Honda Pilot takes small steps forward

HONDA The 2009 Honda Pilot has an upgraded tailgate hatch and more room in the rear seat. And it continues to have plenty of storage space. Little things can make a big difference. Case in point: the 2009 Honda Pilot.

Honda touts this eight-passenger as a new model — completely redesigned. But the changes seem more evolutionary than revolutionary.

The exterior styling is a touch more macho, but no one is going to walk up and say, "Wow, dude, that's a Pilot?"

The new 3.5-liter produces a bit more horsepower — 250 compared with 244 in the 2008 version — but not so much that you'd really notice.

There are two new features, however, you'll notice right away.

First, the Pilot now has a tailgate with lift-up glass hatch. That may seem like a small thing, but a neighbor inspecting the new Pilot said when shopping for an SUV three or four years ago she skipped over the Pilot because that convenience was missing. Second, there is now room for adults in the third row. The latest Pilot is 3 inches longer overall and that translates to nearly 2 inches more legroom in the third row.

The Pilot, as before, is built for hauling a lot of people, with lots of nifty storage, including a cavernous, easy-toaccess center console.

In the rear, there is an under-the-floor storage area.

Fuel economy, Honda says, is slightly improved over the 2008 model: 17 miles per gallon in city driving compared with 16 mpg last year, 23 mpg on the highway compared with 22 mpg. We got about 19 mpg in a mix of driving.

The starting MSRP is $27,595.