On a cloudy, rainy day recently, we drove the 2014 Honda Pilot to Brighton for lunch with Lindell and Sharon Catlett and Gene and Dee Gingrich,
friends from southwest Denver.The Pilot has undergone few changes for the coming year; it stands tall and is somewhat of a “plain jane” in exterior finish. Look for significant restyling for 2015.
Even with the carryover lines, Pilot sales have increased from 94,116 to 109,557 through the first 10 months of this year, a 16.4 percent gain. Only the smaller, very popular CR-V sells at a faster pace among Honda trucks and vans.
In its 11-year history, the Pilot has earned a reputation for outstanding handling, making it a favorite of some in facing our variety of fall and winter weather.
(On the subject of years past, let me mention that Tim Coy, page designer, is ending 32 years of employment with The Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News this week. He has designed the pages for my car columns for more than 16 years. Best wishes, friend.)
We drove the Touring four-wheel-drive model, the most expensive version of the Honda Pilot.
The wet roads for the lunchtime run were no problem. Later, I pushed the Honda through slower maneuvers on dirt roads. Based on a front-wheel-drive structure, the Pilot uses a variable torque management system to send power to the rear wheels when front tires slip. When the going gets really rough and tough, push the VTM-4 Lock button on the dash when in 1st or 2nd gear and the rear differential will engage, and remain so up to 18 miles per hour. This is a plus when starting off in low-traction situations, such as on ice or in deep snow or mud.
The Pilot’s smooth, steady performance comes from a 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine and 5-speed automatic transmission. Most of the SUV midsize competitors have moved up to 6-, 7- and 8-speed automatics.
With an even split of city and highway driving duties for the Pilot, my overall fuel mileage average was 19.8. The Pilot carries an EPA estimate of 17/24.
The Pilot rides on an extra wide track of almost 68 inches, with 18-inch wheels. Suspension is MacPherson struts in front and multilinks at the rear, with front and rear stabilizer bars. Tow rating for the SUV is 4,500 pounds.
It offers three-row seating. The far-back row, though not particularly easy to get to, is comfortably cushioned and roomy enough for adults. Cargo space behind the third row is 18 cubic feet; the rear glass lifts separately from the tailgate, permitting handy access for loading. If the third-row seats are folded, cargo space increases to 47 cubic feet.
The cheapest Pilot 4wd, the LX, starts at $32,100.
Sticker price on the model I drove was $42,250, including the navigation and DVD rear entertainment systems, standard items on the Touring edition. Navigation, audio and climate controls are easy to use in the Pilot. The premium audio setup includes 10 speakers, satellite and Bluetooth, and the climate comfort is tri-zone.
Among other features are power moonroof, rearview camera, leather-trimmed interior with heated front seats, trip computer, second-row sunshades, cruise control, tilt and telescope steering column, power windows/locks/mirrors (side-view mirrors are heated), foglights. Airbags include front, front-side and three-row side curtains.
Range Rover Sport
The trend of adding optional turbocharged or supercharged V-6 power to traditional V-8-equipped SUVs for improved economy has caught up with British-based Land Rover.
We drove out east on a rainy Sunday afternoon a couple of weeks ago in the redesigned 2014 Range Rover Sport, testing grip on wet and muddy sand and gravel roads in flood-damaged areas. We skirted washed-out roads to Orchard, driving on to Goodrich and Jackson Lake State Park. The Range Rover’s terrain response system offers throttle/torque/gearing adjustments to meet driving conditions.
We were testing, too, the new 340-horsepower, supercharged 3.0-liter V-6 engine, the same as that in the Jaguar XF AWD some weeks back. Still available in the Range Rover Sport is the supercharged 5.0-liter V-8 which develops 510 horsepower.
Dropping two cylinders paid off; teamed with an 8-speed automatic transmission, the supercharged V-6 averaged 21.2 miles per gallon. This compares with averages of 16.8 and 14.2 I achieved with V-8 versions of the Sport in 2012 and ’11.
The Sport rides on 20-inch wheels with Michelin 255/55R20 tires.
Noticeable instantly in the opulent interior is a new horizontal dash panel across the vehicle’s width, broken only by the navigation/audio screen in the middle, with air vents at the ends. A highlight is the Meridian surround-sound system with 19 speakers, along with rearview and junction (side) view cameras for safety.
The mentioned amenities and such others as leather, wood trim, panoramic roof and adaptive headlights boosted price of the Range Rover Sport from a base of $62,600 to $79,030.
Saturday Drive can also be viewed online at DenverPost.com/budwells. Bud Wells can be reached via e-mail at bwells@denverpost.com.
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