Pilot on short list with Murano and Endeavor

[dad2alex]

Hi, my 2001 Ford Sport Trac lease is up in June. I've really enjoyed it and it's been a good vehicle, but it's about time to move on. I've been doing some preliminary test driving and currently I am focused on the Pilot, the Nissan Murano, and the Mitsubishi Endeavor. Each have qualities I like, so it may come down to which vehicles' shortcomings I can't live with. The Pilot seems like a wonderful overall vehicle. I wish the dash was a bit more stylish, but I can live with it. Here are some questions if anyone can help me:

My biggest concern is the seat (I drove an EX with cloth). It didn't seem all that comfortable. It seemed a bit hard (took a 2 hour ride in a TrailBlazer with a hard seat and by butt got numb). Guess I like a little cush. Also, the seat itself seemed a little short, i.e. not enough thigh support. Has anyone else had this same perception and if so, did the seat get any better with use?

Has anyone paid extra for the fake wood trim to perk up the dash? How have you liked the change?

Also, if anyone has any comments, bias or not, on the Murano or Endeavor, I'd be interested in hearing them also. Thanks.

Sam

[RikiShah]

Hey, Welcome to Hondapilot.org Um...well the seats seem comfortable to me...I have the EX-L RES model that is with DVD and leather. They are quite comfortable, and big. I thought they felt better than my Lexus seats cause they seemed bigger. But like many Pilot owners out there, they do start to sag very soon. here are pics of the wood grain stuff....

http://www.honda-pilot.org/forums/sh...1970#post11970

QUOTE]Originally posted by dad2alex
Hi, my 2001 Ford Sport Trac lease is up in June. I've really enjoyed it and it's been a good vehicle, but it's about time to move on. I've been doing some preliminary test driving and currently I am focused on the Pilot, the Nissan Murano, and the Mitsubishi Endeavor. Each have qualities I like, so it may come down to which vehicles' shortcomings I can't live with. The Pilot seems like a wonderful overall vehicle. I wish the dash was a bit more stylish, but I can live with it. Here are some questions if anyone can help me:

My biggest concern is the seat (I drove an EX with cloth). It didn't seem all that comfortable. It seemed a bit hard (took a 2 hour ride in a TrailBlazer with a hard seat and by butt got numb). Guess I like a little cush. Also, the seat itself seemed a little short, i.e. not enough thigh support. Has anyone else had this same perception and if so, did the seat get any better with use?

Has anyone paid extra for the fake wood trim to perk up the dash? How have you liked the change?

Also, if anyone has any comments, bias or not, on the Murano or Endeavor, I'd be interested in hearing them also. Thanks.

Sam [/QUOTE]

[rhcraig]

Welcome. I have had an '03 EX with cloth since last April - just turned 20k. I was somewhat apprehensive about the seats when I took a test drive. They didn't seem as much uncomfortable as perhaps awkward. Of course, my not-too-firm body had spent the previous nine years being shaped by the seat of a Grand Cherokee so that may have had something to do with it. Anyway, bottom line, after 20k I don't give the seats a second thoughts - even on long drives.

Good luck with your decision.

[kemosabe]

Originally posted by dad2alex
[ S N I P P E D ]

Also, if anyone has any comments, bias or not, on the Murano or Endeavor, I'd be interested in hearing them also. Thanks.

Sam

Since this is your first post here on honda-pilot.org and you're asking for opinions, I just wanted to say that there is a "sister" site called nissanmurano.org that is run by the same person (admin) that runs this site ---> you could pop over there and post a similar question over on the forums there, too!!!

Oh, welcome to the Pilot board!!!

[Sunday Rider]

Re:Pilot on short list with Murano and Endeavor

That is a tough question, and you will get a very biased opinion here, which I am happy to give.

I thought the same thing about the seat being short, even the wife and kids noticed. I also came off an '00 Explorer lease. I have the leather seats, a little bit of a sag, but the seats are firm and comfortable. I don't notice them any more.

I looked at the Endeavor and liked the styling, but the practicality and the 3 rd row seat of the Pilot is what sold me. We just got a Mitsubishi dealer and they didn't seem to know what they are doing so that kept me away.

Good luck

[colorider]

Originally posted by dad2alex

~snip~
My biggest concern is the seat (I drove an EX with cloth). It didn't seem all that comfortable. It seemed a bit hard (took a 2 hour ride in a TrailBlazer with a hard seat and by butt got numb). Guess I like a little cush. Also, the seat itself seemed a little short, i.e. not enough thigh support. Has anyone else had this same perception and if so, did the seat get any better with use?

Has anyone paid extra for the fake wood trim to perk up the dash? How have you liked the change?

Also, if anyone has any comments, bias or not, on the Murano or Endeavor, I'd be interested in hearing them also. Thanks.

Sam

Easy decision for some - tough for others!!!


Here is a thread that has some pretty good pictures of the wood trim installed in a saddle interior.

As for the seats - I thought they were short too compared to my previous vehicle (Buick PA), but I find they are as comfortable as any I have ever had for long trips. Quite pleased overall.

YMMV

Good luck!!

[robrecht]

Originally posted by dad2alex
Hi, my 2001 Ford Sport Trac lease is up in June. ... Also, if anyone has any comments, bias or not, on the Murano or Endeavor, I'd be interested in hearing them also. Thanks.

Sam

Hi, Sam.

Can you extend your lease? Might want to consider a hybrid Highlander if the extra space of the Pilot is not that important. I'm definitely biased in favor of Honda, but, that said, I used to have concerns about reliability with Mitsubishi. Definitely check out the Murano site--we've heard scattered reports of serious sounding problems.

Good luck! Keep in touch!

[mtryb]

My wife and I spent a long time looking at SUVs before choosing the Honda Pilot. At the end we were down to the Endeavor and the Pilot.

We choose the Pilot for a number of reasons, here are just a few:

1) Resale value: I can't remember where I found it, but at the end of 5 years the Honda Pilot is estimated to be worth 53% of the original cost, the Mitsubishi Endeavor is only worth about 35%. According to the tables I saw, the tables I saw, an Endeavor will be worth less at 3 years of age than a Pilot will be at 5 years.

2) Safety: The Pilot is an IIHS best pick, the Endeavor is not.

3) Durability: Hondas last a very long time. Around here you do not see any older Mitsubishis.

4) Fuel: The Pilot runs on regular fuel, the Endeavor requires premium.

[terraambient]

I test drove the Murano before settling on the Pilot. Having been a long time Honda driver, i wanted to make sure that there wasn't something better out there. I was pleased to discover there wasn't. Here's where I panned out (I tried to be as objective as possible):

STYLE: PILOT - Although I like the overall look of the Murano, I think that something THAT stylish will be out of date very quickly. Honda's conservative but sleek styling will last longer, IMOP.

POWER: MURANO - Although the Pilot is nicely powered. I thought that the Murano had more "get up and go", slightly better tourque. Of course, this is just from a few test drives, so I dont know how either do in the long haul.

PERFORMANCE: EQUAL - Both SUVs feel and respond like "cars". I felt that the Murano was a little stiffer than the Pilot, but having been driving a CR-V for a long time, the Pilot offered no surprises in it's handeling.

INTERIOR DESIGN: MURANO - The styling of the Pilot is fairly plain, but not unattractive. The Murano was a bit "cooler" on the inside. However, I didn't drive the leather version of the Murano, so I cannot compare apples to apples.

ROOM: PILOT - Just a bigger interior.

"FUN" FACTOR: PILOT - For some reason, the Pilot just felt more "drivable" than the Murano. I cannot be specific as to why. The Murano was very nice to drive (though I think the Pilot was quieter) and handled very well...but I cant see myself making a long turnpike drive in it. Personal opinion.

COMFORT: PILOT - Again, I didn't drive the Leather version, but I thought that the leg room and support form the seat was better in the Pilot. I have never been as comfortable in any Nissan that I have owned ('91 Maxima and 93 NSX), the Murano was comfortable, but I felt constrained in it.

These are my opinions and I decided on the Pilot for what was important for me.

I dont know that I trust the Mitsubishi, either. I have a freind that swears by them...but they always seem to be in the shop for one little resason or another. No major blow outs, but just general nuisances.

I agree that I would look at the Highlander. Also, if you want a "TRUCK", check out the Toyota Tundra. for a truck, it was fun to drive.

[why2kmax]

I will throw in my .03. I have had an 00 and an 02 CRV EX for the last 4 years and when my wife and I decided to move up in size, we narrowed it down to the Pilot and the Murano. We chose the pilot. Here are my impressions from about 4, 15-20- min test drives in each vehicle. Pilot EX-L and Murano SE with touring pkg, which includes leather, sunroof, and almost every imaginable doodad around. Ill keep it to the same format that TERRAAMBIENT did.

STYLE Exterior: TIE/Pilot. I think two extremes here. Even though the outside of the Murano can be considered "over-styled" and it may become passe' quickly, Personally I didnt care. I liked the murano styling and the chances it takes. Like Cadillac and the CTS. To me the Pilot is a Giant CRV. Not ugly, not cute but takes no chances and looks a bit boring, BUT its not something that will polarize people into a love/hate thing which is GOOD at RESALE time.

STYLE INTERIOR: MURANO. THe interior on the Pilot is nice but again much more practical. My wife got in the Pilot and it was familiar territory. "this is what I expected" She got in the Murano and was very impressed, I think her words were "holy S*T this is nice" We both thought the Nissan was a good bit nicer than the Pilot as far as style goes and looks. The leather looked better, felt better, the bose system sounded better, the door panels and headliner were a bit nicer. The Murano seats felt harder/stiffer where as the Pilot seats felt more cushy. I liked both, though Im not liking the front seat cushion problem most Pilots have.

The Murano really plays to your emotions and senses where as the pilot plays to the practical utilitarian side.

INTERIOR USEFULNESS: PILOT. Its tough not to give this one to the pilot, it is Bigger than the murano inside, but the murano is close in every respect for the front and rear seats with more legroom up front. The Pilot has a lot more cargo area than the Murano and The Pilot offers more for your 2nd seat passengers (IE KIDS). Pilot has activity tray, more cup holders and the DVD is in a much better place. The murano had 2 cupholders in the rear which are on the floor behind the console, and would easily be broken. DVD was attached to the rear of the center console too and took out a lot of storage room there. This was a MAJOR negative to the Murano IMO from a family standpoint.

POWER: MURANO - The Pilot, like the 02+ CRV, is adequately powered. The Murano, being 500 lbs lighter and having a CVT trans and 5 more HP and Torque feels a good bit faster. The thing scoots pretty well where as the pilot feels like it is struggling a bit at times.

PERFORMANCE: MURANO - The Murano is a drivers' car- hands down. The stiffer suspension. larger tires, active handling/braking, larger swaybars. Everything about the murano says performance, Its like having a Z car with a huge trunk. It is FUN to drive. The Pilot drove well and I like it, but felt heavy, the suspension at times felt soft and it drove (on rough mountain roads) much like a truck with that "throw you around in the seat/sway back and forth" feeling. If the Pilot is Rough because of the weight and softer suspension (think plush American SUV/car) then the Murano is rough in a performance car type way but also feels a lot like my 02 CRV. The Murano gets better gas mileage BUT uses Premium fuel.

"FUN" FACTOR: MURANO - I thought they were both fun to drive, the murano when you wanted to push the limits and go fast or have mountain twisties in the trip, but the pilot is probably a better long haul cruiser. to me FUN means a car with 400 hp and a great suspension system and brakes so I liked the Murano, My wife liked both, but I think liked the pilot a bit more.

COMFORT: EQUAL: The Pilot leather seats dont look or feel as nice(to the touch) but they are softer and more comfy, initially anyway. My 11yr old daughter liked the rear seats in the Pilot better and thought the Murano seats way too hard. I think the larger cabin/roofline in the pilot makes you feel more at ease where as the Murano can feel cramped in an odd way. I found the driving position of each to be very good (especially with the adjustable pedals in the murano) and I didnt like the hump on the left side of the pilot floor where the foot rest is. I had trouble finding a comfortable spot for my left foot/leg. Major PEEVE for me.

FEATURES: MURANO. The Murano has it all over the Pilot as far as gadgets; 2 position seat/mirror memory, telescoping steering wheel, bose audio, more gauges, sunroof, dynamic stability control, tire pressure monitors, adjustable gas/brake pedals, larger wheels, more power, HID headlights, CD changer Side curtain airbags. BUT you cant pick and chose what options you want.
Example: I wanted traction control and ABS,
******BUT*****
The problem is to get that with the Murano I had to chose the $750 Dynamic control package which added VDC but also the tire monitoring system. neither of which I really wanted. That holds true for nearly everything. IF you want ONE or TWO things, you are often required to chose an expensive package with stuff you probably DONT want. If you want a sunroof, you have to get the premium pkg which also forces you to get the leather pkg on an SL for instance. SO you end up having to spend $4,000 in other options to get a sunroof.

PRICE: PILOT Even though the option list is small on the pilot (leather, dvd or nav) Honda gives you pretty much what you need and want at a good price. No matter what Murano I chose, SE or SL, I couldnt option it in a way to get everything I wanted, little I didnt want, and still keep the price competitive with the Pilot. A loaded SE Murano stickered at about $38,000 whereas the Pilot EX-L/DVD was $32,860. With working the best deal I could on the murano (nissan employee discount) the price still came in to about $34,800 and the pilot best price around $31,500. Yes I got more with the Nissan as far as options, but the pilot was more user friendly for my family and had more cargo capacity. For the price I had to go with the PILOT as the winner.

RESALE: PILOT I read somewhere (KBB or intellichoice I dont remember) that after 2 or 3 years, the Murano would hold 51% of its value where the pilot would hold 58%. both estimates but with both my CRVs, Ive had excellent resale after 1-3 years. Also, after 1 year, pilots are still selling off the trucks and Muranos, while selling well, can be found on lots in numbers. 03 muranos have had 2500 rebates to move them. You will never see that on a Pilot.

RELIABILITY" Both are 2003 intros but after pouring over the nissanmurano.org site and this one, some themes emerge.

PILOT has problems with leather seats going soft in front and some starting problems which may or may not be a problem.

MURANO had a lot of interior rattles/squeaks and noises that people (many people) repeatedly complained about and which the dealers wouldnt readily do much about. Also there were some CVT transmission problems and steering rack problems.

I felt the Honda had less serious teething problems and that honda dealers seemed to be helping those in need a bit more than the nissan dealers based on posts to each site.

In the end it seemed the Murano was for the husband/wife who wanted an SUV or stationwagon/large car but really didnt have a family. Either they were grown and gone, or didnt have kids yet. The pilot seemd a lot more Family Friendly with more convenience type things rather than high dollar options, and a lower price that wouldnt break the bank.

If price were no object and I didnt have kids, I would chose the Murano.

HOWEVER, price is an object for me and I DO have Kids, so its the pilot won.

Jeff

[terraambient]

good surmation, Jeff. Though being a family with no kids (yet), I still would have gone with the Pilot.

....course, like you said. Money is always an issue, yea?

[BCinTX]

Regarding the seats, over the holidays I made a 12 hour drive followed a few days later by a 19 hour drive with very minimal stops, and did not feel fatigued. The seat was better than my 97 CRV with which I had made similar drives. I'm sure it could be better, but I'm very pleased at how comfortable it was. I have the cloth seats.

[rtresco]

Originally posted by BCinTX
Regarding the seats, over the holidays I made a 12 hour drive followed a few days later by a 19 hour drive with very minimal stops, and did not feel fatigued. The seat was better than my 97 CRV with which I had made similar drives. I'm sure it could be better, but I'm very pleased at how comfortable it was. I have the cloth seats.

I'll second that. Took our first Pilot road trip over the holidays from Houston to middle GA. No complaints at all regarding the cloth seats.

[ck55]

So many good camparison posts here that I'll not ramble on. I will tell you I have owned one Misubishi, and I'll never buy another. It was the second worst car I have ever owned. The car was poorly constructed inside and out. I would stay away from the Endeavor. I have owned two Nissans and they were both very reliable.

[dad2alex]

Wow, I really appreciate all the responses. As I said, I like the overall Pilot. It sounds like seat comfort is not a big problem. Maybe I just need to take a nice long test drive to check it out more. If I was getting the saddle interior, I probably wouldn't have so much problem with the dash as the saddle color breaks up the darker dash components. But, I'm probably leaning towards the Sage Brush Pearl EX-cloth which only has the Fern interior, so the dash would have an overall one-color look to it. I don't think this would rule out the Pilot, however.

I did test the Highlander, but my test drive co-pilot (my 8 yr old son) said the back seat wasn't as nice as the Pilot or Endeavor, so we ruled it out since he has to sit there all the time. I didn't particularly like the way it shifted either. It was the V-6.

I'm not so concerned with long-term reliability because I lease, but it would be annoying to be in the shop for warranty work a lot. This is my main concern of the Murano after reading all the feed back on other sites. Otherwise, I love it's styling inside and out. The only other thing with the Murano is cargo room. After having the Sport Trac, the Murano would be much less hauling room than I'm used to. I'll have to decide if that's really a must.

The Endeavor was a nice driving and riding vehicle and the driver's seat was by far the most comfortable and supportive of all. It's kind of in between the other two in usable size. I think the LCD info screen will wash out in bright sun though and it's dash also tended to have the one-color dark look to it.

One other plus for the Pilot is it's awesome predicted residual value, which means a great deal on a lease rate, something that can't be overlooked especially with an overall nice package. I think the Murano and Endeavor will have much lower residuals and not quite as good leases unless they will knock down the selling price.

Haha, sounds like I'm talking myself into the Pilot, huh?

Again, thanks a bunch. I'll check back for update or any other question I come up with.

Sam