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Test Drive - Honda Pilot (32-7)   By Garth Cane

Over the last few years, SUVs have dominated the automobile industry with the ability to pull double-duty as a suburban cruiser and a tough-and-ready vehicle for pulling a small RV. With this concept in mind, Honda upped-the-ante in the SUV market with its 2003 Pilot, a model combining comfort and space with exceptional towing capabilities. We had a chance to take the Pilot through its paces first-hand thanks to the assistance of Etobicoke, Ontario-based Castle Honda. The Pilot is offered in two versions, the EX and the EX-L. The only difference between the two (aside from the price) is the EX-L boasts heated leather seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and upgraded interior trim. While the EX comes in at $41,000, the EX-L charges out at $43,000. But no matter what version you choose, you'll enjoy the benefits of its 3.5L 240 hp engine designed to crank out 242 pounds-feet of torque at 4,500 rpm with its 24-valve sequential multi-port programmed fuel injection. A five-speed auto transmission features electronic full-time four-wheel drive while its variable torque management (VTM-4) system distributes power to the front or rear axle as needed. Another plus for the Pilot is its impressive 4,500-pound towing capacity, allowing it to haul a boat/trailer combination (plus four passengers) with ease. A heavier load is acceptable with a boat in tow since the pointed bow imposes less aerodynamic drag over a slab-faced, square-cornered trailer. To see what the Pilot was all about, we conducted a series of towing trials towing a medium-sized boat with three adults along for the ride. Finding a long and not-so-busy stretch of road, we recorded a respectable 8.17 seconds from 0-60 km. Acceleration from 60 km to 80 km only took four seconds. Hitting the gas one more time, the stopwatch read 4.47 seconds from 40 to 60km. What's more impressive is the Pilot's stopping power. From 60 km to 0, our watch recorded, 5.43 seconds. This was not a panic-type stop since the boat/trailer was not equipped with electric or surge brakes. Even after an additional test at a steep launch ramp, the Pilot was up to the task and handled the conditions with ease. To ensure customers can move its maximum rated load up a grade from rest (such as pulling a loaded boat trailer up a launch ramp), company engineers took the Pilot through some of the most challenging conditions. Testing verifies the Pilot's ability to handle a 17-degree (31 per cent) grade on mountain roads and a 15-degree (27 per cent) grade at 1609 metres elevation. At sea level, the Pilot can tow 2041 kilograms (4500 pounds) with a boat and four passengers up an 18-degree (32 per cent) slope. In support of safe towing, the Pilot's tow hitch and other hardware is factory-engineered for dealer installation. The trailer hitch is a Class III receiver-type that bolts on with no drilling, cutting or bumper-cover modifications. An external transmission cooler and separate power-steering fluid cooler are also included. There's even a wiring harness to provide electrical power for the trailer lights that plug into a connector at the rear of the vehicle. The Pilot is not intended for serious off-road travel since it doesn't come with Low-Range four-wheel-drive. Instead, it was designed to isolate noise, vibration and harshness, providing comfort in all driving conditions. ... (Read the full article in the magazine.)