2017 Honda Pilot Updated, Except for the One Thing We Wanted Most

The prices have also increased slightly over the previous year.

The latest generation Honda Pilot has been on the market for about a year, with small tech updates planned for 2017. Unfortunately, the most important change isn’t to add a volume knob to the radio controls such as the redesigned CR-V. Unfortunately, the current solution is not always responsive.

The 2017 Pilot EX and higher trims have Apple CarPlay compatibility and Android Auto compatibility. The screen of the eight-inch infotainment system has a new finish that reduces fingerprints. Another small improvement is the availability of a black interior. All Pilots now have it. The Elite was the first to have this upholstery.

These changes are not the only ones. Honda’s destination fee has dropped to $880, from $900 last fiscal year. The Pilots’ actual cost increases slightly. A base LX model with front wheel drive now costs $31,475, $230 more than last. Similar increases can be found throughout the lineup.

2017 Honda Pilot Updated, Except for the One Thing We Wanted Most

The 2017 Pilot still features a 3.5-liter V6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management. It produces 280 horsepower (208kilowatts), and 262 pound feet (355 Newton-meters), of torque. The majority of trims have a six-speed manual, while Elite and Touring models have a nine speed gearbox. All-wheel drive buyers get a torque-vectoring system, which can optimize grip by varying power left to right and front to back. Intelligent Traction Management allows occupants to choose between Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand, allowing them to adapt to different environments.

The 2016 Pilot was tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety last year. It received the Top Safety Pick+ award for passing all crash tests. The IIHS awarded the model a Superior rating, which is the highest possible, when it was equipped with the optional Honda Sensing suite.

The Pilot is a safe choice and a patriotic choice for American buyers. According to Cars.com, the Pilot is the fourth most American-made vehicle that a consumer can purchase. Depending on whether you are looking at U.S. production figures or sales figures, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord take the top spot.