Cargo Hauling Capacity
The Pilot has the largest most versatile cargo hauling capacity in its class, including the largest cargo volume of any vehicle in its class - 90.3 cubic feet behind the first row seats with the second- and third-row seats folded flat. In addition, the Pilot's wide-in-class wheel track allows loading of four-foot wide items, like plywood sheets, between the wheel wells with no tilting of items or scraping of interior surfaces.
With its two rows of 60/40 split, fold-flat seats, the Pilot is easily reconfigured to handle anywhere from one to eight passengers and a wide variety of cargo. Longer items can be stored down either side of the vehicle while maintaining two to four passenger seating capability.
When the second-row seats are in use, there is still 48.7 cu.-ft. of space available, more than a full size car's trunk. And if it's necessary to use all three rows of seats, the Pilot still provides 16.1 cu.-ft of space behind the third-row seat - enough for eight paper grocery bags, four duffels and a cooler, or a full set of golf clubs. The rear cargo floor also has six separate tie-down points to secure loose items.
A separation net, offered as a dealer-installed accessory, attaches to four built-in attachment points, two in the floor and two in the grab rail, and provides a separate area for cargo behind the second row of seats. Additional cargo accessories include a retractable cargo cover and a durable rubber cargo liner.
Instrument panel
Highlighting the Pilot's instrument panel is a sporty, beveled, three-gauge instrument cluster with styling inspired by a precision chronograph watch design. The speedometer is in the center of the display and overlaps the tachometer to the left and fuel and temperature gauge to the right. The gear selection indicators are built into the bezel along the curved right edge of the speedometer, mimicking the action of the column-mounted gear selector lever. An array of warning lights is grouped in a horizontal band beneath the speedometer. A display near the fuel and temperature gauges shows odometer and trip-meter readings, and outside temperature figures.
Complimenting the instrument panel's sporty appearance is a silver-trimmed steering wheel with thumb-activated controls for the stereo and cruise control system. The Pilot's steering wheel has a unique and ergonomically designed cross-section design for improved comfort and steering wheel feel. Control stalks for the headlights, turn signals, front and rear intermittent windshield wiper/washers are located on either side of the steering column. Master switches for the cruise control system and interior lighting are located to the left of the main instrument panel controls. To the right of the steering wheel are buttons for the four-way hazard lights and the VTM-4 Lock feature. A large, 6.4-liter, lighted and locking glove box is also provided.
The Pilot's shift lever also has an ergonomic design with an easy-to-grip, dimpled pattern on its knob. In keeping with the Pilot's functional design theme, the gearshift selector lever is mounted on the steering column, providing for a large and unobstructed center console area.
Heating, Air Conditioning and Ventilation (HVAC)
Pilot engineers targeted best-in-class heating and cooling capability to provide maximum comfort for all occupants. In addition to the primary HVAC system, the Pilot utilizes a second heater, fan motor and evaporator unit packaged ingeniously in the vehicle's center console.
Separate heat and air conditioning vents along with temperature and fan speed controls in the rear portion of the center console provide rear seat occupants with improved heating and cooling performance and control. In full auto mode, the system links the front and rear HVAC systems for improved performance. Testing indicates a 17-percent reduction in cool down time when the two systems are linked.
The primary heating, air conditioning and ventilation (HVAC) controls are located on one easy-to-use panel in the center instrument console and include individual controls for temperature, fan speed, vent selection (center, floor and defogger vents), rear electric defogger and fresh or recirculated air. A separate knob enables independent control of the rear HVAC unit. EX models feature front and rear synchronized automatic climate systems.
Multi-Function Center Console
Pilot designers went to great lengths in giving Pilot owners a truly innovative and useful interior design. One feature that epitomizes this concept is the Pilot's multi-function center console. The design of the Pilot's center storage console is so clever and creative that it has a patent.
The console, which is mounted between the front seats, features a large, deep central storage bin to hold large items including music CDs and DVDs. The front of the console features
a hinged door with a removable cell phone cradle and a 12-volt auxiliary power outlet. In front of the cell phone holder is a cup holder with space for two beverage containers. The cup holder unit can be placed into two positions and is removable for easier cleaning. Netted map pockets are incorporated in to the forward sides of the console.
Built into the console is a storage area for U.S. or Canadian coins, a writing tray with a Post-it note pad and penholder, and a business/credit cardholder. At the rear of the console is a third 12-volt power outlet as well as rear-seat HVAC controls.
The center console also serves as a center armrest for front seat occupants and houses a separate heater, evaporator and blower unit for improved heating and cooling. The console also incorporates separate temperature, fan and vent controls along with upper air conditioning vents (fresh or cooled air) and lower heat vents for improved airflow and comfort for second- and third-row passengers.
Additional storage capacity
Occupants of second- and third-row seats also have their own special storage solutions.
Front row seatbacks also have netted storage compartments for use by second-row passengers. Both rear doors feature netted storage compartments along with two beverage holders.
For kids, EX models come equipped with a fold-down activity tray built into the second-row seat that includes two cup holders, an area to hold fast-food dipping sauce or ketchup containers and a tray to store games, coloring books or other kids' items.
Third-row passengers get 3 additional cup holders (two passenger side and one driver side) and large storage packets. In addition, the rear side linings incorporate four grocery bag hooks, two grab handles, a 12-volt power outlet and three stuffable storage pockets. The rear cargo floor also has nine tie-down anchors to secure loose items.
The Pilot also features a 1.5-cubic foot covered cargo area built into the rear cargo floor behind the third-row seat. Ideal for emergency items, like a first aid kit or snow chains, and wet or dirty gear, the concealed cargo area is plastic lined for easy cleaning. The inside portion of the cargo lid has four hooks to secure plastic grocery bags or other gear. It also serves as a storage area for the optional retractable cargo cover.
Center Instrument Stack
A clean and functional center control panel houses the Pilot's audio system, center air vents and air conditioning controls, along with the controls for the optional Satellite-Linked DVD Navigation System or Honda DVD Entertainment System equipment. All controls are designed to be simple, functional, intuitive and easy to use.
In EX models equipped with the Navigation System, the center stack layout places the navigation screen and controls at the top of the stack with the HVAC controls in the middle position and the audio controls at the bottom of the stack. In other models, the audio system controls are positioned at top of the stack, above the center air vents, with the HVAC controls placed in the bottom position. An open storage area below the HVAC controls is used to hold the DVD player in EX models with the Honda DVD Entertainment System.
Audio System
The Pilot comes with an AM/FM stereo and in-dash, single-disc CD player. LX models feature four 16-cm speakers in the side doors and a four-channel, 130-watt, stereo amplifier. EX models add a cassette tape player, two 1.5-cm tweeters (front console), a rear-mounted 25-cm bass woofer and a five-channel, 155-watt, amplifier. Both LX and EX systems feature twelve FM and six AM presets; treble, bass, fade and balance control; and automatic search capabilities.
The Pilot's FM radio antenna is built into the rear side glass and has an antenna amplifier built into the roof for a clean appearance and reduced likelihood of breakage.
Control paddles located on the right hand side of the steering wheel provide volume and channel control for the driver (EX models). The driver can change volume and toggle through radio channel presets or CD tracks.
EX models equipped with a Honda DVD Entertainment System incorporate additional controls that allow for the selection of separate front and rear audio channels (see DVD Entertainment System below).
Lighting
First row convenience lighting includes two ceiling-mounted map/reading lights, a lighted glove box and two courtesy lights (puddle lights) mounted on the lower portion of the front doors. Driver and front seat passenger window controls are also illuminated for night use.
Four additional map/reading lights are integrated into the second- and third-row grab handles and are activated by depressing the lenses themselves. This simple and easy-to-use design is exclusive to Pilot and has a patent pending. The grab handles are also designed to accommodate hangers for carrying clothing.
A light in the rear liftgate provides downward illumination for the cargo area and ground at the rear of the vehicle when the liftgate is raised. The interior lights turn on automatically when the vehicle is unlocked or a door is opened. The lights will remain on for six seconds or until the doors are closed, at which time they will fade gradually to full off.
Satellite-Linked DVD Navigation System
The Pilot's Honda Satellite-Linked DVD Navigation System - available in EX models with leather interior - uses Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data in combination with detailed information from the vehicle's DVD-based mapping system to pinpoint the vehicle's location and to provide a host of useful mapping and route guidance features.
Mapping and route instructions are conveyed to the driver by both audio and visual cues - designed to aid navigation. A moving map - in combination with directional arrows, detailed street names, turning instructions and driving distances - is displayed on the 6-inch LCD touch control screen located on the uppermost section of the center control stack. A matte finish is used on the display screen to reduce glare and smudging.
The system's picture-in-picture capability permits simultaneous display of a large-scale map and detailed route instructions. A "balloon" function instantly reveals the address of any selected location on the map. The volume of voice guidance instructions can be adjusted through 11 settings, including a mute setting. The audio system's front speakers are automatically muted when voice commands are issued.
The system also allows a route with up to five destinations to be pre-programmed with the computer determining the most expeditious route. The moving map can be instructed to display fuel stations, restaurants and automated teller machines (ATMs). The on-board DVD system contains not only maps of all major metropolitan areas but also freeway networks and a searchable database of 3.7-million points of interest including restaurants (searchable by type of cuisine), airports, hospitals, hotels, ATMs and numerous others.
The Pilot navigation system also has the ability to track vehicle position in areas not covered by DVD map data by means of dots on the screen - especially helpful when driving off-road. A log of up to five trip histories is retained in memory.
DVD Entertainment System
The optional Honda DVD Entertainment System features a flip-down, 7-inch, adjustable LCD screen and control panel integrated into the vehicle's headliner directly in front of the second-row seats. The DVD player can be conveniently controlled from three locations: the primary audio system controls on the instrument panel, the ceiling-mounted console or a wireless remote control unit.
Additional audio and video input jacks allow for a wide variety of additional equipment - ranging from camcorders and VCRs to game consoles - to be plugged in to the system. The Pilot's entertainment unit comes complete with two infrared (IR) cordless headphones as standard equipment, and allows for three additional headphones to be plugged in to auxiliary headphone jacks in the rear portion of the center console. The two infrared headphone units have individual on/off and volume controls.
The master controls and DVD drive, located along with the primary stereo controls on the instrument panel's center stack, allow the driver or front seat passenger to override the ceiling mounted and remote control systems in selecting programming. A single large center knob allows the user to shuttle between the front (left display) and rear (right display) systems, selecting DVD, CD, AM/FM radio or cassette programming. This independent control of the front and rear audio channels allows occupants to listen to separate programs simultaneously. One typical scenario would be for the kids to watch a DVD movie with headphones while the parents listen to the radio in the front seats.