Honda Pilot or Something Else?

I have had my pilot for a year (2010) and I love it. I have a 2 and 4 year old and it is perfect space wise. If I have a 3rd child- there will still be tons of room. We travel a lot, so the navigation system is wonderful.

Have a 2006 as well. So does sister in law. Never heard ANY complaints. Good gas mileage and LOTS of them on the road here in Texas, so that must mean something. I have 2 kids as well and have used the extra seat quite a few times. As someone said you will not be disappointed.

I had a New 2000 Toyota Sienna years back and didn't like it. There was no storage and only these little windows in the back that popped open just a bit. My son played hockey and you couldn't get any fresh air in there to get the smell of a few hockey players and their gear out for anything. Also, the metal was so thin. We had a terrific hail storm and my husband's Ford truck was barely damaged and my Sienna was almost totaled, I couldn't believe how it looked. They may have many improvements now though.
We bought a new Nissan Pathfinder in 2009 and LOVE it! We looked at both the Pilot and Pathfinder and liked them equally, but were able to get the Pathfinder for about $7000 less, so went with it. I like having the third seat just in case, but keep it down most of the time for plenty of storage. I can throw anything back there and they are so easy to put up or down I can do it with one hand. I also think we get wonderful gas mileage for that size car. I think upwards of 25 mpg most of the time. The only cons that I have found is there is not much leg room, front or back and, if I had it to do again, I would get leather seats as the solid ones like ours stain really easily.

how old are your little ones? If they're still in the stroller and lifting-up-into-the-car age, there are definite advantages to having the minivan b/c you don't have to lift the kids or the stroller as high, and as one of the PPs mentioned, car seats installed in the second row of a Pilot can hinder/prevent access to the third row.
and FWIW here are a couple minivan reviews from the child passenger safety techs at the carseatblog if you want to know how carseat-friendly and child-safety friendly these vehicles are:

Honda Odyssey: http://carseatblog.com/6854/2011-honda-odyssey-review-kid...

Toyota Sienna http://carseatblog.com/6008/2011-toyota-sienna-review-par...

Nissan quest http://carseatblog.com/8520/2011-nissan-quest-review-is-t...

I would get a SUV over a mini-van. The side windows on a mini-van don't open, I don't like that. I have a RAV4 and love it.

I LOVE MY PILOT!!!!! I had a honda Odyssey, but switched over. I loved my minivan too. I have 2 kids though, and know I am done. We live in snow country and the van sucked in the snow. I would have to back up in to my neighbors driveway and gun it to get it up my not so steep driveway. The only thing I miss about the minivan are the doors. My kids are very careful though about not dinging the neighbors doors. Also, the extra storage in the back would be nice. I love the safety of my Pilot. I love that I have the option of an extra seat, if the kids friends go with us somewhere. It is a great car! It is more comfortable than the van was too. Knock on wood, but I have never had any problems. I love Hondas customer service too.
Let us know what you get :-)

I have a 2005 Pilot - bought "pre-owned" from a dealership in 2007 .

I absolutely love my Pilot!!! Fav vehicle ever.

I had a little Toyota pickup and a Honda CRV before; the pickup only sat 2 people, the CRV wasn't big enough to haul things around. The Pilot has both. I can seat up to 8 or fold down the 3rd and 2nd row seats and haul stuff. Since it sits higher than a car or a minivan I can travel on roads I would never take a car down. It also has the 4 wheel on demand - I haven't tried that option yet tho'. LOL

Mine has the variable V6 - so I get super mileage on the highway, and good mileage in the city.

Low maintenance (so far, knock wood) and reasonable repair prices from the local auto shop.

Get the Pilot.
You'll love it.

Happy Driving
God Bless

Love our Pilot. we have a 5 y/o and 3 y/o, and there is tons of room for them and stuff in the back. A previous poster did mention that if the car seats are in the second row it does limit access to the 3rd row. Typically it is just us and we keep the 3rd row folded down so we have storage space. But if I have another child with me, I just put them in the 3rd row and I can get them out easy enough or just move one of the car seats to the back and let the adult sit in the 2nd row.

I was thinking about getting a pilot also, but am now going the minivan route(after much, much, debating since I've always hated minivans,lol) and have decided on a toyota Sienna. BTW, the side windows in the sienna do roll down, I was happy to see that. If I only had two kids, I would probably get the Pilot. I do have to say, I have surprised myself with he fact that I actually do like minivans now, but the Pilot was one SUV I was seriously considering.

I had a Toyota Sienna a few years back, and I liked it. However, I have a Pilot now, and I LOVE it! Not only is it spacious, yet you can still fit in little parking spots, but it's so comfy, and it just looks beautiful! I don't feel so much like a soccer mom in it, either. I actually feel pretty cool driving it. As well, it seats 8, more than a minivan, and that works well with my three kids. Not only can we now easily take family and friends with us in one car and save on gas when we go places, but as your kids get older you'll find that you end up taking extra kids everywhere you go, and those extra seats come in handy! My Pilot is actually a 2004, which is essentially the same as all of the Pilots up to 2009, I think. I like the design of the older ones much better than the new ones. I have looked in the new ones, though, and they are just as great on the inside as mine!

Good luck!

I have had a Toyota Highlander for the past 6 years, and loved it. Had the 3rd row seat in it, was looking at Pilot at the time, but couldn't afford it, and honestly liked the Highlander for all purposes.
I recently (June) sold my Highlander to my parents in order to trade a Murano my daughter was driving for a 2nd hand Pilot, and purchased her a Honda, Civic. In my opinioin you can't go wrong with either Toyota or Honda from our past experience. I personally like the SUV - Pilot, mine had 65,000 miles on it and is the tops. Drives well and smooth on the highway, a little rougher on side roads. The 3rd seat is larger and more comfortable than the Highlanders smaller version, and serves for any extras that need a ride - freinds. Our children are 19 and over, and we use the 3rd seat often, getting in and out isn't easy, so a van would be best, but I LOVE my SUV and do not plan on going back to a van. Had several when the children were young..once I drove the SUV, I was hooked! By the way, I have a 6 cyl with economy mode and avg around 19-20 mpg. Loved my Highlander for the ride, love the Pilot for the room and luxury and ride is good.

My family has a Pilot and I LOVE IT! If I had the need for a bigger SUV that a CR-V I would get one. Tons of space, you don't have the dreaded mini van, easy to drive, goes everywhere, handles well in snow (but your in GA so that shouldn't be a problem).
The ONLY problems we have had aren't really problems. The are normal wear and tear on the car with breaks and oil changes. That's it and our is a 2006.

I have a Toyota Sienna and love it. The rear windows do roll down on the newer models. The best part about a van is the automatic doors just hit a button and pop the kids in their seats. Also minivans get better mileage.

I went from a ford 2006 Sienna (loaded) to a 2011 Pilot EX-RES. I miss a few of the comfort options on the sienna. l could open the side doors automatically with the key fob, and I didn't have to worry about my kids slamming the doors into other peoples cars.

It was nice having the third row of seats along with having trunk space too. I'm not sure about the newer models of sienna, but my 2006 had run flat tires and they SUCKED! so expensive and the pressure monitor went off all the time.

I love my pilot. Feels like a cooler mom car than the minivan that my friends made fun of all the time. We don't use the third row very often, and when we do its a bit of a pain bc the car seats in the second row prevent the seats folding down so someone can get in.

The pilot is awesome!!! It's a total mom/child friendly car. Don't get a minivan, suv's are so much better.

You wont regret getting the pilot

LOVE my pilot. I have a 2004 and it has 160,000 miles on it (yes I drive a lot) and I really haven't had one problem with it, other than tires and brakes wearing out. I probably will buy another pilot if this one ever stops running. But it might not!

I've also had a Toyota Sienna and Dodge Grand Caravan and I prefer the pilot.

I would get the pilot over the mini-van.. Only because I'm not a min-van kind of mom... A couple of my friends that have mini-vans do love them, but my friend has a pilot and it's great.... I had a Acura MDX and loved it!!! Very comfy, same price range as the pilot, drove very smooth, very nice inside...Congrats

I think it depends on the age of your kids. I know lots of moms who loved their mini vans while they had little children for the space that it provides. Once their children got older they switched to a smaller suv. For example, my husbands aunt drove a Honda Odyssey forever. When her children got older, she got a Honda Pilot.

we have a pilot (5 mos) and i'm not sure i love it. worried the kids will smash the doors into another car in the parking lot. less storage in the rear than i though. I"m petite and it's hard to haul my little hiney up that high. there is a huge consol in the middle so i can't just toss my purse into the passanger seat before i get in. I get mad sometime and just Lob it in there and always regret it. I have a hard time handing things to the kids in the seat behind me., not sure it these issues are better in a minivan or not. Oh and the gas milage. gives me heart attack after every fill up.
we had wanted a CR-V and for some reason or other hubby wanted the bigger one athough i don't think there is a huge benifet as far as space.