Filed under: Spy Photos, SUVs, Crossovers/CUVs, Honda
Spy Shots: 2009 Honda Pilot
by Damon Lavrinc on Apr 9th 2008 at 7:27PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2009 Honda Pilot.
The 2009 Honda Pilot has been spied in production guise, and unlike the bulldog that inspired the front grille, it's less than lovable. With styling pulled directly from the Honda Pilot Prototype shown in Detroit, the new unibody 'ute from Honda should arrive later this year with ACE safety features, a V6 lump with cylinder deactivation and seating for eight passengers of varying size. The interior is an evolution of the outgoing model, with a massive center stack that's far more butch that the one it replaces, along with a new multifunction steering wheel similar to that found on the redesigned Accord. Overall, we're not entirely smitten with the slap sides and grotesque nose, but you can check the gallery below to make up your own mind.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Luis 7:32PM (4/09/2008)
That is one unatractive piece of machinery...what is going on at Honda?...
Reply
SOhp101 8:01PM (4/09/2008)
Honda's been letting their US employees take a much larger part in designing cars sold here... looks like that was a pretty bad decision.
R 8:11PM (4/09/2008)
Wow, that looks like a steel pig.
Victor 8:12PM (4/09/2008)
....WTF is that?
VP 8:12PM (4/09/2008)
This "thing" is the long lost soul brother to the Pontiac Aztek. Yuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk.
Torrent 9:34PM (4/09/2008)
What's going on? The same thing that happened at Acura when they designed the new RL and TSX- MADNESS!!!!!!! This thing looks like a Matchbox-not a Matchbox car. An actual matchbox.
RP 10:05PM (4/09/2008)
Reminds me of the old Isuzu Rodeo. With a smudge-nose grill like the 2009 Ford F-150, but uglier.
Seminole 10:27PM (4/09/2008)
Couldn't agree more. The wheels, which I bet are 17's or 18's, look way way to small for the car. And whats with those tiny mirrors!! How are you supposed to see out of a rolling box when it's mirrors are that small. Sorry Honda, thanks but no thanks.
PiCASSO 11:00PM (4/09/2008)
Wow... this looks so much like the 2002 Nissan XTrail... 7-model years later.
http://www.netcarshow.com/nissan/2002-xtrail/1600x1200/wallpaper_02.htm
Even the interior has similar elements:
http://www.netcarshow.com/nissan/2004-x-trail/1600x1200/wallpaper_04.htm
Interesting...
mark lee 12:17AM (4/10/2008)
I'll take the new Murano over this any day!
James 7:33PM (4/09/2008)
Honda's been having a pinata party with The Ugly Stick
Reply
Kaptain75329 1:03AM (4/10/2008)
I just didn't know how to put it until I read this comment - you nailed it.
MGBYG 7:34PM (4/09/2008)
Almost like a Korean or Chinese copy of the Escape.
Add in the Honda 'H'. It'll sell...
Reply
jsjs 1:33AM (4/10/2008)
I think not - Hyundai/Kia doesn't make anything this fugly.
Michael 7:35PM (4/09/2008)
Disgusting. And I like my mom's Pilot.
Reply
That One Person 11:50AM (4/10/2008)
I love the current Pilot.
BUT WTF IS THIS THING!?!?!
ciscoguerrero 7:35PM (4/09/2008)
I Agree. This thing looks like a grown Nissan Xterra and not in a good way. The center console looks frightening and that knob is waaay to far down from the screen if it is supposed to control anything on the screen. Not loving the square look either. Feels more like a Chrysler design than a Honda one.
Reply
paul34 8:43PM (4/09/2008)
Looks like it went back to the 90s, then got scared of something (judging from the look on the front now!)
Conor 10:22PM (4/09/2008)
The center-stack mounted shifter is very odd looking. I would find that annoying. And at the guy below me, I don't think the CR-V was that well designed either. But I guess the market is soccer moms... So it's not supposed to appeal to a musclehead like me.
stiletto 12:36PM (4/10/2008)
I agree with the Xtrail comment, it looks like the took cues from that, cues from the Nissan Cube and made it big enough to fit 8 people. I love Honda's but this is awful!