Fresh Styling and New Technology
The 2019 Honda Pilot’s updated exterior reflects its capabilities without losing what makes Pilot a perennial favorite in the midsize SUV segment. The front sports a bold new front fascia with standard LED low-beam headlights, while the rear features new taillights, a new bumper, and available chrome accents.
The new taillights come with with amber turn signals and LED backup lights. Wheels are also more ruggedly styled, with 18-inch designs on LX, EX and EX-L Navi, and a bold new 20-inch design on the Touring and Black Edition trims.
For 2019, Honda will introduce a new, Canadian-exclusive Black Edition trim featuring gloss black accents, black wheels, darkened headlights and tail lights, red ambient lighting and red-accent stitched leather seats on the interior and Black Edition emblems on the exterior.
A hands-free power tailgate is available for the first time on Touring and Black Edition trims. With the remote key fob in their pocket or handbag, the driver simply waves their foot under a designated area of the rear bumper. The tailgate then opens without the owner needing to use their hands–very useful for occasions when their hands are full.
The Pilot’s new instrument cluster not only displays typical vehicle functions such as vehicle speed and RPM, it includes a Driver Information Interface (DII) with driver-selectable customizable features, such as audio system information, a detailed trip computer, phone information, and turn-by-turn route guidance on Pilot models equipped with navigation.
HondaLink®, CabinControl™ and CabinTalk™
The available next-generation HondaLink® platform connects customers to online content both inside and outside the car for a variety of cloud-based services. Connected to the user’s smartphone by the Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink® wireless interface, the HondaLink® phone app provides convenient access for free services including roadside assistance, vehicle health report, service scheduling and access to the vehicle Owners Guide. Additional fee-based services such as automatic collision notification, remote door lock, security alarm alert and personal concierge are also available.
CabinControl™, a standard feature, is a downloadable app for iPhone and Android phones. CabinControl™ allows passengers to use their smartphones to control a range of Pilot features, including the audio system, Rear Entertainment System (if equipped), and rear climate control system. Any connected phone can also look up an address or point of interest and then send it to the navigation system (if equipped), where the driver can accept or reject it.
Additionally, Social Playlist, operating like a virtual family jukebox, allows up to seven connected phones to share music on a playlist that appears on Pilot’s Display Audio touchscreen, where the front-row occupants can view and control the list.