Anyone go from an MDX (Tech/Ent) to a Pilot Touring? Feedback/Comparison

[pej7445]

I've been driving Acura MDX's for a while now. Presently I own a 2007 Tech/Entertainment model.

I'm looking into moving to the Pilot 4WD Touring for a few reasons;
1. More room - kids are growing
2. Less expensive (approx $6k)
3. The Pilot comes with some features I like (hitch, roof rails, VCM).

I'm curious if anyone out there has bought a Pilot 4WD Touring (2012/2013) after owning an MDX (07 or newer) and had any feedback about the differences between the vehicles/ownership experience.

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

[Im2c0oL]

Family own a 06 MDX Touring, ever since I bough my 08 Pilot, the MDX is being left home and Pilot is used for most road trips. We love the spaces and comfort on the Pilot more. Although both car shared many components, so it's not much of a big different beside the power/sound system and the MDX probably has a bit better suspension. But not much that much, I enjoyed driving the Pilot more, and probably the newer model will be more enjoyable. I did drove a 2011 MDX Touring on a 800miles road trip, as a driver i'm okay nothing impress about but I feel bad how lack the spaces and uncomforted the passengers were the whole trip. Also filling Premium gas is not fun vs Regular Gas on Pilot. I think MDX will have higher insurance cost no?

[Pilot Driver]

We test drove the Pilot against the MDX when we bought out Pilot about a year ago. As a German car nut, I am into the driving experience as they say. The MDX is a more entertaining driver, no question but it could not be confused for a good German sport sedan unless the person doesn't know what such a sport sedan feels like. MDX can also be had with some more features and some trim pieces inside and out are nicer. That being said, we were looking for a nice, safe, reliable, fun to drive family truckster with AWD for about $40k, not something that could pretend it was a "sporty" SUV. The Pilot was just more true to what we needed.

Btw, if you want a sporty SUV, which is admittedly a bit of an oxymoron, the only one out there is the X5, but they have reliability / cost to run issues north of 50k miles and we buy our cars so that is not something with which I want to deal on a family vehicle.

Hth.

[CO_PILOT]

MDX has a CVT ("steel belt") automatic transmission. That's fine for light soccer duty but hardly an RV/boat capable arrangement such as the 4500 lb tow rating on the Pilot 4WD.

Honda Pilot uses the same 4WD unit as found on their Ridgeline pickup truck:

Ridgeline Owners Club | Variable Torque Management VTM-4 Explanation

Oops, sorry, EP307 below is right. I was thinking of the Nissan Murano which does have a CVT

[EP307]

Originally Posted by CO_PILOT

MDX has a CVT ("steel belt") automatic transmission. That's fine for light soccer duty but hardly an RV/boat capable arrangement such as the 4500 lb tow rating on the Pilot 4WD.

Honda Pilot uses the same 4WD unit as found on their Ridgeline pickup truck:

Ridgeline Owners Club | Variable Torque Management VTM-4 Explanation

MDX is not a CVT...it's a 6 speed auto rated at 5000 lb towing capacity.

I think you're confusing it with the Infiniti JX which is a CVT rated at 3500 lbs.

We test drove both the MDX and JX before deciding on the Pilot (our third).

Here are my thoughts comparing all 3:

http://www.mdxers.org/forums/4-compa...tml#post518785

[OldMDXer]

Well my MDX was a 2002 but thought I'd chime in anyway. After 10 years in a VERY comfortable, VERY reliable car, it was either time to invest a good bit of $$$ in service for new hoses, tune-up, etc. or get a new vehicle

First stop was another MDX and I was actually at the Acura dealer for a test drive and we were discussing the MDXs they were due to receive when one of the shop guys drove out a Pilot that had been traded-in. I liked the square Pilot body much more than the newer MDX's so I stopped by a Honda dealer on the way home and from then on the current MDX was off my consideration list. (Still on the list were the Infinity JX and Mazda CX-9 but I went with the Pilot).

I wanted cargo space for our dogs so the limited interior space of the newer MDX (less than our 2002) was a negative for the MDX. Other negatives, poorer gas mileage and premium fuel required (the 2002 MDX would easily get 18-20mpg using regular or midgrade), I liked the Pilot's rear camera/navi display much better, and of course the Pilot price was lower. I also like the rear hatch glass which opens independently on the Pilot.

The new MDX also seemed to have less front seat knee room than our 2002, but certainly is a very nice vehicle and the materials are upscale but those in the Pilot are certainly good quality and nicely done.

I think the Pilot seating is as comfortable as the MDX, although not perforated leather. Sure it doesn't take corners quite like the MDX but the Pilot also doesn't drive like a vehicle as big and heavy as it is and I am very happy with how it handles (I also drive a 2010 F-150 4WD SuperCrew and 2001 MB SLK 320). So far I think the Pilot does everything quite well!

Maybe the redesigned 2014 MDX but, for the money, I don't think you can go wrong with the 2012/13 Touring Pilot.

[pej7445]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Today I drove a 4WD Touring - 2013 model year. It was quite nice. It's not as "fun" or "luxurious" as an MDX but it's also a lot more 'useful' due to the size and layout.

The VCM was a bit noticeable but not too bad on my 18 mile test drive.

I really like the rear hatch glass being able to open separate from the rear hatch.

I would have probably bought one today but the dealer (Duval Honda) really doesn't know how to sell cars. That's another post.

I am 90% sure I'm going to go to a 2013 4WD Touring Pilot at this point. It's a very compelling package and overall value.

[Armystrong]

Originally Posted by pej7445

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Today I drove a 4WD Touring - 2013 model year. It was quite nice. It's not as "fun" or "luxurious" as an MDX but it's also a lot more 'useful' due to the size and layout.

The VCM was a bit noticeable but not too bad on my 18 mile test drive.

I really like the rear hatch glass being able to open separate from the rear hatch.

I would have probably bought one today but the dealer (Duval Honda) really doesn't know how to sell cars. That's another post.

I am 90% sure I'm going to go to a 2013 4WD Touring Pilot at this point. It's a very compelling package and overall value.

Make sure you look at true car and send out requests for invoice pricing. Take a look at this:
New 2013 Honda Pilot Price Quote w/ MSRP and Invoice

I just bought a 2013 Pilot EX 4WD using the pricing from True Car. Best of luck and just my 2 cents....your doing the right thing. The Pilot rocks!

[Im2c0oL]

If you're used with the Pilot cargo size, you can't go with a MDX, I would go with a GL350/450 or QX56 if you want luxury, it'll looks much more luxury than the acura for sure and still got all the spaces.

[pej7445]

Originally Posted by Armystrong

Make sure you look at true car and send out requests for invoice pricing. Take a look at this:
New 2013 Honda Pilot Price Quote w/ MSRP and Invoice

I just bought a 2013 Pilot EX 4WD using the pricing from True Car. Best of luck and just my 2 cents....your doing the right thing. The Pilot rocks!

That is great info! Thank you so much!

[dj5]

I love our 2006 Pilot but it's over 100k miles and we're looking to get something newer.
My wife and I both don't like the 2009-2013 Pilot as they just look too boxy and that gear shifter on this dash just looks awful, IMHO. I also prefer not to have VCM. Hopefully Honda will improve the looks on the next generation Pilot.

We are currently in the process of looking at a 2013 MDX. Here are a couple of quotes we've received.

2013 MDX Tech: $40,980*
2013 MDX Advance: $46,280*

*Includes destination/handling but does not include sales tax, .doc, ERT, and license plate fees.

[boyce89976]

Originally Posted by Pilot Driver

We test drove the Pilot against the MDX when we bought out Pilot about a year ago. As a German car nut, I am into the driving experience as they say. The MDX is a more entertaining driver, no question but it could not be confused for a good German sport sedan unless the person doesn't know what such a sport sedan feels like. MDX can also be had with some more features and some trim pieces inside and out are nicer. That being said, we were looking for a nice, safe, reliable, fun to drive family truckster with AWD for about $40k, not something that could pretend it was a "sporty" SUV. The Pilot was just more true to what we needed.

Btw, if you want a sporty SUV, which is admittedly a bit of an oxymoron, the only one out there is the X5, but they have reliability / cost to run issues north of 50k miles and we buy our cars so that is not something with which I want to deal on a family vehicle.

Hth.

^After almost 15 years of BMW's, including 2 X5's, this is spot on! We now have both a 2012 MDX and a 2012 Pilot... miss the driving experience of the Bimmer, but love the feeling that the MDX and Pilot will not cost more to operate after the warranty runs out!

[pej7445]

Quick update for those that are wondering....

I've found a used 2012 4WD Touring with 18k on it, Blue w/ Grey. It also has some nice running boards that illuminate under the car when the remote is clicked or doors are opened. The car is clean and checks out on Car-Fax.

They are offering me a decent deal on the car with my MDX trade in and with a 2% interest rate my payment goes down about $100/mo.

95% sure I'm going to do this deal.

[KansasTouring]

We traded in a fully loaded 2007 MDX on our 2012 Pilot touring. The MDX was a great vehicle and is a bit quicker up to speed. We can fit more into our Pilot and have been fine with the power.

We did a 1500 mile road trip to Denver and back and averaged 20.3 MPG. That included 1300 miles of highway (the trip out was at zero degrees and a headwind).

A fully loaded MDX now stickers in the $54,000 range and up while the Pilot tops out at $40,000. For our needs we have been quite pleased with the Pilot.

[dcchi]

Not exactly the same comparo, but we got rid of our 2010 MDX (base) for a 2012 Pilot EX-L 4WD. We have 3 kids (7,6,2) and often transport 2 grandparents and a greatgrandparent for short local distances, so the extra seat in the Pilot (again, for short distances) was great. The older kids sit in the back row almost all the time and love it. We love the extra room (meaning not just # of seats, but also it feels more spacious probably because it is slightly less cushioned/sport-shaped seats and such than the MDX; and the Pilot definitely has more cubby spaces and such; also, with the 3rd row used, there is at least some space in the trunk...the MDX has essentially almost nothing usable, can barely really even fit an umbrella stroller, whereas the trunk space in the pilot can fit a med luggage or at least some shopping bags...)

Also, for some inane reason, the 2nd row in the MDX (at least for the 2010 model, not sure if that was changed since) only can slide back/forth on one side, whereas both sides of the Pilot's 2nd row slide front/back, which makes it much easier to access the 3rd row (i.e., front both sides of the car) without having to fold down the seat and "jump" over the 2nd row seat.

Another big deal, for families with kids, is the fact that the 2nd row can slide back and forward, to create more or less room for the 3rd row legs or cargo area (if 3rd row seats folded down).

And, not paying premium fuel is nice, though to be honest, the gas mileage hasn't been so much better for us in the Pilot, though we have yet to take it on a long highway-only trip where hopefully we'd see a bigger difference.