NAIAS 08: Honda Pilot Concept

[Phillip]

Originally Posted by Tiger

PS It is sad to see Honda's apparent unwillingness to invest in their own future product. We are forced to repeatedly look at these monstrosities after all (Element, Ridgeline, new Accord, CR-V, and now newish Pilot).

I can live with the new Accord's styling. My beef with it is that like the current Maxima, Honda sold its soul in hopes of tempting more buyers who couldn't discern an Amanti from an E-Class. I know better than to expect a mainstream family sedan to double as sports cars, but the Accord could at least make a commute interesting with its relatively acute reflexes.

Like its Nissan cousin, I suspect that won't be the case anymore. Larger footprint aside, it inexcusably joins the Fusion in offering no manual shift mode. Not exactly a deal-breaker, but come on; if the 'exciting as saltine crackers' Camry and once irrelevent Malibu offer manumatics. . .

Styling's not the only lapse Honda's suffering from. Whereas everyone else is trying to form or reform their brand identity, they're tossing their's. Why?

[F14CRAZY]

I'm pretty neutral on this one. I'm not impressed, not appalled.

[OldsReliable]

I always thought the original Pilot was a pretty nice looking SUV (or Van - it really looks like a family hauler to me and that's a GOOD thing!)
THIS is just horrible. A little Frontier/Pathfinder fenders here, a little Jeep Patriot back side window there ... slap an abomination of a grill on it.... TOUGH!!
Except I liked the Pilot because it is (or was not trying to be) tough.
It's a shame! Honda... gone the way of Toyota.

Once this generation of white upper middleclass car buyers gets old, we should be seeing a TRUE comeback of American styled cars. Go Oldsmobile.... I mean GM ...

[Michael_S]

The real question is the engine.

The 2 or 3 cylinder deactivation in a V6 is nice technology. But 244 (current Pilot) or even 268 (2008 Accord) from a Honda V6 just isn't as impressive these days. I'm wondering how powerful the engine will need to be in order to stay competitive.

[DuSpinnst]

I've never been impressed with this car line, and this "concept" still doesn't impress me.

Honda from a design perspective can't do anything right, add to that the mismanagement of the Acura brand and you wonder if they would even be around if it wasn't for Civic and Accord name recognition.

[Minnesota Nice]

Originally Posted by DuSpinnst

Honda from a design perspective can't do anything right, add to that the mismanagement of the Acura brand and you wonder if they would even be around if it wasn't for Civic and Accord name recognition.

Aside from the lack of a V6 and too edgy of a look, I think the CR-V is easily the best CUV on the market.

The Civic, despite my problems with it, is one of the only compacts (as it stands now) that I would consider. I'd definitely cross shop the Mazda3 and the Astra, though.

I think Honda has a lot of good. Their engines are very impressive and I find the Si to be a pleasure to drive (for the most part).

From a design perspective, I think the Civic, CR-V, and Accord are hits. They're edgy and if you open your mind (this is not meant as an insult) and look closer at it, you can see some nice ideas on it.

However, I absolutely agree with the Pilot concept. Never cared for any model of the Pilot.

[PAULSTS1]

A milk toast effort....a snooze!

[FamilyTruckster]

Not impressed at all.

[Minnesota Nice]

Just an update: I read somewhere (can't remember where), that it isn't just domestic fans who are disliking the new Pilot.

An overwhelming majority of people polled said they thought it was dry and uninspired and lacked any design element of attraction (most cars usually have one or two nice points).

[ChevroletRevived]

Originally Posted by Minnesota Nice

Just an update: I read somewhere (can't remember where), that it isn't just domestic fans who are disliking the new Pilot.

An overwhelming majority of people polled said they thought it was dry and uninspired and lacked any design element of attraction (most cars usually have one or two nice points).

I'm not surprised! Where did you get this information? Thanks for keeping jus informed on it too. I wonder if Honda will be changing it and not putting it into production close to the concept because of this.

[jzchev28]

its so ugly i have to make a new word for it,fugtastic