2012 Honda Pilot SUV Review & Ratings

The 2012 Honda Pilot SUV offers an improved take on the company's 8-seater van, particularly when it comes to gas mileage. Honda was very conscious to improve this model over previous versions. While the previous model already offered ample space - both for passengers and cargo - Honda opted to enhance the interior further with even more space in the 8-seater SUV. The third row is made particularly spacious to provide ample room for adults. Still, even with all the extra space, the Honda Pilot fails to rank well in the SUV segment. For example, the lack of a power liftgate or a power folding third row seat hurts the Pilot when compared to its competition, such as the Odyssey.

For 2012, the Pilot gets a quick makeover, which seems appealing upon first glance but ultimately ranks low in terms of usability. Buyers interested in the 2012 pilot should also consider other options, with the first one being the Ford Flex. Unlike the Honda Pilot, the Flex boasts a power folding third row seat, MyFord touch interface, and refrigerated second row console. In terms of pricing, the Flex wins again, and although its base is priced slightly higher than that of the base Pilot LX, its Titanium trim is tagged less than the top of the line 2012 Honda Pilot touring edition. The Traverse is another SUV that is a pricey, but is one of the most attractive SUV's in the market today. Still, the same can't be said about the 2012 Pilot, even after extensive tweaking. Overall, the 2012 Honda Pilot SUV is a mid-sized family car that offers impressive fuel efficiency, impressive cargo space and an average-to-comfortable ride. However, in terms of value of money, spending extra for other competitors is better than relying on the basic features of the 2012 Honda Pilot. It may cost you extra, but you get better features offered on base models from other brands.