If every swing was a hit, then someone somewhere isn’t doing their job.

and this is suprising for any honda vehicle?

A swift kick to the nutz.

It is unfortunate for Honda. They have incredibly good engineering, but from a design standpoint (with the exception of the current Civic) they play it safe to the point of being sleep-inducing. The interior of the new Pilot looks great, but the exterior really does need some anti-toolshed work.

Great engineering….that includes both Honda and Toyota but as the great GM commercial states….”When you turn your car on, does it return the favor?”

Oh why oh why does it look like a Jeep Liberty from the side?

Yeah when I saw the concept sketch I got excited, when I saw the concept at the show I got unexcited. The headlamps are really cool though.

Honda’s been playing it safe way too long. They need to realize people want sportier looking cars regardless of what segment they’re in.

The last gen pilot was far more ugly than this.

This is a horrible mistake. After seeing the prototype, I am no longer awaiting the arrival of the new Pilot for comparison to the GMs and the CX9.

The drawings posted here looked pretty good, but the concept is awful. Looks like a Pathfinder made it with an xterra, but since they are related, came out with a screwed up face. Man, Honda is beating Ford in the Ugly Grille race. Jeezus. But, Honda-ites will surely drink the kool-aid and buy them anyway, but I cannot for the life of me see why anyone in their right mind would pick this over the Acadia/Outlook/Enclave or the CX9, or even (gasp) the Edge/MKX or (bigger gasp) the Highlander.

Actually yea, everything else Honda and Toyota releases outside US seems to have much more attractive stylings. I don’t know what they’re thinking… could be cheaper production costs by using less materials due to the design. The Thailand Camry 3.5 for example has power tilting rear seats and audio control from a back console. It also has Sharp’s ion filtration system and auto folding side mirrors among other things.

Looks like a new Nitro concept

Yeah, Honda and Toyota will never be successful until they start making all their bread-and-butter vehicles really sporty and hot looking.

The first pilot was designed to look like a big 1st-generation CRV. I don’t think the new CRV is attractive at all in the front, but it’s selling like crazy. You’d think that with the wild popularity of the CRV, that Honda would have gone to the same well this time around, but no. While I personally don’t care for the front of the new CRV, I can see why people are attracted to it-It’s different, sporty, and a somewhat fluid, flowing design. This new pilot looks like it was designed by a 5 year old. It’s boring and blocky but mostly boring. It’s sad when a company’s minivan stirs up more visual appeal than its SUV. Did they let ASIMO design this thing?

very true 441Zuke! Hey send these coustomers to Ford so that can tell them their cars boring too

I hate to agree with 441, but the CR-V is pretty rank, but women eat it up. Women like ugly! Who knew?
Generally, concepts are more aggressive than production vehicles, so this should be interesting.
I liked the blue leather interior, but that won’t make production.
I think the Pilot will sell 12k a month regardless of it’s looks. The current one is no CX-9.
DrFill

I love to see the Japanese lose at a American game. Should have put a V8 in both the pilot and ridgeline.

Droppedgmc02-

You mean you’d like to see the Japanese lose at an American game FOR ONCE? I don’t think the V8 would matter much. Nissan finally put a V8 in the Pathfinder, and it’s not selling too well, so I don’t see how one would help a Pilot. I don’t believe a Ridgeline V8 would be too successful, either. It’s a unibody with independent suspension. If Honda ever made a true-blue full-size pick-up, then maybe…

I see Ironhide has managed to insert his typical anti-American attitude into a story about a Honda. What a loon

Might as well call it the Honda Durango. It is both boring and ugly. Worse, these uglymobiles will be around for a long time. This is one Honda that needs to die young!!

I have to agree with the general consensus, this new Pilot is Dull. The headlights & grille look like they were designed by children, yet it’s still boring. The rest of the design is an amalgam of old Pathfinder and LR2 run through a committee.

I generally like the subtly attractive, clean look Honda gives to almost all of their cars, including all previous generations of the Accord. I’m looking forward to seeing how they improve this. Hopefully it won’t be just a simple bumper / light redesign that Ford always thinks will do the trick . . .

If the pilot is considered lousy, what do they call the Ridgline, maggoty?

My wife has an 04 Pilot and loves it. I sent her the pictures of this proto and now she wants one of these. Now, I’m not a fan of the exterior, but the inside sure is better than our current one.
If it was up to me, I’d be probably leaning towards the CX9 unless the make the outside of this thing a bit less dull.

I am in minority here since I liked old CR-V (dislike new one) and I like current Pilot (sans new grill). I like wagon looking cars – form follows function. And functionally if you want or need to carry a lot of stuff squire shape takes the most (really the ball would be more voluminous, but I don’t have anything in the ball shape to carry around). 1997 CR-V is running without any unscheduled visits to mechanic or dealer for 120K miles. Add gas, change filter every 4K miles.
If Japanese will screw up in US we will loose a lot of jobs. Since you read more and more about Chrysler, Ford and GM offering buyouts and pink slips, where do you think auto workers work? Pizza delivery? Most of them can find job at Japanese transplants with about the same pay and benefits. Free market economy is good that way.

2009 Hondas score lousy with me … all of them.

So do the 2008s, 2007s, 2006s, 2005s, …..

OK. People beat up GM for platform reuse (er badge engineering) because they don’t change enough when they create a new model.

WELL, if Honda took the GM model, then the Pilot would look more like an MDX, and that would be a good thing.

GO BADGE ENGINEERING!!!

Hondas = uglier Acuras without the fancy technology

I am glad that someone is on my side speak out.

I say MSRP on the first 6 months of them, then comes the diesel V-6 in it after then…MSRP again for months and months. The current Pilot is ugly but very functional…and its a Honda. The new Pilot is also kinda ugly, but very functional…and its a Honda…nuff said.

Honda needs a new exterior design team – their current designers are hurting. One ugly product after another: Element, CR-V, Pilot, Ridgeline, MDX – I would describe all of these as not just boring, but ugly. Even the NSX replacement is having some serious trouble with styling.

They do have *some* nice looking products though. I think the Civic is attractive for an economy car, the Clarity fuel cell is cool looking, the RL isn’t bad, and RDX isn’t bad looking.

“You mean you’d like to see the Japanese lose at an American game FOR ONCE?” LOL, I love the idea that Jap cars are even equal to American cars. Did anyone see a new production ‘Vette, Mustang and Challenger going for huge money ar Barret Jackson? When was the last time ANY Jap car had that kind of reaction? Want an appliance? Buy the new Honda Toaster. Want a car? Buy American.

Injunraiv,

You never hear about Toyota or Honda being in financial trouble, with new cars sitting on the lot for up to 2 years. (Aztek) Go ahead and enjoy your American car. I’m sure it will run good for the first 3 years, anyway. And when you go to sell it or trade it in, think about your “Barret Jackson” argument when you see your American CAR is virtually worthless and my Honda Toaster, at 10 years old, will still fetch me some good money. LOL LOL LOL.

By the way, IS YOUR AMERICAN CAR BUILT IN THE UNITED STATES by AMERICANS?
My Honda Toaster is. Better check your label-there’s a good chance your American car is built in Canada or Mexico.

US Honda = waste of time

Yea, yea, yea, whatever. We’ve had this argument with 1115 as well. Did you all go to the same lemming school? Holy cow, I’ve had DOZENS of american cars and never a lemon in the bunch. I stand by my original statement.

Injunraiv,

WHY have you had DOZENS of american cars?

Don’t they last? OOOOHHHHH, that’s right….

Hello, McFly… Maybe I’m that old? Geez, dumass, do you REALLY think import cars last longer than American? Really? do you ignore any notion that doesn’t fit neatly into your narrow view of the world?

Plus, I’m sort of a car guy, and I put lots of miles on my cars and change them often. Plus, plus, I have 7 cars right now.

Don’t try to appear smart, it doesn’t work on you.

Injunraiv,

Yes, I KNOW import cars last longer than American cars. 7 Clunkers, huh? Your wife must be pissed. Or wives. Is that the reason why you have 7 Clunkers? 7 Clunkers for 7 wives? Tell me…Are you Mormon or just Moron?

Actually, I’m a long time car guy and an independent thinker. My wife (singular) loves her car – in fact, she’s never had one she didn’t like. The other 6 are mine, including some classic GTOs. You have fun driving your toaster, I’ll keep my CAR.

Oh, and by the way – your point about the americanization of Honda and Toyota doesn’t hold water with me. You think it’s a plus argument for you that american companies are outsourcing their parts supply chain? I think it’s horrible and just as bad as people like you who think that just because Toyonda has some of their toasters assembled here now redefines them as american made.

Yes, their domestic content is inching higher and that’s better than doing the whole thing over there. But in the end, all the profits go out of the country. I would much rather we keep everything within our borders, but that’s beyond my control. I’ll take the option that keeps american business working.

You are attempting to reframe my statement into an argument you can win. I still stand by it. You want a CAR? Buy American.

Injunraiv,

The reason why american CARS are getting better and better is BECAUSE Honda and Toyota continue to raise the bar, set new standards, and run circles around the american companies. American car companies are simply trying to “catch up.”

In fact, that’s how GM and Ford lost their huge marketshare. Remember when they had a lock on almost every best-selling new car? They got lazy and didn’t make the advances that they should have. Case in point are 2 Fords-the Crown Vic and the Ranger.

Look at Hyundai, 20 years ago they made cars a clown would be embarrassed to drive. Today, a Hyundai is able to be competitive with a Lexus, which is seen as one of the benchmarks in the automotive world.

Also, you can say all you want about the profits LEAVING america. Profits are just that-profits. After every blue-collar employee is paid, where do GM’s profits go? Does it benefit me in anyway to have Rick Wagoner get 200 million dollars as opposed to Hiro Yamamoto Takaguchi Takara? No, absolutely not. The fact is, these import car companies have opened factories, offices, design studios, race teams, and other places that employ hundreds of thousands, if not millions of people, AND THEY’RE NOT BEING PAID WITH RICE. I’m sure each and everyone of them is happy that Honda builds such a good toaster. Profits leaving america. HA! I bet there’s a buttload of Swiss Bank accounts full of money we’ll never see again from the likes of Ford or GM bean-counter-type execs.

I’m going to defend the looks of this vehicle. It looks like a truck, not a fashion statement.

Everything today is so rounded and starts to all look the same. Maybe some styling work needs to be done to the front end, but I like what H is doing with the Pilot. If they made it look like the Mazda and others with the rounded edges…then it wouldn’t be what the PILOT is anymore.

I laugh at those who say that because a car is an import it’s inherently more reliable than an American car. That’s so blatantly ignorant.

As for the styling of this car, it’s…odd. I find Honda’s styling to be very odd these days. Some Acuras are nice looking but I think they are due for updating soon, which doesn’t bode well for them…

Ray, Ray, Ray, Ray, Ray… I feel for you, I really do… All those millions of dollors going overseas, out of the US economy, and you don’t think it affects you. Wow.

I just read a story where all those cargo containers full of stuff we import are being used as low cost housing because it’s cheaper to abandon them than to return them empty, and there’s nothing to return in them. China owns our debt. We are more and more a service only economy, and lots of those service jops are heading overseas as well.

No, this wouldn’t affect you at all…

Injunraiv,

As I have said on this site before, I don’t lose any sleep at all. I wish I could say that I feel for you, but I don’t. And it won’t affect me at all. I’ve found my path to success, and it doesn’t hinge at all on what BIG DETROIT does or doesn’t do. In fact, it doesn’t hinge on the economy doing well, either. I’m 28 now and I can assure you that I will never, ever have to work again by the time I’m 32. I flipped a few homes in the crazy California market-took my money and invested it in long-term investments-out of state. I own properties with great rental returns. Prime locations. Appreciation is icing on the cake, but I never plan to sell them, or even leverage them…that’s right, don’t have to.

P.S. Let me know if they start using those cargo containers as cheap housing near college campuses-I’d definitely be interested in more rentals. Maybe this could affect me afterall-IN A BEAUTIFUL WAY.

I’m glad for you – you have enough money to not have to worry about it anymore. Good for you. You can probably keep it invested and stay ahead of the dollar’s worldwide decline.

Then again, in 1929 many a millionaire was out on his ass by December…

Capitalism at its finest, Injunraiv, capitalism at its finest.

Oh, you guys! Ray, stop bragging, it’s unbecoming.