Honda, like airline companies, likes its Pilots to be sober, and there’s nothing to raise the pulse in the 2012 Pilot, which the company has subtly refreshed. But for the vast number of Americans—and many of our own staffers—who appreciate the current Pilot and the innocuous, reliable, and easy way it transports up to eight people and their stuff, this is no bad thing.
For 2012 the Pilot is available in the same four trim levels as last year—LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring—and buyers can spec any Pilot with two- or four-wheel drive. On all Pilots, the seemingly Battlestar Galactica–inspired fascia seen on the current model is mostly gone, replaced with a rather plain face for 2012. A three-slat grille has been installed, while the lower edge and fog lights are redesigned. LXs still wear 17-inch steel wheels, but EX models and up gain new 18-inch aluminum wheels (an increase of 1 inch over last year’s). A power rear hatch is now standard on the EX-L, in addition to the Touring.
Like the changes to its face, the alterations to the Pilot’s interior aren’t immediately apparent and require a Pilot expert to spot. The buttons on the center stack were rearranged for what the company says is a more user-friendly layout, the trim ringing the gauges was redesigned, and the instrument cluster lighting is now white instead of ice blue. EX-L models without the optional navigation system get a new eight-inch color display above the center stack. Those with nav now have a sharper screen and memory expanded to 60 gigs. Honda’s HandsFreeLink Bluetooth and audio streaming is now standard on EX, EX-L, and Touring Pilots—previously the feature was available only when paired with navigation on EX-L and Touring models.
It’s the changes we can’t see that comprise the significant upgrades to the three-row crossover for 2012. Honda added sound insulation to all Pilots, and the acoustic windshield glass exclusive to last year’s EX-L and Touring models has spread throughout the lineup. A 2011 Pilot placed third in a recent three-way comparison test and excessive road and wind noise were among our biggest complaints with it, so any efforts to quiet the racket are welcome. The Pilot is powered by the same 250-hp, 3.5-liter V-6 as last year, but fuel economy is up, courtesy of friction-reducing engine tweaks. In a world where eight-speed slushboxes are becoming more commonplace, we expected Honda to upgrade from its five-cog unit, but the quint soldiers on. Regardless, the 2012 Pilot’s efficiency improvements vault it to the top of the eight-passenger crossover heap. Front-drive models now get 25 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg in the city—up 1 and 2 mpg over last year’s car. Four-wheel-drive Pilots see the same mileage increases, now earning a rating of 17/24 mpg.
Prices for the 2012 Pilot are up marginally, with the EX-L model’s $300 increase being the largest. The front-drive Pilot LX starts at $29,280, followed by the $32,130 EX; $35,380 EX-L; and $40,030 Touring. Adding four-wheel drive to any model will set you back $1600. Honda says this refreshed model will begin arriving at dealers in September.
