2008 Honda Pilot Quality Review

The 2008 Honda Pilot set the standards in 2003 for the crossover class in terms of comfort, ergonomics, and fit and finish—and still holds up well five years later.

It's a fairly large vehicle, and inside the 2008 Honda Pilot, all the adult-sized seats are comfortable, well shaped, and accommodating. Cars.com finds the seats "are firm and very supportive." ConsumerGuide Auto likes that the "second-row bench affords good room for two adults" but doesn't like the "tall step-in...for 2nd-row entry/exit" nor that "narrow passageways hinder access to the 3rd row." Cars.com comments the Pilot's "[t]heater seating provides a better view for rear passengers,” but notes “the second-row seats don't adjust forward and back.”

Honda thinks the third-row seat is best left to small children, and rightfully so. That third-row seat sits relatively high, though, so all passengers big and small at least get good views. And as in the Honda Odyssey minivan and Acura MDX crossover, the third seat disappears into its own well to produce a flat load floor. Edmunds advises the third row "is best left to small kids, as legroom is tight." Mother Proof asks and answers, “Is it big enough? Can you fit a grown-up in it? Is it easy to fold? In a word: Yes. You can count on it.”

When it comes to hauling cargo, the Pilot impresses reviewers from around the Web. Car and Driver says the Pilot has “an astonishing amount of utility within its moderate dimensions,” while Cars.com notes the “maximum cargo volume totals 87.6 cubic feet” and that “a 4-foot-wide sheet of plywood will fit flat on the floor.” Edmunds observes “with all seats occupied, there's still enough room for grocery bags, baby equipment or a set of golf clubs.“ Mother Proof grows giddy over the “tons of bins and pockets for containing and hiding all our stuff” and “amazingly flexible” center console.

The Pilot’s assembly quality goes unquestioned, but some interior plastics and shapes look their age. “The cabin features good ergonomics, straightforward controls and high-quality materials,” Edmunds reports, and Kelley Blue Book likes the interior and says "the optional perforated leather seats...are all wrapped in quality materials." Like other reviews, it proclaims "the Pilot's overall fit and finish is flawless," which helps to explain the Honda Pilot's good residual and resale values. ConsumerGuide Auto feels there is "an abundance of hard plastic trim," though, and dislikes the transmission shifter's placement on the column and that "its imprecise action means it often overshoots the Drive position." Yet they feel "fit/finish are up to Honda's usual standards." Cars.com remarks "though respectable, the [interior] materials aren't as rich as those of some fresher competitors."