Anyone have a 3rd Gen Honda Pilot? May buy one soon.

The wife and I are considering buying a 2016 Honda Pilot EX AWD.

Everything I've read seems to lead to low maintenance and high reliability.

Our other options were a Toyota Highlander and Subaru Outback, but the Honda won out for space/organization needed for our long-range trips (Going to miss the 4Runner for getting to remote places).

I'm negotiating on one about a 3-hour drive from my house, so before I drive that far, would anyone here care to share their take on why you like yours, why you hate it, why you went with something else, etc?

I will always have a Toyota 4x4 or two in the lineup, and something with much better gas mileage would be nice (the Pilot barely does better than my Pickup/Runner), but when it came to space for car camping we just didn't see anything else out there better.

I like that it doesn't have a CVT and is N/A, but gas mileage does suck compared to the competition with said things ha.

I would love the Subaru AWD for the winters here... and better MPG as a family car.
I would love another Toyota as they've always served me best for reliability.
But again, the amount of space in the Honda haha you see the theme here.

Still considering an Outback, even if it has a lame CVT... It may be worth it the places we drive to have better snow/off-road abilities and nicer to have the smaller car to DD.

Anyway, negotiations are in place. IF they don't budge a grand or so I'm walking and will be back in the market. But if they do, anything I should know about first..?

Thank you, TW!

 

Go big or go home! Looks like you covered the bases, get what works for you.

 

I’d be set on the Outback if it had a manual tranny and the Pilot wasn’t the size of the international space station inside ha. I feel like I can talk with my hands all day (as my wife says I do) with zero fear of ever accidentally high-five-ing anyone’s face. It’s kind of stupid how big it is inside ha.

 

We have a 2020 pilot touring... it is an insanely comfortable and easy to drive family hauler. Wife and i both love it. It is as close as we are getting to a minivan haha.

For long trips its incredibly comfortable for all including me as the driver. Ive never sat in a vehicle that had a more comfortable seat with a commanding view of the road.

We have the 9 speed transmission with the 3.5L and average 24 mpg but have seen as good as 29 on rural roads.

 

We have a 2016 Pilot EX-L and it's been a great SUV. My wife is the one that drives it and she loves it especially the space. She can fit our teenage son and all his friends when she picks them up from school, lol. Now back to your question. It has a lot of amenities inside that were given a lot of thought when it comes to functionality, does great gas wise and rides like a car if that is what you're going after. The only thing I wish it had are USB ports for the rear passengers, but other than that I have no complaints.

 

You need to find a low miles 2013 Subaru Outback, it’s the sweet spot with no head gasket issues and last year of regular transmissions.

 

Peeps seem to average around 20mpg. You seeing the same? Thanks for the info!

 

I've had some old Subies, and really always wanted an 09 Outback or 13 Forester, but don't trust the old used models near as much as my 20 something year old Toyotas.

We're looking at a 2016 model currently (honestly the wife and I liked the looks and mpgs better, but will strongly take into consideration your recommendation for a regular transmission over looks/mpgs). Will be doing more research thanks to your comment, so thank you!

It's funny but I find myself looking at anything that says 2012 or so and thing, man, that's practically BRAND NEW . . . then the mental math kicks in and I realize time is flying too quickly!

I was under the impression the newer Outbacks (2012+) and Foresters (2011+) didn't have the head gasket issues of the old ones.

The new FB engine design seems to have far less issues than the old EJs.

 

Looks mean! Hows the AWD up in that Northern Snow? We get it heavy here in NE South Dakota.

 

I was in similar shoes not that long ago.. My wife and I test drove the Subaru Ascent and read so much on it, but after driving it we both felt as if it was more of a "sedan" rather than an SUV. It didn't feel as spacious as the the Honda Pilot even tho the numbers on paper are very close. My neighbor is a master technician for subaru and last week he told me subaru purchased back 3 ascents at his dealership due to problems with the transmission. I trust him, and he knew I was in the market for one and he was glad I didnt get one, so many bugs on them.

Anyhow, we purchased a 2019 Pilot Touring and had taken a few long trips already (6 months of ownership = 12k miles). Longes trip was a 2400 mile trip (1200 one way) with a 3 year old and a 1 year old, and I gotta say it was pleasant for the amount of "Straight" hours we drove at times. I suggest the overhead DVD player for those trips.

The only con I can think of the pilot is that I have been experiencing a "lag" when shifting from 2-3rd. I took it to the dealership and they documented my complain and said it seemed normal after I did a test drive with their service manager. I have the 9 speed, and learned is made by GM. I dont know if 2016 have the 9 speed tho. Fuel milage isn't bad. My wife averages 23mph and its mostly city driving. She's very happy with it, so its a win win... hope this helps. Best of luck.

Lastly, we owned a 2011 4runner before, and can tell you the pilot feels more spacious than the 4runner.

 

This is very helpful, thank you!

The lower trim models (EX is all I’m interested in) only have the 6 speed transmission and from what I read it’s that 9 speed that helps with mpgs but is also more problematic. Hope that works out okay for you!

I personally prefer the smaller size of the Outback, the mpgs, the superior off road and snow handling, ground clearance, etc. all of the Outback.

But my wife and I do some really long trips as well. Our last one was 6,400+ miles in a tiny 1999 4Runner, living out of the back. So we well know how much every little cubby and storage space as well as more space in general could improve our future trips ha.

Outback would get us to more places. But the Pilot is a mobile Studio apartment as far as space goes.

thanks again for the feedback, all. I’ll let you if the dealership budges or not. I have a set number I will not spend over and set minimums I’ll take for trade-ins. The nice thing about my old Yotas is there’s no rush, they’ll run fine for another decade ha.


We don’t plan on kids for another 3-4 years or so, so we’re not too concerned about space as a necessity so much as a comfort as of yet. But it’s be nice to have the car I need in ten years already rather than buy twice down the road.

Thanks again, all!

 

Fantastic. We have blizzack DM-V2 on it and it is absolutley beastly in the snow. Much more predictable than the Taco.

 

That’s good to know. My mom has an 05 Pilot and it can’t handle anything deep but is a beast in anything lower than the frame. Lots of time for improvements between now and then though haha. Thank you!

 

I bought a Forester new in 2006, kept it for 13 years and 300k. Loved it!
I did have to do the head gasket but fortunately it was under warranty still.
Both my kids learned on to drive with it, and it was the kids car till I sold it this summer.

 

Put it this way, this is the third Honda Pilot I have bought for my wife, 2006, 2012, & 2019, all EX-L. In February we bought the last one. I gave her the choice of anything she wanted. I was pushing the BMW X-5 and the MB GLE 450. She looked at the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro and the Sequoia. She chose the Honda Pilot again. She has never had any problems with the Pilots. I do regular maintenance on them. I have only had to replace tires, batteries, & brake pads. That's it! We took a 12 hour trip to Tennessee this summer with 4 adults and 2 dogs. Everyone was comfortable. To me it looks like a minivan but it does what she wants without the minivan stare from the other moms. It's a great family vehicle. I still use my Tacoma when ever we go somewhere together, unless it's a vacation.

 

Little brother had an 03 Forester. It was honestly insane the snow/ice/blizzards we drove through in that thing haha.

 

Im well over the “looking cool to the other boys” stage haha. Right tool, right job.

Mayhaps one of each is in our future! We are going to do one vehicle while the wife goes back to school for two years to save monies. No need to necessarily but we believe in living frugal no matter the income to have more helping power in our old fart years

 

Yep, I could care less what anyone else thinks too. My wife is a stay at home mom, 2 kids, each with their own vehicle I bought, and my Tacoma that I use for everything. So our vehicle stable has grown a lot in the last few years. We just can't do it with one vehicle. To many scattered activities. Maybe one day I can be in your shoes and have only one.
Just have to make sure you guys really like the vehicle otherwise every little thing will bother you. Good Luck!

 

I have to check but I think we get a little better than that as far as city driving goes. I think we're in the 23 - 24 range, but really need to check. Believe it or not my doesn't even drive a mile to get to work. She's a teacher and the school she works at is literally three blocks from our house.

 

Oh trust me, as the oldest brother in a not too well off family, I own a lot of vehicles haha they’re just driven by my mom/brothers/cousin, haha. It’s funny, the more financially wise I learn to be the more I’m able to actually help the fam out. I used to spend a lot on little things trying to “help” and it only enabled. Now I only help with things that can help them help themselves get ahead, you know?

One of my baby brothers is having his first son! First grandson for my parents! I’m stoked and setting aside funds to help them but they should be good.

That’s awesome you’re good to your kids. I’ve helped raise so many siblings and cousins and in stoked to finally have some of my own! But for now, it’s the cars and hobbies that make some money back for me ha.

It’ll either be a Toyota and a Pilot or a Toyota and an Outback for us. Time will tell!