[bluegrass]

The redesigned Honda Pilot came in last among 5 three-row SUVs...
1st - Mazda CX-90
2nd - Toyota Grand Highlander
3rd - Kia Telluride
4th - Jeep Grand Cherokee L
5th - Honda Pilot

2024 Three-Row SUV Throwdown

 

[14v6]

Thanks for the link, I posted about this the other day but couldn't find a link so I was going off the article from the magazine itself. It's just one data point but the Pilot's score was poor. Despite the gorgeous new front end I always said the package seemed dated out of the box. Even the invincible Kia has been surpassed. That Toyota Hybrid Max puts down some amazing numbers but then I watched the Car Care Nut video about the engine. Not the most friendly design. For example, it has a belt and you have to take the injectors off to take the valve cover off. It will be interesting to see how the Pilot drivetrain in a RL does in a comparison test. GMC just rolled out a new Acadia which will compete in the 3 row segment as well. For years we heard about the MDX turbo engine and now that it's finally here, sure looks like it needs to go into the Alabama stuff just to keep them competitive. It seems like everyone these days has a hybrid, turbo or both. A plain ICE V6 I think is no longer enough.

IMO, right now Honda is in the business of making placeholders until the roll out their EV future. The best they have to offer right now is with the Accord, CRV and Civic, particularly the hybrid Accord and CRV which IMO drivetrain wise are outclassed by Toyota. Hopefully Toyota can raise their interior/packaging game with the next Gen Camry's and RAV's.

 

[Cbayman]

So the rated #1 Mazda has the tightest cargo space, is the most expensive, requires premium fuel to meet its power numbers, is the fastest to 60 and 130 and has the fanciest interior. Why is the luxury performance sedan team at C/D reviewing SUVs?

 

[geezee60]

Be interesting how these all stack up after 100k miles and 10 years....? Cost of ownership and resale value factored in, of course. Right off for any of these requiring premium, you'll be out about $2500 extra in gasoline costs assuming a price delta of $.50/gal and 20mpg average.

 

[ISO Truck]

Be interesting how these all stack up after 100k miles and 10 years....? Cost of ownership and resale value factored in, of course. Right off for any of these requiring premium, you'll be out about $2500 extra in gasoline costs assuming a price delta of $.50/gal and 20mpg average.

Pilot and Ridgeline require high-test for towing. So if you’re someone who does tow regularly, you end up using hi-test exclusively because you never know when your next tow might be. Around here hi-test is +$1 over regular unleaded. It’s painful - - diesel is significantly less.

 

[FTM1]

I'm still purchasing my 2024 Honda Pilot Elite next month. I have watched a good number of reviews. Alex On Autos Raties Rides.
Savagegeese 2023 Honda Pilot How To Fix Forgettable Suvs. I think best
Autolist.com says Pilot can Turn on a Dime for it's size. Vehicle Visionary has plenty reviews
The Pilot in my opinion looks the best exterior wise. Many ding the Pilot for having small infotainment screen 9 inch in Elite trim.
Some reviews say Honda Prioritized Driving Dynamics over interior goodies like KIA and Hyundai. So Pilot strikes a good balance.
Ive seen other comparison reviews where KIA or Hyundai had features the Pilot didn't.
Then you scratch your head The Pilot had features the others should have had.
People keep saying pay extra for MDX that's a large chunk of money from Pilot Elite.
But It's a Pilot review 12inches from greatness.
Some reviews praise Pilots handling over Palisade and Telluride. The Pilot was more fun they said.
This is the first Pilot exterior that I love.
The 3rd Gen I'm okay with but I never liked 2nd Gen Box. It reminded me of my early 1990s big GE Profile Refrigerator Freezer.
So many really ding the Pilot for small infotainment screen. They also ding it for fuel mileage no hybrid offered.


I posted awhile ago Pilot Elite was poor man's Acura MDX. The Elite has more than a few features they don't have on Touring.
The Elite and TrailSport have Heated power steering wheel. I guess you could get it as accessory added like you could on Ridgeline.
The Elite has power folding mirrors that fold and unfold with locking unlocking. Touring doesn't have. I the one of Korean twins didn't have. Pilot Elite offers Auto Dimming Sideview mirrors. The rear door handle touch handle locking. At least one Korean twin SUV didn't have that.
The MDX doesn't have rear 3rd row Air Vents. The Savagegeese review they be whipping that Pilot.

 

[FTM1]

Pilot and Ridgeline require high-test for towing. So if you’re someone who does tow regularly, you end up using hi-test exclusively because you never know when your next tow might be. Around here hi-test is +$1 over regular unleaded. It’s painful - - diesel is significantly less.

If you buy MDX you would use Premium fuel.
I use Premium fuel in my 2000 Acura 3.2TL.
All the Acura vehicles recommend Premium.
When I get Pilot I will still use Shell Gas mostly Premium or mix with other Top Teir lower octane.
Thursday they offer Premium for less.
I will also use Idle Stop-Start really don't know problem people have with it.
I just moved out of metropolitan city that I lived all my life. The past few years been using a number of Uber/Lyft rides. Most of the drivers in these vehicles seem to be using feature.

 

[OmahaJeff]

Meh. The CX90 and Grand Highlander weren’t available when I got my Pilot. If you pay $10K more money, you should expect more from them.

That said, horsepower is nice, but my opinion is that nobody needs more than 300 HP for an SUV unless you‘re towing a tractor. My Trailsport tests out at less than 7 seconds 0-60 (feels faster to me in Sport mode), but really, who needs 6-second acceleration? Afraid you won’t be able to pass on a mountain road or merge into traffic? Be serious. Anyone who needs to get to speed that quickly probably should take some driving lessons. Or not be passing on those mountain roads like a Negroni-besotted Italian.

My other car is a Mazda, and my son just got a CX30, so I can’t diss them. But the CX90 is more of a luxe people hauler than a serious SUV. The Trailsport is cheaper than the Pilot Elite and has a lift, ATS tires, skid plate and off-road modes that the others (excepting the Jeep, but of course Jeeps are $$$ and of questionable reliability) don’t have.

Anyway, point is you probably get what you pay for. If you want the best money can buy short of a BMW X5 there are a couple of good choices. I still think the Pilot Trailsport gives more bang for the buck.

 

[SDAlexander8]

If you buy MDX you would use Premium fuel.
I use Premium fuel in my 2000 Acura 3.2TL.
All the Acura vehicles recommend Premium.
When I get Pilot I will still use Shell Gas mostly Premium or mix with other Top Teir lower octane.
Thursday they offer Premium for less.
I will also use Idle Stop-Start really don't know problem people have with it.
I just moved out of metropolitan city that I lived all my life. The past few years been using a number of Uber/Lyft rides. Most of the drivers in these vehicles seem to be using feature.

Any savings in fuel an uber driver can get is worth it to them. They often get a discount and tax break for using the vehicle for work as well. They’re driving to make money as a job, comfort and minor annoyances are often overlooked if it makes more $. With how often they are stopping, it probably really does make a noticeable difference.

 

[Sparkland]

The new Pilot is having transmission issues, and water leaks. I was hoping the new 10-speed transmission from Honda would be the end of transmission issues, but apparently not. Some are failing right out of the gate.

These reviews are really subjective as other sources have downgraded the CX-90 for a couple of shortcomings.

 

[zroger73]

Premium fuel is a recommendation for some of these vehicles - not a requirement. I'd bet that the vast majority of owners don't use it. And, during normal, everyday driving at less than wide-open throttle, you'll never know the difference.

I don't know about the CX-90's engines, but using premium in Mazda's 2.5T improves horsepower and moves the torque curve up higher in the rev range, so for normal driving, you're better off using regular. I verified this by switching between 93 and 87 octane in my 2020 CX-5. It felt slightly faster at WOT, but 99.9% of my driving was at less than WOT. It simply couldn't justify the extra price of 93 octane.

 

[bluegrass]

You can quibble with the comparison test results, but at the end of the day, I don't see a compelling reason to go with the Honda.
I would buy it over the Jeep, but not the other three competitors.

I think the sweet spot is the Turbo Preferred Plus trim of the Mazda CX-90 at $47K.
Or maybe the Premium at $50K.

 

[OmahaJeff]

Premium fuel is a recommendation for some of these vehicles - not a requirement. I'd bet that the vast majority of owners don't use it. And, during normal, everyday driving at less than wide-open throttle, you'll never know the difference.

I don't know about the CX-90's engines, but using premium in Mazda's 2.5T improves horsepower and moves the torque curve up higher in the rev range, so for normal driving, you're better off using regular. I verified this by switching between 93 and 87 octane in my 2020 CX-5. It felt slightly faster at WOT, but 99.9% of my driving was at less than WOT. It simply couldn't justify the extra price of 93 octane.

If it says use Premium under the gas tank cover I use Premium. (My MX5 takes Premium.) Otherwise not. There was a $0.65 difference at the pump where I usually fill up this morning. BTW there are only a handful of stations around here that have 93 octane. Usually it's 91. And only a handful with non-ethanol gas, if that makes a difference to you.

 

[zroger73]

For a while, 87 has been about $3.50 here and 93 has been about $4.50. I use 93 in my Miata because I want to have maximum power available. If the Miata was my daily driver, I would strongly consider using 87.

E0 is hard to find, expensive, and not available from any Top Tier brands near me. I have never had a problem using E10 in any automobile or outdoor power equipment, so I don't hunt down E0.

 

[Soichiro1906]

For a while, 87 has been about $3.50 here and 93 has been about $4.50. I use 93 in my Miata because I want to have maximum power available. If the Miata was my daily driver, I would strongly consider using 87.

E0 is hard to find, expensive, and not available from any Top Tier brands near me. I have never had a problem using E10 in any automobile or outdoor power equipment, so I don't hunt down E0.

For the $$ you're saving fueling up your Tesla you should put 93 and a can of HP boost into your Miata AND riding mower!

 

[altitude]

Pilot and Ridgeline require high-test for towing. So if you’re someone who does tow regularly, you end up using hi-test exclusively because you never know when your next tow might be. Around here hi-test is +$1 over regular unleaded. It’s painful - - diesel is significantly less.

The term used in Honda’s literature is “recommended” if towing above 3,500 pounds, not “required”. Safe to completely ignore that one, in my view. Save your money.

 

[Cbayman]

So for those that tow, do you use a higher octane fuel when towing? If so do you notice a performance difference with the premium fuel?

 

[ISO Truck]

The term used in Honda’s literature is “recommended” if towing above 3,500 pounds, not “required”. Safe to completely ignore that one, in my view. Save your money.

You must not tow much, or if you do your loads are light.

Without using hi-test, our G1 Ridgeline and G1 Pilot both struggle when towing anything that is in the upper half of their rating. The difference is very dramatic.

With regular (87) octane fuel, it’s as though you are driving in quicksand. Throttle response is very sluggish and the engine/transmission noticeably struggle. The engine has to rev higher, the transmission seeks lower gears, and the coolant temp goes up.

Using hi-test makes a dramatic difference. The engine has noticeably better low-end torque, the transmission doesn’t hunt as much, and coolant temp remains normal. For towing any significant distance, imo it’s a requirement not a recommendation.

So for those that tow, do you use a higher octane fuel when towing? If so do you notice a performance difference with the premium fuel?

 

[altitude]

Inter

You must not tow much, or if you do your loads are light.

Without using hi-test, our G1 Ridgeline and G1 Pilot both struggle when towing anything that is in the upper half of their rating. The difference is very dramatic.

With regular (87) octane fuel, it’s as though you are driving in quicksand. Throttle response is very sluggish and the engine/transmission noticeably struggle. The engine has to rev higher, the transmission seeks lower gears, and the coolant temp goes up.

Using hi-test makes a dramatic difference. The engine has noticeably better low-end torque, the transmission doesn’t hunt as much, and coolant temp remains normal. For towing any significant distance, imo it’s a requirement not a recommendation.

Interesting. Given regular and premium have the same energy content, the chief differences lying in how they burn under various compression scenarios, I would not have thought that would make much difference to normally-aspirated medium compression engines, even under heavy load. Is this also the experience of G2 owners, with different drivetrains / ECU software? Thanks for sharing. To me, “recommended“ means just that and no more, so good to get someone’s practical perspective.

 

[zroger73]

Without using hi-test, our G1 Ridgeline and G1 Pilot both struggle when towing anything that is in the upper half of their rating.

The following information posted by the 1G Ridgeline's chief engineer no longer applies to the 2G.

Cold Air Intake Systems and Low-Restriction Air Filters...

From the Honda Service News, provided to us by csimo. Cold air intake systems and low-restriction air filters are hot aftermarket accessories. Popular among the import tuner crowd, these items may improve engine performance by letting the engine breathe more deeply, reducing the intake air...

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