Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency: Honda Pilot

Some of the wittiest commercials I've seen have been for the Honda Pilot. If you haven't seen them, I suggest a visit to the Honda website. You'll get a good chuckle or two. The one titled "Ballooning" had me rolling the first time I saw it. So...you're probably wondering, the Pilot is a mid-size SUV, and those three letters typically don't associate with great mpg. Well it comes as a welcome surprise (to me too), but the Pilot does meet the criteria as an Unsung Hero of Fuel Efficiency.

The 2009 model is the second edition of the Pilot (it debuted summer of '02). Carl Dyson, a sales representative at Checkered Flag Honda, says the newer version brings more features, more power, and better fuel economy. Out of all the Unsung Heroes we've featured so far, the Pilot sticks out as one of the larger vehicles on the list. Carl says that although gas prices have caused many drivers to sway away from larger SUV's, smaller vehicles don't fit all lifestyles. That's where the  Pilot comes in as a great alternative.

Four trim styles are offered: base LX (starting at $27,595), EX, EX-L, and top-of-the-line Touring. The Pilot comes equipped with a 3.5-liter i-VTEC V-6 engine producing 250 horsepower. All models are available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Honda's Variable Cylinder Management (VCM) system is a key feature on the Pilot and it's designed to help improve fuel efficiency, without giving up the abilities of a powerful engine. Carl explains that the VCM manages fuel consumption and allows the V6 engine to automatically deactivate and reactivate cylinders depending on what it needs. With VCM the Pilot is able to run on 3, 4 or 6 cylinders. You can get the V6 power when accelerating or climbing, but you also have the efficiency of a smaller engine for everyday cruising. The 2WD is rated at 17/23 mpg city/highway, and 16/22 for the 4WD. The Pilot's 20 gallon tank can get around 460 highway miles.

The Pilot offers 3 rows of seating for 8 passengers, which makes it perfect for families. It's outfitted with a ton of family-friendly features too such as: 60/40 split flat-folding seats for optimized cargo space; beverage holders in all 3 rows (12 total!); 12-volt power outlets (in the front, 2nd-row, and cargo areas); flip up rear glass hatch; and standard integrated tow hitch. An AM/FM/CD Audio System with 7 speakers and subwoofer is also standard. If you need more to keep the family entertained and happy, the Honda DVD Rear Entertainment System is an option on the Pilot EX-L and Pilot Touring.

Standard safety equipment includes: Advanced Compatibility Engineering Body Structure; Dual-Stage, Dual Threshold Front Airbags (SRS); Front Side Airbags with Passenger-Side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor; Tire Pressure Monitoring System and more. Also a rearview mirror with rearview camera display is a highlight on the EX-L. For extra child passenger protection, the Pilot boasts four Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) positions. That's more than any other SUV in the segment.

To check out the Pilot in person, visit the Checkered Flag Honda sales team at  6541 East Virginia Beach Blvd, Norfolk or call (757) 490-1111 for more information.