Once upon a time, the SUV reigned supreme as king of the road in the US. Everywhere you turned, you saw these behemoths. Soccer moms used them. Those going off-road had an SUV. Corporate executives drove leather-trimmed models. Then fuel prices skyrocketed and the SUV began its long, slow decline. Today, you’ll still find SUVs on the road, but far fewer than you might once have. Of course, there’s a strange disparity out there between what SUVs are still popular. For instance, you won’t find that many Chevy Tahoe’s or Ford Excursions cruising the roads of America. You will, however, find quite a wide range of Honda SUVs, from the Pilot to the Element to the CR-V. In addition, the 2010 models of these vehicles offer some pretty enticing reasons to turn back to the SUV. What’s the 2010 Pilot got to offer?

Utility

SUVs were created for utility and the Pilot personifies this quite well. The 2010 model goes even farther than other models once did, as well. What benefits will you find? First, the new Pilot offers 87 cubic feet of cargo space – that’s a lot! That means that no matter whether you’re hauling the kids to the soccer field, taking your crew camping or heading to the do-it-yourself store for a load of lumber and sheetrock mud, you’ll have plenty of space for whatever you need. You’ll also find that the tailgate has been modified. The 2010 version offers a power tailgate, for better convenience. Of course, the rear glass also opens, so you don’t have to raise the tailgate just to slip a few items within.

Power and Performance

The 2010 Pilot offers quite a bit in the way of power and performance. You’ll find that the 3.5-liter V6 engine puts out 250 hp, and enjoys the benefits of i-VTEC. Why do you want i-VTEC, though? You’ll find that this intelligent engine management system offers some considerable fuel savings. Which means that your SUV won’t be the gas-guzzling beast of yesteryear. Add to that the VCM (Variable Cylinder Management) and the VTM-4 system (4-wheel drive), and you have an SUV that can go anywhere you need it to go and do it easily, without burning a hole in the wallet for fuel costs.

Interior Comfort and Design

The 2010 Honda Pilot also offers more than a few nods toward comfort and enjoyment in the cabin. You’ll find seating for eight people in the Pilot, which means that your entire crew can ride comfortably and safely. You’ll also find that Honda’s unique satellite navigation system is a standard on all Touring models, which offers you the benefits of a built in navigation system, as well as a much-needed backup camera. The Bluetooth integration in the cabin also allows you to link your cell phone to your Pilot’s stereo system for hands-free benefits.

As you can see, the 2010 Pilot offers quite a few innovations and design benefits. It’s most certainly not the SUV of yesteryear.

Tags: Honda, Honda Pilot