buy
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| only with a 5-speed automatic
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| | status, the Pilot does have two
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| transmission. The HP total represents an
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| | less-than-
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| increase of six percent from the 2004
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| | spectacular considerations: curtain side
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| model, further adding to the
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| | airbags are not available on
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| vehicle's status among the quicker
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| | any model, and its fuel rating of 17 in
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| midsize SUVs. It has a 0-60 mph test
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| | city driving and 22 in highway use
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| rating of 7.9 seconds.Further
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| | is fine for its category but hardly an
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| performance areas for the Pilot are all
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| | economical plus.Nevertheless, the Pilot
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| ranked at least average or
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| | overall is an ideal family vehicle. It's
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| above. The driver sits "tall" in the
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| | spaciously
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| vehicle, so steering and handling are
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| | designed, practical and fits well in the
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| fine for the car's type. But it should
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| | Honda family known not only
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| never be mistaken for anything other
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| | performance and reliability, but for a
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| than a SUV with cornering
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| | strong position in the resale market.2005
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| limitations.Braking is strong and the
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| | Honda PilotSafety features -- Front
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| standard all-wheel-drive system seems
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| | side airbags, anti-lock 4-wheel disc
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| well-
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| | brakes, rear-obstacle detection system.
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| suited for trails and in inclement
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| | tire pressure monitor, rearview
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| weather conditions.Like other Hondas,
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| | camera.Fuel Mileage (estimates) -- 17
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| controls and instrumentation as well as
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| | mpg (city), 22 mpg (highway).Warranty
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| styling and
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| | -- Bumper to bumper, 3 years/36,000
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| indoor space are thoughtful and styled
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| | miles;
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| simply. The automatic shift lever
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| | Corrosion, 5 years/unlimited miles.Base
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| is located behind the right side of the
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| | price range -- $34,120.James Raia is a
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| steering wheel and doesn't block
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| | syndicated journalist in Sacramento,
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| access to other controls. But it's also
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| | California, who
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| too easy to shift in and out of
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| | writes about sports, fitness, travel and
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| transmission settings.The pilot is an
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| | lifestyle topics as well as the car
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| eight-passenger vehicle, with little
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| | review colum, The Weekly Driver.
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| compromise. The
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| |
|
