2013 Honda Pilot

The 2013 Honda Pilot is available in four trims, namely LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. It enters the market with a base price of $29,520 and goes up to $41,270 for the AWD configuration of top-end Touring trim. The SUV rivals the likes of 2013 Chevrolet Traverse, 2013 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2013 Ford Explorer. Continue with the article to know how it performs in front of other giants in the segment.

The 2013 Honda Pilot’s line-up includes 4 trim levels, which are LX, EX, EX-L, and Touring. The price for the base trim LX is $29,520. It comes with 17-inch wheels, automatic headlights, cruise control, tri-zone automatic climate control, a 7-speaker audio system, a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, a CD player, etc. The next in line is the EX trim. It gets all the features standard on the base model and adds 18-inch wheels, fog lights, heated side-view mirrors, and an 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. For a price difference of over $6,000, the EX doesn’t add much value. 

The EX-L is priced at $35,020. Buying this trim will unlock features like leather upholstery, a sunroof, power liftgate, heated front seats, 10-way power adjusting driver’s seat, 4-way power adjusting passenger seat, auto-dimming rearview mirror, etc. Some features which are optional on the EX-L are rear-seat entertainment, voice-activated navigation system, etc. The top-tier Touring trim, costing a hefty price tag of $39,670, comes standard with all the above-mentioned features, including the optional features on the EX-L. It further adds roof rails, parking sensors, memory functions for the driver’s seat, and a 10-speaker premium audio system.

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Out of the four trims available for the 2013 Honda Pilot, the EX-L is the most practical. It offers a lot more than the EX and is almost $5,000 cheaper than the Touring. Even with the AWD drivetrain and additional features of navigation or rear-seat entertainment, it costs just around $38,500, which is a sweet deal.

There’s only one engine option with the 2013 Honda Pilot, which is a 3.5L V6. It puts out 250 hp at 5700 RPM with a max torque of 253 lb-ft at 4800 RPM. This engine is paired to a 5-speed automatic transmission with an option of sending power to the front wheels or all four wheels. The 0-60 and quarter-mile figures are 8.2 and 16.2 seconds, respectively. Opting for the AWD will improve these figures by a fair margin. It will touch the 60 mph mark in 7.2 seconds and will do a quarter-mile in 15.2 seconds. 

The V6 is not as powerful and aggressive as it used to be. It is more refined than ever. The Pilot offers one of the best ride qualities in its class; it is smooth, pleasant, and comfortable. The shifting of the gears is smooth and prompt. The suspension also plays a vital role in providing a good driving experience. The SUV has a top speed of 120 mph, which is not the best in the competition.

When compared to its rivals, the 2013 Honda Pilot is not only underpowered but also slower in terms of 0-60 times and quarter-mile times. The 2013 Ford Explorer is the clear winner in this matter. It goes to 60 mph in just 7 seconds and completes a quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds. When comparing the price tag, the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse is the most expensive option in the competition.

Big-sized SUVs and fuel economy seldom go hand in hand, however, the 2013 Honda Pilot manages to give decent mileage. The SUV in its FWD variant manages to offer 18 mpg in the city, 25 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. The AWD variant does slightly worse as the figures are 17/24/20 MPG (city/highway/combined). The SUV comes with a fuel tank capacity of 21 gallons, resulting in a range of 525 highway miles. 

When compared to its rivals, only the 2013 Nissan Pathfinder manages to outperform the Pilot. The Pathfinder manages to give a combined mileage of 22 mpg. Fuel tank capacity plays an important role in terms of range, and the combination of good fuel economy and a decently sized fuel tank helps the 2013 Honda Pilot provide the best range in the segment.

One major downside to the 2013 Honda Pilot is its interior. It does not look attractive, and the materials used are of cheap quality. However, the amount of space inside is tremendous. When it comes to three-row SUVs, the most difficult aspect to tackle is the space in the third row of seats. On the contrary, the Pilot provides decent headroom and legroom in the third row. The seats are also comfortable. The base models come with cloth upholstery, but EX-L and Touring offer good quality leather upholstery.

The features offered in the interior cover-up for its disappointing looks. The front row seats are 8-way power adjustable from the EX trim and upwards. The Touring trim offers a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, 4-way power-adjustable passenger’s seat with a heating function. The 2013 Pathfinder comes with a cargo capacity of 18 cubic feet, which is not the best in the competition.

The interior space provided by the 2013 Honda Pilot is among the best in class, but its cargo space behind the third row of seats is not. The SUV with the best cargo space is the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse with over 24 cubic feet of space. Nissan offers the most front head and legroom but struggles with space in other areas. Standout interior features include:

• Tri-zone automatic climate control
• Leather upholstery
• 60/40 split flat-folding second and third-row seats
• 12 cup holders
• Remote keyless entry

How intuitive is the 2013 Honda Pilot’s infotainment unit?

The standard infotainment on the 2013 Honda Pilot is an 8.0-inch multifunction touchscreen display. For this year, this system has received some new features, which include Bluetooth connectivity and a USB charging port. The system is intuitive enough and has good clarity and resolution, but the number of buttons and knobs to manipulate it is a bit excessive and makes it confusing. The base model is equipped with a 7-speaker audio system, while the Touring gets a premium quality 10-speaker audio system. Navigation is optional only on the EX-L and is standard on the Touring. Standout infotainment features include:

• 7-speaker audio system
• Navigation (EX-L and Touring
• AM/FM stereo
• Satellite Radio
• Bluetooth connectivity
• Rear seat entertainment (EX-L and Touring)
• CD player

The exterior of the 2013 Honda Pilot is subtle and simplistic. Just like the interior, the exterior is based on an upright theme. The front fascia comprises a huge grille with horizontal chrome slots. A big Honda badge sits in the middle of the grille. The grille is connected to a pair of oddly shaped automatic headlights. The hood looks sharp yet simple. Fog lights in the black front bumper complete the front look of the car.

The side looks slim and tall. The sculpted wheel arches and 17-inch wheels underneath give it a neat look. Other features that are seen include a sunroof, roof rails (only Touring), black power mirrors, and an 8.0-inch ground clearance. Coming to the rear end of the car, you’ll immediately notice the angry-looking tail lights. A huge rear window, power liftgate, and a big rear bumper with dual exhaust outlets characterize the rear fascia of the 2013 Honda Pilot.

When it comes to exterior dimensions, it is a tough competition between the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse and the 2013 Honda Pilot. On one hand, the Traverse has class-leading length and wheelbase, whereas the Pilot has the most height and ground clearance among the four SUVs mentioned above. When comparing the curb weight, the Chevrolet Traverse is the heaviest of the lot. Standout exterior features include:

• 17-inch wheels
• Sunroof
• Power liftgate
• Automatic multi-reflector halogen headlights
• Power mirrors

The 2013 Honda Pilot is among the safest 7-seater crossover SUVs in the market. For this year, the NHTSA has tightened its regulations, hence the Pilot fails to score a full 5-star rating from them. It earned a 4-stars overall rating. The IIHS has awarded the Pilot a “Good” overall rating, which is the best possible rating a car can get. The 2013 Honda Pilot includes a plethora of safety features which makes this big SUV extremely safe. Standout safety features include:

• Electronic stability control
• Traction control
• Brake assist
• Parking sensors
• Multi-angle rearview camera
• Tire pressure monitoring system

The 2013 Honda Pilot performs decently in each and every section. It offers practicality over luxury and performance, which many buyers find attractive. It offers an array of features inside, and it has one of the best driving experiences in this segment. It offers decent fuel economy, plenty of interior space, decent cargo space, and satisfactory performance. Such an all-around performance is not easily found, making the Honda Pilot a sought-after SUV.