6 things to know about the all-new Honda Pilot

The all-new Honda Pilot is finally here and Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. (HCPI) made sure to provide it with tons of new features inside and out. Having seen it in the metal, here are 6 things that made us admire this premium 8-seater.

American made

HCPI stated that the all-new Pilot was designed and developed in the US at Honda Research and Development America, Inc. This allowed engineers to stretch technological thresholds and create an SUV that’s sleeker, smarter, safer, and more comfortable.

Commanding exterior

Right off the bat, the Pilot’s exterior looks impressive. Gone is its boxy design in favor of smoother and better rounded corners and panels. These are complemented by a set of new 18-inch alloy wheels.

And just look at those sharp-looking daytime running lights (DRL), projector headlights, and tail lights. Not only do these LED lights enhance day and night road visibility, these also add depth to the vehicle’s robust character.

Premium interior

Premium touches are plentiful inside the Pilot. Hop aboard, and one would start to notice the firm yet comfortable feeling of its black leather seats. These can be electronically adjusted either for coziness or convenience (or both). And yes, the driver’s desired seat position can be saved.

Moreover, occupants can get all cool and relaxed thanks to the Pilot’s Triple-Zone Automatic air-conditioning with Independent Rear Controls.

Tech features

But the highlight feature has to be the entertainment system. Aside from an 8-inch Android OS touchscreen LCD with Bluetooth, HDMI, and USB Connectivity up front, it also has a separate 9-inch DVD/HDMI monitor facing the 2nd and 3rd row seats. All these transmit sound through 7 speakers and an 8-inch subwoofer.

Honda SENSING

Honda’s concern for automotive safety has led it to equip the Pilot with their Honda SENSING technology. This is a collective term Honda uses for its more advanced safety techs like Active Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM), Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), and Forward Collision Warning (FCW). All these contributed to the Pilot’s 2016 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ title.

Earth Dreams Technology engine

Beating under the hood is Honda’s Earth Dreams Technology developed 3.5L V6 i-VTEC gasoline engine with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM). This puts out 284 hp and 353 Nm of torque to all 4 wheels via 6-speed automatic transmission.

What’s more is that the Pilot’s AWD system has an Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) which channels torque to the rear as needed to aid cornering.

Finally, HCPI says that the all-new Honda Pilot is priced at P3,380,000 and will be available in 4 colors - White Diamond Pearl, Modern Steel Metallic, Crystal Black Pearl, and Dark Cherry Pearl. Find out more about the Honda Pilot, visit the AutoDeal Car Guide.