2009 Honda Pilot breaks cover, and mirrors
The American-built 2009 Honda Pilot has been unofficially unveiled in the United States. To be called the Honda MR-V in the GCC, it is definitely not a looker.
The engine is better though, with an upgraded 3.5L V6 with 250 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque. Fuel economy has improved ever-so-slightly, thanks to cylinder-deactivation technology.
While we believe there is still no low-range gearing available for this all-wheel-drive SUV, new features to aid off-road ability include a hill-assist system to hold the car on an incline. We also expect improved on-road abilities.
The interior doesn’t fare much better than the exterior, with visibly hard plastics and numerous ugly design touches, such as the console-mounted shifter and the dash-mounted passenger-side tray.
All the usual convenience features found in the previous model are here too, such as airbags, ABS, power windows, sunroof, etc. Three rows of seating are available, and the last one is again suitable for very small adults at best.