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“Me too” is a phrase not normally found in Honda’s corporate vernacular. The company generally brings a fresh take to every market segment it is in. It appears to be doing that again in the case of the all-new 2009 Honda Pilot—just not in the way you might expect.


This time, Honda’s unique approach lies in its decision to cling to the very SUV conventions that now seem passé. The crossover craze has brought us a wave of genre-bending models like the Mazda CX-9, GM’s Lambda quadruplets (think Buick Enclave), and the upcoming Ford Flex. Ford is even rumored to be rethinking its next-generation Explorer, morphing the dinosaur into a light-duty people mover. And yet here is Honda, trumpeting the new Pilot’s enhanced SUV look and feel?


To hear Honda product planners tell it, they’re at peace with the direction they have chosen for the new Pilot. The previously mentioned CUVs are mostly replacements for slow-selling minivans, but Honda’s Odyssey is a perennial best seller, so planners went ahead and fulfilled the wishes of current Pilot owners: better gas mileage, more space, and an enhanced SUV spirit—something that looks like it can handle its business even when the pavement ends.


CLICK HERE to continue reading about the 2009 Honda Pilot.

Tags: 2009, Honda, Pilot SUV

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2009 Honda Pilot was originally published by NextAutos.com and Winding Road - Honda. Read the full story by clicking here.