2017 Honda Pilot Elite AWD

2017 Honda Pilot Elite AWD

Test Drive

Written by Marco Carvajal

Photographs by katerina Krjanina

Introduction

The 2017 Honda Pilot Elite AWD not only is very beautiful, it is also very powerful, it is one of the fastest three-rows crossovers available, the super V-6 Earth Dreams engine produces 280 Horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute. The 9-speed automatic transmission supports very efficient shifts in the speeds, I love such flexibility to be able to drive the Pilot changing into different 9 speeds. Honda equipped the Pilot’s engine with Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD, a special system that adjusts dynamically the power delivered to the Pilot’s wheels.

The Honda Pilot Elite not only is very beautiful, it is also very powerful, it is one of the fastest three-rows crossovers available, the super V-6 Earth Dreams engine produces 280 Horsepower

If you need space for many passengers, the 2017 honda pilot has seating for 8 people. The 3-seats third row can be folded to increase cargo space. The new 2017 Honda Pilot Elite three-row crossover features all-wheel drive, and plenty of great features to fall in love with this SUV.  Honda call this car “The modern Family SUV” a name well deserved for a great car to please all the family, from children to teenagers and adults. If you have a big family, a sports team, or a rock band, this is a great car to own, beautiful, large and luxury, with a lot of nice features standard.

Prices and Versions

The Honda Pilot 2017 is available in 5 different models, LX, EX, EX-L, Touring and Elite. The first 4 models come with all-wheel-drive (AWD) optional available, but the Elite comes with AWD standard. The base model, the LX has a starting price of $30,595 and the top model, the Pilot Elite has a base price of $47,070.

Price excludes tax, title, license, options and destination charge.

Lease 

In January 2017,when I am writing this article, the lease price is $875 for 36 months for the 2017 Honda Pilot Elite AWD in the United States, however this price is an estimate and may vary.

The sale price of this Honda Elite at less then 50K is actually very good, considering all the features included, and also taking into consideration that the Elite is the top line of the Pilot. However I believe that Honda could work on some appealing lease offers, to make this model more accessible for those who like to lease versus purchasing.

Exterior

Compared with the previous model 2016, the new body, the 2017 Pilot comes with softer contours of fashion stamping. The external vehicle parameters increased in 9 cm, but the weight has been reduced by less than 136 kg. The weight reduction was possible thanks to the use of aluminum and high-strength steel parts. A beautiful visual detail in  the front is a powerful chrome grille, a beautiful component together with the LED lights with complex geometric shapes.

Interior

A luxury interior 8-in Display Audio Touch-Screen and a Rear Entertainment System provides luxury comfort. Seating for up to eight passengers allows you travel with your family and friends, there is plenty of space for everyone. The spacious cargo area, offer plenty space.  the pilot includes all-season floor mats as a protective layer to the original carpets.

If you have a big family, a sports team, or a rock band, this is a great car to own, beautiful, large and luxury

Technology

In terms of technology, the available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System features 3-D renderings of terrain, buildings and road signs, lane guidance, live search function and more.

Other great feature is the Multi-Angle Rearview Camera that gives you three different views: normal, top-down and wide, so you can get a complete view of the rear of this crossover.

Connecting mobile device to your Pilot is very easy with HondaLink, you can stream music, navigate, check traffic, schedule service appointments and do more with your devices and your pilot.

When you want to change lanes you’ll have extra help with the Blind Spot Sensing, the sensors in the rear bumper alert you when vehicles are detected for a safer change of lane.

Safety

The 2017 Pilot Standard safety features include front, side, and curtain airbags, ABS brakes, brake assist, multi-angle rearview camera with guidelines. Some of the optional features include Honda Sensing that adds collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. Honda LaneWatch is standard on the EX, EX-L and Touring models. Auto high-beam headlights and blind spot monitoring with cross traffic monitoring comes standard on the Elite model.

The previous Honda Pilot, the 2016 model received the IIHS Top Safety Pick award, the 2017 model includes the same safety features that gained such award for the 2016 Honda pilot.

The previous Honda Pilot, the 2016 model received the IIHS Top Safety Pick award, the 2017 model includes the same safety features

Conclusion

The 2017 Honda Pilot Elite AWD  is a very powerful machine, fast, spacious and beautiful, as the top model of the Pilot series, the Elite has a good price under $50,000. A wonderful three-rows crossover with a very comfortable and luxury interior, an easy to use control panel with tons of options. A nice and elegant exterior. 8 seats, good cargo space, advanced 9 speeds transmission, and a great engine with 280 HP makes it very easy to be in love with 2017 Pilot.