Ex2wd Minivan in disguise - in a good way

Author's Rating:

Pros: folding 3rd row seats, feels spacious inside, reasonable handling, safe

Cons: Not for hardcore SUV fans, get more expensive true SUVs if you need to.

The Bottom Line: 
If you need most of minivan functionality without looking like a soccer mom, this is an excellent choice.

Author's Review
My brutally painful truth is that I needed a minivan-like functionality but I didn't want to be caught driving in one...anymore!

That should sum it up for a lot people who need to move kids & groceries, haul some bulky stuff from home improvement stores once or twice a year, have folding 3rd row seats for occasional usage and have reliable engine performance with reasonably nice interior.

My decision came down to choosing either Toyota Highlander, or Honda Pilot. Pilot felt spacious, whereas Highlander definitely did not.

My family lifestyle did not require me to have a 4wheel drive and the smell of leather made my kids feel sick. So those were out.

If I need to have everything, I would just pay more for a more expensive SUV to have all the options, including more power and the off-roading capability. But like most city-dwelling families, I need more minivan functionality than off-roading capability - without the soccer mom image. I know I'm vain, but I still don't want to...you know.

Overall, Pilot is a reasonably nice car with extra cargo and people hauling capability when you need them occasionally. Not for hardcore SUV fans, but how many of those petite women driving gigantic GMC SUVs in the city actually drive over mud and in rough terrain? Only in commercials.