Suburban Dad in Detroit: Honda Pilot Concept

Honda has taken the Pilot, which is hugely popular among the suburbanites in my neighborhood, and made it resemble something much more akin to a Jeep. And let me tell you, very few of the suburban moms I know are looking to be tooling around in a Jeep.

The old Pilot was so attractive to those suburbanites as a more refined, spacious SUV that didn't look or handle too much like a truck. I'm sure the new Pilot’s ride will be as family-friendly as ever, and while I like the more expressive, distinctive look of the grille and face, the lines toward the rear have become more pedestrian and common, making less of an impact on the eye.

As for the interior, I couldn’t get into this concept to check it out, but Honda has a reputation as a quality brand, and I don't expect it to falter with the Pilot. But for me, I can't get past the looks from the outside.

More info and live photos of the Honda Pilot Prototype

Comments

[L]

Funny, when I looked at the picture I thought it was a Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep product so it surprised me a second later when I read the headline Honda Pilot.

[bilbo]

I want the concept sketch I saw a few weeks back! That was hot. Is this some kind of sick joke?!

[Dave T.]

bilbo,
that's just what our managing editor said.

[bilbo]

Honda has never been what you'd consider flashy, but this is down-right ugly.

[eagle2x]

New Pilot: back to the future as a 1992 Isuzu Trooper exterior.

[bilbo]

"New Pilot: back to the future as a 1992 Isuzu Trooper exterior". Nailed it, we have a winner.

[KJ]

Do you people need glasses? The interior is nothing like an old Trooper. Wow, this new Pilot has class and reminds me of an Infiniti. Not sure about the front of this thing, and the headlights are a bit too space-age. At least the grill doesn't have an over-bit like the CR-V.

[eagle2x]

KJ, check your ability to comprehend. Note I said "exterior"... did not mention "interior".

[rich]

Yuk,yuk,yuk,and did I say yuk?. What a monumental let down in exterior design for honda.Acadia/Outlook, Highlander here I come. Indeed this has got to be some sick joke.

[cory]

fugly....fugly fugly.......TOYOTA HIGHLANDERS WILL BE IN HIGH DEMAND FORSURE NOW.....FUGLY HONDA FUGLY...

[Infosaur]

Since nothing of the headlight clusters look production ready, I wonder what the finished version will look like.

The Facelifted (current) Pilot kind of surprized me when it came out. So I wonder if it will evolve from that cluster or more like the Ridgeline/Element?

[Ben]

I consider myself a Honda enthusiast, but everyone has their point at which they've got to 'fess up. The Pilot here looks like a cross between the old Ford Escape and Jeep Commander...that's not a good thing. In fact, it looks so generic, it's downright ugly. I'm not sure who the target audience here is....I can't imagine females will be won over by the design, it's squarish to the point that males must be the target....but where's the aggressiveness? It doesn't have to be crazy aggressive, just quietly aggressive...as Honda has done for years (and those designs age very well). Unfortunately, this one is already aged before it rolls off the showroom floor. I can't imagine that the final product will look like this!

[Jay]

This new model is making it seem like my investment on my '06 Pilot was genius. When did Honda stop taking chances on design like CR-V and Civic? Chief of design must have been on vacation when this slipped through...

[sj]

The current Pilot isnt exactly attractive so I dont know why anyone is surprised. This vehicle is boxy and dull and looks like a traditonal BOF SUV which makes no sense. Its definitely got a shape inspired by the Commander.

[imitation is flattery]

imitation is the best from of flattery. this honda looks like a jeep commander, only not as good.