Honda Debuts Revamped Pilot Crossover

Honda Motor Co.'s redesigned 2016 Pilot small crossover is more fuel efficient, 3.5 inches longer, roomier and nearly 300 lbs lighter than the outgoing model. The car will go on sale in the U.S. this summer.

The third-generation Pilot features more cargo capacity, a center console storage compartment large enough to swallow an iPad and 2.5 inches of additional third-row entry. An optional one-touch system aids access to the third row by automatically folding the second-row seatback forward and sliding the seat forward.

The body structure is fortified with greater use of ultra-high-strength steel, an improved forward crash energy management architecture and stronger internal door structures.

The new Pilot is powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine with variable cylinder deactivation and optional idle-stop. A 6-speed automatic transmission is now standard on base models; upper-trim editions get an all-new 9-speed gearbox. All-wheel drive is optional.

Electronics abound in the new Pilot. An array of safety systems provide blind spot detection, collision mitigation braking, lane departure and forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, road departure mitigation, rear cross-traffic monitoring, a multi-angle rearview camera and adaptive cruise control.

Inside the passenger compartment, occupants have access to five USB ports, an auxiliary audio port, a HDMI port for a gaming console, two headphone jacks, two 12-volt power outlets and a 115-volt socket. A larger 8-inch touchscreen in the center stack is powered by Android's new operating system. For rear-seat passengers, a 9-inch display with DVD and Blu-Ray disc player is available.