Quick, But Not Always - 2016 Honda Pilot Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds.com

Quick, But Not Always - 2016 Honda Pilot Long-Term Road Test

Edmunds conducts a long-term test of the 2016 Honda Pilot and finds that while quick, it doesn't necessarily always feel that way.

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actualsize

Simple. Get the 6-speed. http://www.edmunds.com/honda/pilot/2016/long-term-road-test/2016-honda-pilot-ex-6-speed-transmission-vs-elite-9-speed.html The Pilot is so much more enjoyable to drive with this "lesser" gearbox.

Part-throttle response is infinitely better in every situation, and it is even a tad quicker to 60 mph at full whack. Short-term 6-spd EX AWD = 6.4 seconds to 60 and 14.7 @ 93.7 quarter mile versus long term 9-speed Elite AWD = 6.6 seconds to 60 and 14.8 @ 92.9 mph 1/4 mile The difference isn't huge because, after all, its the same engine.

Jay's right, that ZF transverse 9-speed is crap, and it diminishes the performance of all cars that use it: high-end Pilots, the Acura TLX, Jeep Cherokee and Renegade, Land Rover Discovery Sport - and those are just the one's I have tested and evaluated myself. But it's not necessarily an issue of more gears, it's because the ZF transvere 9-spd in particular has a specific internal mechanical design that limits how quickly it can change gears, and that forces work-around compromises to be applied to the shift and throttle calibrations.

s197gt

"the Pilot's throttle response is too heavily damped."

interesting. most cars have an overly sensitive throttle nowadays. why won't OEMs give the public a properly linear throttle mapping?

dm7279

Disappointing. All Hondas I have owned have had wonderful throttle response, very linear. I would definitely compare the 6 speed version with the 9 speed before buying a Pilot.

allthingshonda

I agree with dm, All the Hondas have great throttle response. I'm thinking the problem is again with the 9-speed transmission.