Wow, that's pretty weak. The things that I like are the USB interface and 115V power outlet.

What was really striking was the milage: 16/22. This is with Honda's Variable Cylinder Control or whatever (turns off cylinders when cruising). I get 17/23 on the sticker but usually read out much better than that (20/26)

 

Wow, that's pretty weak. The things that I like are the USB interface and 115V power outlet.

What was really striking was the milage: 16/22. This is with Honda's Variable Cylinder Control or whatever (turns off cylinders when cruising). I get 17/23 on the sticker but usually read out much better than that (20/26)

And the Pilot is not full time AWD.

Honda buyers light candles and pray that the Pilot would get the SH-AWD from the MDX but Honda has stayed with the VTM-4 part time 4 wheel drive ala RAV4

So with mostly front wheel drive and VCM you would think the mileage would be better (even with the 270 lb additional weight vs a HL Limited AWD).

 

Check this Post on this forum

I posted some comments on the Honda Pilot forum comparing the Highlander and the Pilot.

http://www.hondapilot.org/forums/showthread.php?threadid=20813&highlight=Hondac

This Thread is about the Honda Pilot 2009:

http://www.hondapilot.org/forums/forumdisplay.php?forumid=70

 

review here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pK5YICZ3Z0

Not exactly getting rave reviews on its looks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sAB2b23CKU&feature=related

 

I agree.

ONLY 17" rims, ONLY 250hp and milage lower than expected...

NOT IMPRESSED!

 

I pretty much bought my Sport after I waited for the intro of the '09 Pilot. I personally didn't care enough for another Honda.

 

There's just more room on the new Pilot as compared to the Highlander, especially when the third row seats are up.

The styling is not that impressive though. I was expecting more for the new Pilot.

 

That sure looks more like a Jeep than it does a Honda!

And that gear shift on the front of the dash is awful. That's a design for a minivan.

 

I agree. A weak effort from Honda, much like the new Accord.

 

I think that it might beat the highlander only in the utility department, I heard it can take a 4x8 sheet of plywood flat. It's annoying that toyota didn't give us that extra 2-3 inches of width on the rear gate Oh well, still love the HL and glad i took it over the pilot now.

 

I think that it might beat the highlander only in the utility department, I heard it can take a 4x8 sheet of plywood flat. It's annoying that toyota didn't give us that extra 2-3 inches of width on the rear gate Oh well, still love the HL and glad i took it over the pilot now.

I just put the 4x8 stuff on the cross rails on the roof of the HL.

Oops..the HL doesn't come standard with cross rails

Took me six weeks to get them as they were the standard Toyota "backorder" status trail of tears

 

nd that gear shift on the front of the dash is awful. That's a design for a minivan.

No, more to allow more room for a woman to store her purse. That was my wife's complaint about her HL. It just fits in the glove box.


I saw a Mercury Mariner (Explorer) today and I mistook it for a new Pilot. The Mariner has grown in size considerably.

 

we struggled with this when we bought out 08 HL, we just didn't want to wait for the 09 Pilot, so we gambled and it looks like we won with the 08 HL. I believe they were preproduction models, but i have heard the interior dash has terrible fitment and poor placement of mold lines and seams, again making me even happier with my HL. they did step it up some, I mean the Pilot gets standard trailer hitch, and the rear glass now opens independently, which it never did on the 08....

 

I looked long and hard at both of them also. I felt you got more for the buck with the HL, but what did it for me was the mileage issue. The HL being better, plus it will run circles around the Pilot.

It will be interesting to see how the variable cylinder arrangement works out for Honda, just more flim flam, IMO.

The only issues for me are the squeaky dash, now mostly fixed, and that annoying whine that comes on at 38 MPH and then kind of goes away or gets mixed in with road noise or?
Oh, and I guess I'll start saving for the spark plug replacement, now.:lol:

 

I had to wait for our HL so they were able to get them in time when I picked up the car.

 

i think your right in the end, but more bang for the buck in December when I bought my HL is somewhat unfair, only because the HL we bought actually cost more (sticker was somewhere north of $3k more) than the Pilot and included some nicer features. All in all, I agree, we love our HL, but maybe it is more fair to say it had more convenient features for just a little bit more money, plus it rides a lot nicer too....

 

I bought the base model and compared to the Pilot Value Package, the HL offered a little more and a nicer interior, IMO.

 

My wife and I have a 2001 Honda Accord and I am a pretty big fan of Honda. However after driving the 2009 Pilot we decided to go with the Toyota Highlander. I was shocked at how cheap some of the interior looked like the dash, door handles, etc. I was giving my wife a hard time about the "cheap" Toyota interior compared to Honda. I have now reversed my position )

 

I do like the standard hitch and especially like the dual exhaust. Other than that, I think the Highlander beats the Pilot hand down.