At work, yes I do work at a Honda dealer now I've noticed a newish-looking SUV on a car carrier next to a few Civics and Odysseys while I was making my rounds on the new car lot. The new SUVs turned out to be the new Pilot. So I get the paperwork done and had a close-up with them. Let's start with the exterior. It doesn't look half bad in person but the front will repel some people. I can say the 2nd gen Pilot is more rounded but it's more of a box like the Element.

Once I was inside, the interior is IMO somewhat of an upgrade than the current Pilot - there's less cheap plastic on the inside and just feels better to me. The center stack could use more work. Since these were new cars, 1/2 the car's systems were disabled so I didn't have time to play with the audio/NAV/HVAC, but let's just say the Touring model has rear AND front DVD playback with DTS surround. I also thought the rear-backup camera display integrated into the rear-view like the Odyssey was pretty cool too, but Toyota still wins in the rear camera and NAV system, the Honda system looks like a blast from the 1990s.

As for power, it's a J37 series V6 from the MDX with iVTEC-VCM standard. Honda's V6 is truly a great motor - I rank it up there with the Toyota GR and Nissan VQ V6s. It also has Honda's de rigeur 5 speed automatic and VTM-4/SH-AWD.


These are just my thoughts. I'm waiting for a full review from mmarshall or someone.

Hey, I too work for Honda :D

but Toyota still wins in the rear camera and NAV system, the Honda system looks like a blast from the 1990s.

I have an '04 Pilot and an '07 IS, both with Nav, and I've seen the latest generation Honda Nav. You are right about looks--the graphic display on the Toyota Nav is so much better looking than Honda's. But as far as basic functionality goes, Honda's is better. It can be used while the car is moving, and has more intutitive menus (especially inputing "Today's Destinations"), and has the joystick, rather than relying solely on touch screen.