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STYLING | 7 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
aggressive grille and slab sides, just at the moment when America is turning against big SUVs with a vengeance
Consumer Reports
bolder front end...that doesn’t look as awkward in person as it does in some of the photos
Car and Driver
rather barn like shape
Autoblog
tries hard to look more like a utility and less like a minivan
Edmunds' Inside Line
hearkens back to old Toyota Land Cruisers or Land Rovers
CNET
With styling that's boxy and brash, the 2013 Honda Pilot continues go quite in the opposite direction than most of the industry, when it comes to utility vehicles. But at the same time, that makes the Pilot look and feel refreshingly different in a sea of family-sized crossovers that all tend to blur together styling-wise if you've spent much time cross-shopping them. And, another aspect in going against the grain, with such a simple design is that the Pilot seems rather ageless on the outside--and it likely won't appear dated quite as quickly as other mainstream crossovers.
We do have a few nitpicks, however. Honda added a number of chromed-and-beveled details to the current generation of the Pilot, and up close those details may feel overwrought to some shoppers. Last year, Honda tried to tone down some of that in a mid-cycle refresh--especially the oddly framed grille, subbing in a more tasteful grille that we see fitting in much better with the look that Honda's been giving its passenger cars in front.
Inside the Pilot, the look is different, for sure, but it's anything but traditional and simple. The very upright instrument panel can feel cluttered, and it feels a bit gimmicky--either overwrought or busy. That said, the interior trim and instrument-panel design do continue the chunky, somewhat macho look of the exterior.
Conclusion
The 2013 Honda Pilot is refreshingly boxy overall, but overwrought in its details.
