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Ok, here is a quiz. What mid size sport utility vehicle assembled in North America received the following accolades last year? Consumer Reports "Best Pick in Mid-Size SUV Class"
Of course the answer is the 2003 Honda Pilot, manufactured in Allison Ontario Canada. This year the 2004 Honda Pilot EX continues to raise the bar with heated leather seats, heated side mirrors and available GPS Navigation System. Truthfully, I am not a fan of the midsize SUV class. As a car snob, I tell families they ought to drive safer, fuel-efficient four door sedans. But as a free enterprise capitalist, I understand people will drive whatever they want. Many families simply need more room and utility than a sedan. The 2004 Honda Pilot is a vehicle with much appeal for growing families. Incredibly well built, this versatile vehicle really won my heart as a great all around vehicle. I know the Pilot is advertised as an eight-passenger vehicle. The third row seating has remarkable room, but I hate to see full size children in the third row of any midsize SUV. Common sense should prevent placing any passenger just inches from the rear glass. Speaking of common sense and safety however, it is important to note that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the Honda Pilot the highest rating possible, five stars, in frontal and side impact test as well as rollover resistance. Safety is more than crash protection and the standard 4-wheel antilock disc brakes will help you avoid a crash by maintaining full steering control even in a panic situation. Variable Torque Management 4-wheel drive is absolutely flawless, smooth and automatic, ready to get you out of any trouble that may come your way. The VTM-4 electronic control system engages the rear wheels in four-wheel drive mode before wheel spin in the front ever happens. Mated to a five speed automatic transmission shifting is never strained or rough. Honda's 3.5-liter, overhead cam V-6 engine may be one of the best, pumping out 240 horsepower and 242 lb.-ft. torque. At 2,500 pounds the EPA still rated this 4-wheel drive sport utility vehicle, city fuel economy at 17-MPG and a respectable 22-MPG highway mileage estimate. Together the powertrain package in the 2004 Honda Pilot is smooth, powerful and adequate for any off and on-road test that waits. Driving the 2004 Honda Pilot was a surprising joy. Quality and resale value of Honda products are legendary. Pilot carries on this tradition of excellent engineering and construction. Refined with car-like handling the Pilot is surprisingly easy to park with exceptional visibility. While many sport utility vehicles have a high or even long step-in, the Pilot is easy to enter and leave for even the shortest driver. There simply are no negatives to this vehicle. After a few days with the 2004 Honda Pilot, I was forced to rethink my prejudice against midsize SUV's in general. This vehicle had it all. It is safe, gets good fuel economy, has plenty of power and handles well. The added advantage is that the Pilot has plenty of available utility. With seating for eight, my test vehicle was bathed in luxurious leather. The GPS based Navigation System, while sporting a smaller screen than some other Honda units, still ranks as one of the best in the industry. Most attractive is the value of the 2004 Honda Pilot. I can't think of a better sport utility buy in the $25,000 - $30,000 range. So if you in the market for a sport utility vehicle, test driving the Honda Pilot is a must. I believe you will agree with the rest of the professional automotive journalist in proclaiming 2004 Honda Pilot a "Best Buy."
2004_Honda_Pilot $27,100 Base LX MSRP
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©2003 - Stan Risener