The Honda Pilot is Honda's second SUV fully built and designed by Honda. It made its debut as a sports utility vehicle in 2003. The Pilot is at most designed to withstand light-duty off-roading.

For 2006, the Pilot received new front and rear fascias, a redesigned interior, and various standard safety features. In 2008, no major changes were made to the Pilot.

The 2008 Pilot is a 4-door, 8-passenger sport-utility, available in 12 trims, ranging from the VP 2WD 5-Spd AT to the EX-L 4WD 5-Spd AT w/ Navigation System.

"The VP 2WD 5-Spd AT is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 244-horsepower engine that achieves 16-mpg in the city and 22-mpg on the highway. The EX-L 4WD 5-Spd AT w/ Navigation System is equipped with a standard 3.5-liter, V6, 244-horsepower engine that achieves 15-mpg in the city and 20-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard on both trims. The new version has traits that pleases reviewers and put it near the top of its class for performance.

The Honda Pilot's styling remains conservative. It may not be a real head turner, but it's clean and sensible. But still it retains its functional design. Although there are some changes which are designed to make the Pilot look more like a truck including car parts like the new complex headlights, a wide, chrome-bar grille and clear-lens taillights raise the bling factor a couple of notches.

Some reviewers found out that the Honda Pilot mirrors much of the styling of the previous generation of Honda CR-V.

Its interior has been well known for its spacious, quiet cabin and for providing more standard features than its competitors. Most people who have driven the Pilot know that once you sit inside it you’ll and instantly feel that everything is in the right place. The gauges are easy to read and the buttons are neatly arranged.

The SE adds such features as a power moonroof with a tilt feature and a DVD Rear Entertainment System.

It can seat up to eight adults, but most of them should rather be small. In terms of cargo capacity, the Pilot is among the best in its class. It offers 90.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

Reviewers applaud the 2008 Honda Pilot for its safety precautions. It comes with front passenger and driver airbags, side impact front airbags, and side curtain airbags. The anti-lock brakes performed equally well in simulated panic stops.