- suv 89,574
- 9,865 high price
- Pawtucket, RI
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- autoshopper.com
- suv 89,574 silver automatic
2006 honda pilot review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Upgrades enhance safety and appeal. introductionthe honda pilot has been freshened for 2006 with subtle styling updates along with enhancements to some of the interior features. Also, a new front-wheel-drive model has been added that lowers the price of entry for this midsize sport utility. the 2006 honda pilot models offer enhanced safety in the form of three-row curtain air bags that come as standard equipment. Curtain airbags are important because they can provide head protection in an accident; head injuries are the leading cause of death in side impacts and rollovers. the available navigation system has been enhanced for 2006 with expanded voice recognition capability and zagat restaurant ratings. A rearview camera is included with the navigation package to assist when backing up, a terrific feature that may sound like a gimmick but proves to be quite handy for spotting children on tricycles as well as for easier parallel parking. the pilot is the honda of suvs, practical, efficient, reliable, and powerful. It's a crossover vehicle, so called because it's built on a car structure and drives more like a car than a truck, with crisp, predictable handling and a smooth ride. It's not designed to tackle the rubicon trail or tow a big, heavy boat or haul a load of gravel. capable of seating up to eight passengers, the pilot is not a small vehicle. It's larger overall than a toyota highlander or nissan murano. Yet the pilot delivers impressive fuel economy, particularly in two-wheel-drive form, thanks to a fuel-saving cylinder-deactivation system that disengages half the engine's cylinders when not required for acceleration or towing. As a honda, it promises quality, durability and reliability. lineupall honda pilot models come with the v6 engine and a five-speed automatic. They offer a choice of front-wheel drive (2wd) or all-wheel drive (4wd). Two trim levels are available: lx 2wd 26,995) and 4wd 28,195) and ex 2wd 29,545) and 4wd 30,745). Both are well equipped. safety features that come on all pilots include anti-lock brakes, front-passenger frontal and side-impact airbags. The ex model adds an electronic stability control system that honda calls vehicle stability assist. the lx comes with air conditioning, cruise control, am/fm/cd stereo, power windows, mirrors and door locks, and a rear wiper. the ex raises the ante with synchronized front and rear automatic climate control, a power driver's seat with adjustable lumbar support, an outside temperature indicator, homelink garage-door remote, a premium seven-speaker stereo with cassette and six-disc cd changer and steering wheel audio controls. Ex can be distinguished by its aluminum alloy wheels and body-colored moldings, mirrors and door handles. option packages for the ex include the leather interior 2,300) with heated front seats and side mirrors. The entertainment package 3,900) includes the leather package and rear-seat dvd video system. The navigation package 4,500) adds leather, a satellite-linked guidance system and a rear-view camera. A towing package and brush guards are available as dealer-installed accessories. walkaroundfreshened for 2006, the honda pilot's styling remains conservative, yet greets the world with a good deal more authority than before. The front fascia is beveled and blunt, with more definition than the 2005 model's mug and much more than the smaller cr-v's fluid wraparound face. These changes are designed to make the pilot look more like a truck. New complex headlights, a wide, chrome-bar grille and clear-lens taillights raise the bling factor a couple of notches. the wheel arches are aggressive enough to offset any impression that this is a toy truck, but subtle enough to be consistent with the pilot's likely hangouts in upscale neighborhoods and suburban mall parking lots. Large honda badges on the grille and liftgate make it clear that the company is proud of the pilot, and expects customers to feel the same way. honda has limited the amount of matte-black plastic bodywork that seems to be increasingly popular on sport utilities, and we appreciate that. Body-colored moldings give the pilot ex a more refined, upscale look. The pilot's only nod to this allegedly rugged suv-ness is the step on the rear bumper (a good thing) and rubberized plastic guards under both bumpers. The pilot shares its engine, transmission, all-wheel-drive system, and brakes with the acura mdx. interiorthe pilot can seat up to eight, but some of them best be small. The second-row seats are comfortable for adults, but the third-row seats are more suited for children. up front, the pilot's bucket seats are spacious and comfortable. The lx model's manual seat adjustments are simple but effective. A driver's foot rest, or dead pedal, is standard on all models. the second- and third-row seats are slightly higher than those ahead. This theater seating improves forward visibility for back-seat passengers. The second-row seatbacks recline, albeit with limited range. The second row can slide fore and aft, allowing leg room for the second and third rows to be adjusted according to the size of the passengers. Getting into the third row is aided by the seat design. Flip a lever and the second-row seatback pivots forward while the entire seat slides forward. The seat returns to its original position by pushing on the seat back. in terms of cargo capacity, the pilot is among the best in its class. That's more than the gmc envoy or chevy trailblazer (80. 1 cubic feet), ford explorer (81. 3) or toyota highlander (80. 6) or nissan murano (81. 6). Both rows of rear seats are split 60/40. The second-row seat folds away easily via a single lever and drops the seat flush to the floor. All controls are easily accessible by the driver. in a particularly clever move, honda made the largest dial in the center of the instrument panel a switch to shift the audio controls from front- to rear-seat audio. The other instruments and controls will be familiar to anyone who has driven a honda. Most of the pilot's switches operate with a satisfying, positive action. all is not perfect inside the pilot, however. The minivan-like column shifter is spindly and moves in an ovoid path, like that of the odyssey. Buttresses on the sides of the center console look like they'll collect detritus. The fold-out cell-phone holder with a power outlet seems at first a nice feature, but blocks the two cupholders in front of it. nonetheless, the console provides plenty of storage space in a compartment behind the cell-phone holder. A covered compartment located below the pilot's center stack provides more storage in the space between the console and the instrument panel. the pilot is loaded with kid-friendly features. There's a cup holder for every seat and pockets on the seatbacks in the first two rows. The ex includes a second-row fold-down activity tray with more cup holders and storage for pocket-sized electronic games or fast food, including a little spot that cradles sauce containers. the optional rear-seat dvd screen measures a huge nine inches diagonal yet it doesn't take up much space when not in use. It's easily viewed from all of the rear seats when deployed from the headliner. Audio and video input jacks are provided for a variety of electronic accessories, from camcorders to portable vcrs to game consoles. The system includes two sets of cordless headphones, with jacks for three mo. driving impressionthe honda pilot is a joy in daily use. We found it easy to maneuver and park in crowded parking lots. Its road manners seem just a little better than necessary to compete in this class. Pilot was developed primarily for highways and city streets, though its ground clearance, suspension travel and standard tires are fine for light off-highway duty. the 3. 5-liter v6 engine is more than adequate to propel the pilot. Acceleration is excellent, particularly in the 30-60 mph range that matters most in daily use. With 244 horsepower to propel its 4400 pounds, the pilot outguns the v6-powered toyota highlander. More important, the honda v6 produces 240 pound-feet of torque from 3000 to 5000 rpm. The 3. 5-liter engine features a broad and flat torque curve, very low emissions and good fuel economy. All pilots benefit from a drive-by-wire throttle replaces a conventional throttle cable with an all-ele. AM/FM✔ Bucket Seats✔ Power Windows✔ Anti-lock Brakes✔ Climate Control✔ Cruise Control✔ Navigation System✔ Air Conditioning✔ CD Changer✔ Alloy Wheels
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