2003 Honda Pilot review from North America

Plastic around seats scratched easily by seat belts.

Poor mileage towing. This is to be expected with the low torque engine (low by truck standards).

I have owned a Pilot since April of 2003. It rides well and handles well. I certainly didn't buy it for demanding off road performance, but I have driven it in snow as well as sand... deep sand on occasion. It handles both well enough for my purposes (fishing, boating, camping). Surf fishermen on the east coast will be familiar with the extremely deep and soft sand at The Point in Hatteras, NC. I had my Pilot there in 2003. I started with the VTM in locked mode when I entered the beach, but forgot to lock it when I left. I didn't even notice that I hadn't locked it until I realized I was going too fast for the VTM to be locked (max speed for VTM in locked mode is 15mph). Snow has been no problem either even with the stock/cheap tires. I now have much better tires on my Pilot and I've been able to drive in over 8 inches of snow with almost no slipping at all (unless I'm stepping on the gas hard for fun;).

I began towing a 3000lb boat/trailer/motor combination in April of 2004, sometimes for long distances (200 miles plus in one direction). The Pilot handles this well however my mileage drops from my usual 18-20 MPG down to 12-14 MPG. The VTM is great on slippery boat ramps. When other trucks, even 4WD trucks, are spinning their tires getting started I'm quietly pulling out without slipping.

The amount of space is great for gear or people. I've got 3 kids with a lot of friends so I've had the chance to load it up with both. I have not regretted buying this car for one second. Like most SUV drivers I spend most of my time driving to the store and work on paved roads. The Pilot's ride is far better than a body-on-frame vehicle for this job. I had small concerns about towing and 4WD performance when I bought the vehicle, but it has proven to be quite capable. BTW, I recommend the rubber liner for the rear cargo area... it holds a fair amount of live minnows and water without the carpet getting wet which comes in handy when the bucket spills.