In the cockpit of a Honda Pilot

Being in the cockpit of the Honda Pilot can seem like a daunting task — at the start. At least that was how I first felt when I jumped into the driver’s seat.

But that feeling went away as soon as I adjusted the driver’s seat, which allows for height adjustment, too.  The drive became even easier when I started the engine and began rolling down the roads of the village I live in.

In the US where the Honda Pilot is a popular SUV, it is considered a quintessential “mom mobile.” It is one of those vehicles that moms who drive (are there any moms who don’t drive in the US?) go for.  I have been told by two of my mom friends who live in the US and drive the Honda Pilot that it is reliable because of its rough-and-tumble build. This makes driving along the freeways safer.

The Pilot is what most people like to call their “everyday car.” It is one of those vehicles where it’s okay for kids to ride even if they are all sweaty after a football, basketball, volleyball, or baseball game — or whatever sport kids play these days — and not get too concerned that the car will get dirty.

The Pilot’s square-edged and box-like appearance looks like nothing else on the road. Its boxy, upright and rugged looks on the outside give its driver a sense of security while driving on the streets of Metro Manila. 

I really like the way the Pilot looks, like a no-nonsense and all-business sort of SUV.

I have been told that the Pilot was originally designed as a family-hauler — that means it was built for loading all kinds of stuff, people included. Honda has also added tons of nooks, crannies and storage spaces throughout the Pilot’s three rows. Dual bins in the front doors provide much-needed space to stash snacks, reading material or gadgets close at hand for the wait in traffic.  The center console has an open rectangular bin and two-cup holders along with a second storage bin with a sliding cover.

The sliding and reclining second-row seats are great because they allow for good legroom for either second- or third-row passengers as needed. The Pilot is also unique in the width of its second-row seats, which allows a family to squeeze three child-safety seats or booster seats in shoulder-to-shoulder.

Although I do not have a family of my own, I did ask a few of my friends to join me in a short out-of-town trip I made over the weekend. I wanted them to share with me what it was like riding in the back seat while I did all the driving.

Here, I must share with you the arguments that went on between my friends as to what DVDs they would bring on the trip.  At the end of the arguments, they agreed on Gravity, since they said riding with me is like taking a trip to anther planet where there are no pit stops along the way.

“Keep driving, Kathy,” said my movie-addict friend. “We want to watch this movie in peace.”

I had to let them know that for the month of March Honda has a very good offer for people who are planning to get the Pilot.

Since summer is really here, it would be wise to consider a family SUV that comes with an entertainment system that will keep all passengers entertained during the long-haul, out-of-town trips.

And, Honda is offering a Rear Entertainment System and accessory package for its Pilot until March 31.

The Rear Entertainment System, which includes a 10-inch, roof-mounted DVD entertainment monitor, complete with wireless headphones and remote control, will keep the little ones entertained and occupied. Better still, it has audio-visual (AV) inputs, which allow for plugging in gaming consoles and other multimedia devices.

Honda says that the Pilot was developed with the concept of “Intelligent Family Adventure” in mind.  Honda is giving away premium running boards for easier vehicle ingress and egress with any Pilot purchase until March 31.  What’s more, you can get as much as a P100,000 discount. Now, that’s a triple treat for you when you purchase a Honda Pilot.

The movie was almost over by the time we reached Batangas.  Our point of destination was a beach nearby where we could spend the day lazing under the trees and breathing in that much-needed sea air.

As I sat and closed my eyes, I thought a little more about just how much fun I had driving the Pilot. The control I had over the vehicle even on the winding roads gave me a sense of security that my passengers would always be safe.

Load it up

One of the best things about the Pilot is the amount of space for loading and storing bags in the cargo space it provides. There’s plenty of space behind the third row (18 cubic feet) for the usual daily haul of backpacks and groceries. I also experimented with how much space I would have when I folded the second and third rows flat. The Pilot has a massive 87 cubic feet of maximum cargo space.

The 2014 Honda Pilot received the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s highest rating of “good” on all tests to which it had been subjected. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also performed crash tests on the Pilot and awarded it four out of five stars overall.

It was getting late and, as all good things go, this day was also coming to an end. It was time for the drive back to Manila. Since we spent a greater part of the day just chilling, we all opted to keep the entertainment system off as we shared stories about life and then some.

From the cockpit of the Pilot I had a little more time to savor the drive as I listened to the many tales of woe and joy that continue to form the lives of my friends.

Driving always gets me into a meditative state; it is from the driver’s seat that I am able to take stock of my own life and appreciate all that it has had to offer and look forward to all that is yet to come.

That day, at the wheel of the Honda Pilot, everything seemed just as it should be — and the drive was just perfect.