Weirdly, this vehicle works best in SPORT mode with TCS OFF. I did a LOT if testing, and for these conditions I found SPORT mode was best because it didn't cut power. (It also does EXCELLENT donuts in that mode too!)
Same here in the 2013 ford edge AWD, we drive it in sand in the middle east we put it in S and TCS off it doesn't cut power But when The TCS on it cuts power.
@mtbrdude that's what I like about my Touareg. When in "off-road" mode, when you hold TCS for ~1 second, it turns off. But if you keep holding it for ~5 seconds, it turns everything off - and I mean everything, you are in full command of the car. You want to put it in 1st gear and hold it at red line? Yup, it's your choice. It's pretty much never needed, unless you want to do donuts, but it's good to know that the option exists.
@@mtbrdudeit’s funny because this extends to the civic si as well. Car pulls throttle back when it detects wheel slip so even if you hold the TSC button it doesn’t fully turn it off. You have to do what we call a pedal dance to completely turn it off.
Omg thank you for making this snow video! Out of all the vehicles I test drove, the Honda Pilot Trailsport got my heart immediately. I was ultimately between this and the 4Runner and decided to settle for the Pilot instead because the 4Runner was too slow and outdated for me (its infotainment screen kept lagging). The Pilot sits high up with A LOT of visibility, drives so lightly/smoothly, is spacious with the usability of a minivan, and has a naturally aspirated V6. It went over cracks and gravel on the road like nothing. Not to mention the high resale value with 55% after 5 years. Honda really knows how to tune their I-VRTM transmission because the drive train was incredible.
The 4runner Limited (the model that compares best to the Pilot) would have danced through that snow with no problems at all. Yes, it is severely outdated, but when it comes to quality and overall performance, the 4Runner leaves this far behind. Oh yeah, if you want more speed and power, add a supercharger and not only leave the Pilot behind stuck on the trail, but also leave it behind on the freeway.
@@wardellmercado8370 Well no duh the 4Runner would take this course with ease. The Honda Pilot’s built is more for on-road. The fact that it could fare well on this icy off road is still impressive. It’s the jack of all trades and master of none.
@@lane5686 But did you actually compare the Limited to the Pilot, or just the TRD Pro/Off-Road? The Limited rides differently on tarmac than the other models, but if you don't want the prowess of the 4Runner, why even test drive it then compare it to the Pilot--they are completely different vehicles....duh. ;-)
Had this car for over 6 months now and love it, so comfy and feels really good quality inside, the sonic gray pearl has had a lot of positive comments whilst we’ve been out and about!
The problem with that is that is not what the manufacturer recommends doing and not how many people would ever drive it so its important to test the vehicle at what is recommended and in some cases he will air down just to do a test and see if it actually handles it better or not because he has done it in some videos. I agree though airing it down probably would have helped but this is review video and since the manufacturer doesn't specifically state to do that you really should be testing based on their recommendations.
Finally Honda is putting the real goodies in their off road trim. That thing is LEGIT! That VTM system is awesome for pavement too. If I didn’t want the insane durability of a 4Runner, I’d definitely get this.
I bought the new TS because last winter was horrible. This winter it never really snowed at all. I wanted a TRD Pro 4runner but the dealer markups at the time was crazy. I don't regret my choice though. 99.9% of my driving is on paved roads.
TBH most forruners will see highway miles 99.9 of it's life. Even overland builds... Usually only go 5- 15 miles on a trail and have it take a whole day 😂.
You made the right call, I own a 4Runner, and I would much rather have the Honda as a daily driver. People buy 4Runners thinking they're going to go off-roading all the time, then realize they live in places with no off-roading and end up on pavement 99.99% of the time anyway, lol.
For a "mall crawler" the Pilot did well. With the right tires it would've made it up easier. Nonetheless great job Honda! Great video demonstrating this AWD system.
The 4Runner model that you need to compare the Pilot to is the Limited, NOT the TRD Pro or Off-Road. The Limited has full-tine 4wd, third row seating and a comparable on-road ride. And, even though the Limited has a true 4wd system, it only uses A-TRAC traction control and not lockers, so that is a more fair comparison to Honda's I-VTM4 system.
I hope this i eye opening for Honda/Acura. Seems like traction control is never fully disabled. This can be a double edge sword because they prob do it for safety, but at the same time, it can be unpredictable. Anyhow, this was the video I've been waiting for! The Pilot did great and no overheating. I have high hopes for the future of the Trailsport lineup! Hope Honda watches this video and makes the adjustments via software or during the refresh.
This is an amazing video. I hope Honda engineers watch this video on how they can approve. We need more competitors in the off road traction control world.
Just a correction on this iVTM4 system. This gen Pilot Trailsport sends up to 75% to the rear and then 100% of that to either side. All other trims are programmed to send up to 70% of the power to the rear. Well done on making it to the top. I didn’t expect it but you put in the work with what you had, great job.
As just a fun exceeding to cut through marketing jibber jabber: A dumb, old fashioned open differential can send 100% of the power to either side as well. … just may not be the desired side.
As a guy that drives a late model Ford F350 lifted and with 37'' tires, I'd like this one for a daily driver. Out here in AZ.. that thing would make sense, get the kids from school, travel and hit mild trails with as well as camp! love it! wish the MPG's were a bit better.
I wanted to see a vid like this with the trailsport pilot. This is very capable, with better offroad tires or chains I'm sure that you would have gone up from the start without as many issues. Great great video. Thank you❤❤❤
I have 17 Ridgeline and from my experience and from research the ivtm4 system works best if you keep under 3000 and keep steady , when you redline it it seems to use more front drive. But very impressed with the AWD.
4Runners are defintely offered with a 3rd row seat option. Only available on SR5 or Limited trims. I know because my 2014 SR5 Premium had one before I removed the 2nd & 3rd row for a sleeping platform
This is excellent. No more over heating. I was just telling my buddy about the Honda transmission on the 2024 Pilot vs the ZF he has with his Pilot. Its even, only rated for 3500lbs towing before dealer installed ATF cooler vs the Honda 10spd transmission seems to be 5000lbs towing without any aftermarket cooling. Also special with Trailsport with its 1 inch lift now its in 8in ground clearance territory like the competition like Highlander. Sure its not like Subaru ground clearance. But very respectable.
5000 only if it’s AWD The 10spd comes with transmission cooler already and all newer 9spd AWD have transmission cooler except the 6spd or 9spd without the towing package. The reason for not towing 5000 it’s because a non AWD or FWD CV Axle are not meant to tow 5000 lbs safety but I have towed 5k very short distance many times with a 6spd
@@reyperez3424 owners better check if ATF cooler is pre-installed or not. Atleast my friends Pilot (9spd AWD) do not come with ATF cooler. 2022 owners manual pg 516 "AWD models - An additional ATF (automatic transmission fluid) cooler is required to keep the transmission from overheating when towing more than 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg). You can get the additional ATF cooler at a dealer."
Always the best thorough reviews. Your mirrorless and drone camera work is amazing. thanks, cant wait to see the new 4turbo 4runner review -which is a loooong way from now, I know
Seriously, though, the best AWD system I’ve ever seen is the one I had in my 2008 Honda Ridgeline. It performed amazingly during Snowmageddon 1 and 2 in the DC area. Just phenomenal.
Here’s the reason why it cuts power even with the “traction off” just by holding the traction control button a few seconds won’t fully turn off all the systems, you gotta do that sequence with the brake pedal and the parking brake for it to make the traction control and VSA light flash on the dash and that’s when everything it’s off
5:54 "If you don't mind...the not great turning radius chassis of the 4Runner." The 4Runner has a tighter turning radius than the Pilot. 4Runner turning radius is 37.4 ft compared to the Pilot at 37.8 ft.
I'm in the Market for a new SUV. But I also want 4WD/AWD capability for light off-roading. I'm down to three choices. The Toyota 4runner, Mazda CX-50 and this Honda Pilot Trailsport. This Pilot is a very strong favorite. Thank you for all you do.
How would this compare with the Toyota grand highlander AWD? Felt like the Toyota went up the hill easier but was the snow condition easier for the Toyota too? Thank you!
Great Video: I would use the paddle shift Manuel mode and shift between 1st gear and 2nd gear watch the RPMS not to redline that's why it cuts off to protect the engine. 19:56
I've got a 2011 pilot and an Impreza. I feel like they are both very good AWD systems. The vtm 4 system is more sophisticated than the Subaru. With either vehicle it's important to have good tires to really take advantage of their capabilities.
Awesome Video!! Sad to see my own make and model vehicle struggle so badly over and over again. I do Agree, Definitely needs better and bigger tires for anything more than regular roads and highways.
For a while I was thinking about going for the passport. But with the pilot, I like the idea of having two captain seats in the second row with no middle seat. I don't normally drive people around but if I do I prefer having comfortable seats for them. I can fold the 3rd row down for more cargo space. Will probably never use it. Then of course the pilot has a better transmission and better off road ability. Hill descent control is a big win
Pretty good video. I prefer 5-7 minute videos that are clear, concise with no fluff and no filler. Make those changes and you’ve got a new subscriber. 🇺🇸👍
My wife’s pilot always cuts power in snow mode & we get stuck in the deeper snow When I use the sand mode in the deeper snow, it never cuts power & lets me keep the rpm’s up. I can always get us unstuck unless we’re high centered. I wish you would have tried the sand mode to see what would have happened. Great video
I thought he did try sand mode? At 13:14. It didn't help and he still lost power. I need to go back and look for that. I thought trail mode would do it, but it still cut power.
Wow, great test. As a 21 Ridgeline owner I have been very interested in this Pilot with it's improved clearance and protection. So, as usual, the Honda will be superior to the 4Runner or Tacoma on road. But don't you think even a base level 4wd 4Runner or Tacoma would have made it up this course a good bit easier? And for sure a TRD Off Road or Pro, which don't cost much more, if any? I definitely think they would not cut power nearly as often. Then again, on road is so important! Pros and cons.
There are other pros and cons, the 4runner is not as safe in a collision (it's safety shell is ancient engineering) and Toyota tech interface is almost always a generation behind
Excellent demonstration of its capabilities, thanks for the video! The power cutting must be to protect the tranny from overheating like you said. For a 3-row family hauler the Pilot Trailsport is impressive. I wish Honda offered it with all the Elite trim's features and another interior color choice, maybe the gray with orange stitching and badging would be cool. Call it the Elite Trailsport.
How is road noise on the highway? I just test drove a used 2023 Pilot Trailsport with 15,000kms. The cabin was so loud with road noise. I used an app with a decibel meter and it was reading 87-90 decibels at speeds of 100km/h and up. When driving around 50km/h it was much quieter (didn't record at lower speeds). Using the same decibel meter app, I recorded my 2019 ram at 65-68 decibels at speeds of 100km/h with an aftermarket muffler and oversized goodyear wrangler duratrac offroad tires.
I think this is one of the best of the offroady crossovers, just wish it had a bit more ground clearance. I was really torn between this and the outback wilderness when buying last year, and the 9.5 inches on the OBW was ultimately one of the deciding factors.
Hey Ryan, you might want to look into any “secret handshake” disable codes for VSA. The current generation Ridgeline and Passport have one that is a little bit like an old video game cheat code, but it does fully disable the traction control.
I wonder how this compares to an Ascent with comparable tires? Our Ascent does quite well with beefy tires and low psi. Tires, skid plates and tow points are easy to add...
That mpg is surprisingly low. I almost got one of these but you just can't beat the 3rd row/ cargo space of a van. I was pleasantly surprised by our mpg in our 19 sienna AWD. We average 24.5 and that's with the non hybrid version with an actual driveshaft. It gets better than the fwd 2012 we had before that. It did great in the snow as well with standard all season tires. Can't find the right settings for awd doughnuts though
My 08 FJ Cruiser came across a lot of these conditions and I just locked the rear diff turned off A-Trac and used momentum to plow forward. I was at a few Toyota off road events and people wondered why they couldn't climb a loose dirt hill, they had A-Trac enabled and it applies brakes to a slipping front wheel slowing momentum. Traction control features work great when a wheel is lifted off the ground and it brakes that wheel and transfers power to the opposite wheel.
Yeah they definitely did something to the rear drive unit to solve the overheating problems because with the older system from years ago you would have gotten an overheat warning long before you even made it half way up that hill. I only wish they would have installed this new unit in the Ridgeline along with the DOHC J35. Oh well I guess.
Hello Ryan, Thanks for the video. I'm from Akron, Ohio. Back in the 70's and 80's, before the all wheel and 4 wheel drive craze, we only had rear wheel drive cars. When I bought my first car, a 84 Buick Regal, my pops taught me to put a 50 to 80 lbs bag of sand in the trunk for weight, with snow tires of course. Would that have help in a modern day vehicle like the Pilot or passport?
not much if at all, the tires and the power management where the limiting factors, not the weight....if the Pilot was loaded up with weight there would be less effective friction as the traction control and IVTM cut power
1st!!! 😁 I wish Honda would offer options to allow to have a Trailsport equipped like the top of the line. For example why is it not possible to get the Bose system on the Trailsport? These were actually difficult testing conditions; it was probably cutting power to avoid overheating.
Interesting comparison to 4Runner. The TRD Off Road MSRP is $5k less with a lot more capability. The Limited would come with full-time 4wd negating the on-road benefit of Honda's system for $3k more than TrailSport. So really the only benefit of Trailsport is 3 more mpg and ability to seat 1 more person (as the 3rd row is too tight for 3 in reality).
The 2025 Passport has been confirmed to be a full redesign with the new transmission, IVTM4, engine, and TrailSport features from this Pilot making it probably the most capable two row crossover in the segment.
I'm really considering a Honda Pilot, if l'm honest with myself this is all the SUV need. love the fact that it doesn't have a Turbo and rather has a V6 NA which equals reliability. And also, lI'm not sure if I would be comfortable rock climbing with my brand new 60K off-road truck/SUV so who am kidding. If really want to go off-roading would just buy a Honda SXS or a Polaris and tow it with my super comfortable Honda Pilot
I’m not a Honda fan. I’m more of a night rallye stage crazed Subaru type. However, I’m pretty impressed. I would have bet dollars to donuts that joker would have overheated. Definitely seems more capable than its little brother. I wonder if the power cuts were to KEEP it from overheating possibly and it sensed it was coming so it cut power. Just a thought. Anyway, still impressed. Not bad Honda! Good looking rig too! Love the color.
Great video, thank you for continued follow ups on the Pilot Trailsport! I'd love to hear your comparison to the Land Cruiser when it comes out and you get a chance to drive it. I agree with your comparison to the 4Runner, I'm cross shopping all 3.
@@RRr-yl8zr Haha, absolutely agreed. Similarly the 4Runner is way more capable than the Pilot, but the 4Runner is way more dated than the Pilot. Land Cruiser looks like it will be the perfect blend of capability and modernity. Pilot is probably capable enough for my needs if I'm being realistic, but I want the Land Cruiser way more.
I would have opted for a Pilot over the Ascent (we purchased) but 1. Worse MPG. 2. Why in the world does Honda put a timing belt on the Pilot vs a chain is beyond me… nice tactical testing!!!
TRD 4Runners are around $75000 at the local dealerships here. With this $1000 door edging, $5000 warranties, $1000 tint, $2000 paint protection, $10,000 markup, $100 subscription to cat fancy, $3000 dealership college fund, $2000 commission fee, $1500 prep fee, $1000 synthetic unicorn blood oil. $500 for special nitrogen air, also known more commonly as "AIR" with a lifetime refills of "AIR" unless the Earth runs out of "AIR". $3000 car tracking, and other "fees" that are "non negotiable" Still less than their preorders on the Land cruisers which are $100,000 And what does Toyota do to help with these price gouges? Absolutely, Positively Unequivocally, Nothing.
Are you going to do a head to head with Outback Wilderness? If not, how do you think the 2 compare in terms of capability, and also ride comfort on the highway?
I have my Eyes on the Honda Pilot for a While and I really like the New Pilot👍👏👍...... But I wish Honda makes Hybrid model soon Comparing to Toyota Highlander Hybrid
اكثر شركات السيارات في الوقت الحالي اتجهت في التصامييم الحاده والجريئه بدلاً من التصاميم الأنسيابيه اشجع هوندا على تصميمها الجميل هذا الذي يواكب المنافسين في الأسواق الأخرى كنت اتمنى توزيع الدفع الرباعي في هوندا بايلوت ان يكون أفضل ولاكنها تفي ب الغرض و أكثر لفتني في هذه المركبه تصميمها وبساطتها ومحركها التنفس الطبيعي
![Twenty One Pilots - The Line (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Audio]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XCz7WUotXs8/mqdefault.jpg)
Weirdly, this vehicle works best in SPORT mode with TCS OFF. I did a LOT if testing, and for these conditions I found SPORT mode was best because it didn't cut power. (It also does EXCELLENT donuts in that mode too!)
I hate when you have to guess and play games with the computer to get the results you want. The TCS off button should be TCS off, full stop.
Same here in the 2013 ford edge AWD, we drive it in sand in the middle east we put it in S and TCS off it doesn't cut power
But when The TCS on it cuts power.
@mtbrdude that's what I like about my Touareg. When in "off-road" mode, when you hold TCS for ~1 second, it turns off. But if you keep holding it for ~5 seconds, it turns everything off - and I mean everything, you are in full command of the car. You want to put it in 1st gear and hold it at red line? Yup, it's your choice. It's pretty much never needed, unless you want to do donuts, but it's good to know that the option exists.
Don't want anything that cut power ,been fine with out it .
@@mtbrdudeit’s funny because this extends to the civic si as well. Car pulls throttle back when it detects wheel slip so even if you hold the TSC button it doesn’t fully turn it off. You have to do what we call a pedal dance to completely turn it off.
Happy that Honda has kept the V6 and didn't go to a turbo 4! Nice vehicle.
for now
Agreed. But wish they had a hybrid version for better fuel economy.
I wish they would go to a twelve cylinder with no catalytic converter
just got to put a VCM disabler device on it.
@@LoveLikeaHurricanehi do they have one for the new 2024 yet? This is a must
this video sold the 2025 trailsport for me. this is a nice NO bullshit video. Sir, thank you, I appreciate the honesty.
Omg thank you for making this snow video! Out of all the vehicles I test drove, the Honda Pilot Trailsport got my heart immediately. I was ultimately between this and the 4Runner and decided to settle for the Pilot instead because the 4Runner was too slow and outdated for me (its infotainment screen kept lagging).
The Pilot sits high up with A LOT of visibility, drives so lightly/smoothly, is spacious with the usability of a minivan, and has a naturally aspirated V6. It went over cracks and gravel on the road like nothing.
Not to mention the high resale value with 55% after 5 years. Honda really knows how to tune their I-VRTM transmission because the drive train was incredible.
We got the 2020 pilot black edition AWD love the vehicle even got it lifted 3 inches lol it's a beast
The 4runner Limited (the model that compares best to the Pilot) would have danced through that snow with no problems at all. Yes, it is severely outdated, but when it comes to quality and overall performance, the 4Runner leaves this far behind. Oh yeah, if you want more speed and power, add a supercharger and not only leave the Pilot behind stuck on the trail, but also leave it behind on the freeway.
Do you go to bed dreaming about Toyotas
@@wardellmercado8370 Well no duh the 4Runner would take this course with ease. The Honda Pilot’s built is more for on-road. The fact that it could fare well on this icy off road is still impressive. It’s the jack of all trades and master of none.
@@lane5686 But did you actually compare the Limited to the Pilot, or just the TRD Pro/Off-Road? The Limited rides differently on tarmac than the other models, but if you don't want the prowess of the 4Runner, why even test drive it then compare it to the Pilot--they are completely different vehicles....duh. ;-)
Great line: "It's OK. It's my road. I own it."
That was a great comparison showing what dropping a few pounds of preasure can do.
Had this car for over 6 months now and love it, so comfy and feels really good quality inside, the sonic gray pearl has had a lot of positive comments whilst we’ve been out and about!
Airing down if you know you’re going to drive in conditions like this is very important. Fun video. Thanks!
Yeah but Ryan knows most average users won't do that so he tests it that way on purpose
The problem with that is that is not what the manufacturer recommends doing and not how many people would ever drive it so its important to test the vehicle at what is recommended and in some cases he will air down just to do a test and see if it actually handles it better or not because he has done it in some videos. I agree though airing it down probably would have helped but this is review video and since the manufacturer doesn't specifically state to do that you really should be testing based on their recommendations.
Finally Honda is putting the real goodies in their off road trim. That thing is LEGIT! That VTM system is awesome for pavement too. If I didn’t want the insane durability of a 4Runner, I’d definitely get this.
Pilots are absolute tanks, no idea why you think the reliability is less than a 4Runner
A truly impressive vehicle from the factory. Just add a good set of aggressive all terrain tires and your set.
Seen better. Didn’t really impress and cutting power!? Great grocery shopping vehicle
@@martinr8278 it's not a rock crawler, every vehicle makes compromises, this one might do more things well than almost anything else on the road
and trailer hitch wiring. For $50k, that omission is annoying.
We bought the ‘23 Pilot Elite AWD and LOVE it.
Given the conditions, that was brilliant camera work .. to many people take that for granted these days- well done w
I bought the new TS because last winter was horrible. This winter it never really snowed at all. I wanted a TRD Pro 4runner but the dealer markups at the time was crazy. I don't regret my choice though. 99.9% of my driving is on paved roads.
TBH most forruners will see highway miles 99.9 of it's life. Even overland builds... Usually only go 5- 15 miles on a trail and have it take a whole day 😂.
You made the right call, I own a 4Runner, and I would much rather have the Honda as a daily driver. People buy 4Runners thinking they're going to go off-roading all the time, then realize they live in places with no off-roading and end up on pavement 99.99% of the time anyway, lol.
@@trailrunnah8886 I just heard a new term for this: "pavement princess." Made me laugh.
That 4Runner would’ve been a terrible choice for you then
Love my new 2025 Pilot Elite. ❤ When you have kids and want a little bit of everything with a luxurious feel, it's awesome.
For a "mall crawler" the Pilot did well. With the right tires it would've made it up easier. Nonetheless great job Honda! Great video demonstrating this AWD system.
I just bought one of these last week. Amazing vehicle. So smooth.
The 4Runner model that you need to compare the Pilot to is the Limited, NOT the TRD Pro or Off-Road. The Limited has full-tine 4wd, third row seating and a comparable on-road ride. And, even though the Limited has a true 4wd system, it only uses A-TRAC traction control and not lockers, so that is a more fair comparison to Honda's I-VTM4 system.
I hope this i eye opening for Honda/Acura. Seems like traction control is never fully disabled. This can be a double edge sword because they prob do it for safety, but at the same time, it can be unpredictable. Anyhow, this was the video I've been waiting for! The Pilot did great and no overheating. I have high hopes for the future of the Trailsport lineup! Hope Honda watches this video and makes the adjustments via software or during the refresh.
This is an amazing video. I hope Honda engineers watch this video on how they can approve. We need more competitors in the off road traction control world.
Just a correction on this iVTM4 system. This gen Pilot Trailsport sends up to 75% to the rear and then 100% of that to either side. All other trims are programmed to send up to 70% of the power to the rear.
Well done on making it to the top. I didn’t expect it but you put in the work with what you had, great job.
As just a fun exceeding to cut through marketing jibber jabber:
A dumb, old fashioned open differential can send 100% of the power to either side as well.
… just may not be the desired side.
As a guy that drives a late model Ford F350 lifted and with 37'' tires, I'd like this one for a daily driver. Out here in AZ.. that thing would make sense, get the kids from school, travel and hit mild trails with as well as camp! love it! wish the MPG's were a bit better.
I wanted to see a vid like this with the trailsport pilot. This is very capable, with better offroad tires or chains I'm sure that you would have gone up from the start without as many issues. Great great video. Thank you❤❤❤
I have 17 Ridgeline and from my experience and from research the ivtm4 system works best if you keep under 3000 and keep steady , when you redline it it seems to use more front drive. But very impressed with the AWD.
The system adjusts and cuts power regardless of throttle position. It just depends on the environment
4Runners are defintely offered with a 3rd row seat option. Only available on SR5 or Limited trims. I know because my 2014 SR5 Premium had one before I removed the 2nd & 3rd row for a sleeping platform
This is excellent. No more over heating. I was just telling my buddy about the Honda transmission on the 2024 Pilot vs the ZF he has with his Pilot. Its even, only rated for 3500lbs towing before dealer installed ATF cooler vs the Honda 10spd transmission seems to be 5000lbs towing without any aftermarket cooling. Also special with Trailsport with its 1 inch lift now its in 8in ground clearance territory like the competition like Highlander. Sure its not like Subaru ground clearance. But very respectable.
5000 only if it’s AWD
The 10spd comes with transmission cooler already and all newer 9spd AWD have transmission cooler except the 6spd or 9spd without the towing package.
The reason for not towing 5000 it’s because a non AWD or FWD CV Axle are not meant to tow 5000 lbs safety but I have towed 5k very short distance many times with a 6spd
@@reyperez3424 owners better check if ATF cooler is pre-installed or not. Atleast my friends Pilot (9spd AWD) do not come with ATF cooler. 2022 owners manual pg 516 "AWD models - An additional ATF (automatic transmission fluid) cooler is required to keep the transmission from overheating when towing more than 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg). You
can get the additional ATF cooler at a dealer."
Always the best thorough reviews. Your mirrorless and drone camera work is amazing. thanks, cant wait to see the new 4turbo 4runner review -which is a loooong way from now, I know
Edge of my seat! Love how you try all the combinations! Made Grandma proud! That Pilot TrailSport is super impressive! That trail was a mess!!
Amazing, Honda really impressed me.
Brooooo the video I've been waiting for!
Seriously, though, the best AWD system I’ve ever seen is the one I had in my 2008 Honda Ridgeline. It performed amazingly during Snowmageddon 1 and 2 in the DC area. Just phenomenal.
Here’s the reason why it cuts power even with the “traction off” just by holding the traction control button a few seconds won’t fully turn off all the systems, you gotta do that sequence with the brake pedal and the parking brake for it to make the traction control and VSA light flash on the dash and that’s when everything it’s off
Pretty impressive for what it is, a car. It did great, surprised it didn't freak out and throw some lights and over heat lol. Bravo, great episode
5:54 "If you don't mind...the not great turning radius chassis of the 4Runner." The 4Runner has a tighter turning radius than the Pilot. 4Runner turning radius is 37.4 ft compared to the Pilot at 37.8 ft.
“It’s ok, it’s my road, I own it!” 😅
I'm in the Market for a new SUV. But I also want 4WD/AWD capability for light off-roading. I'm down to three choices.
The Toyota 4runner, Mazda CX-50 and this Honda Pilot Trailsport. This Pilot is a very strong favorite. Thank you for all you do.
Pilot TrailSport.
It was almost like watching a thriller, I love how the safety of the camera lady in the back seat is taken care of :D
My 1996 Chevy Tahoe was the best in snow ever! Broke my heart when I had to put it to rest.
In previous episode with Acura MDX I missed Yours course. Pilot Trailsport is very brave in those conditions. Great episode. Greetings
I love the captain chairs in the 2nd row. The interior felt huge. Not a fan of electric shifting.
because of the cutting gas I will ultimately redirect my choice towards a Subaru. I canceled my order for the pilot. Thank you for the test.
So you just canceled your order because of traction control?
😂😂😂that was funny! Thanks for the laugh!
You said you have a Subaru in your past comments. Then in another comment you said bye bye Subaru.
Please entertain us.
@@ryanb8736 I change them 1 at a time. My goal is to keep 1 new one.
@@ryanb8736I love your research
How would this compare with the Toyota grand highlander AWD? Felt like the Toyota went up the hill easier but was the snow condition easier for the Toyota too? Thank you!
My ridgeline settings for maximum fun: TCS OFF, SNOW MODE, SPORT MODE you get most rear bias and power.
Can’t wait to take mine up in the hills or even snow!
Is it really 18 degrees or 18 percent grade? I suspect the latter.
Nice episode; thanks for sharing.
Great Video:
I would use the paddle shift Manuel mode and shift between 1st gear and 2nd gear watch the RPMS not to redline that's why it cuts off to protect the engine. 19:56
Thanks!
Wow, thanks!🙏
Ryan excellent video. How does Honda’s AWD setup for the Pilot compare to Subaru’s AWD system?Would you get the Pilot over an Ascent/Outback? Thanks!
I've got a 2011 pilot and an Impreza. I feel like they are both very good AWD systems. The vtm 4 system is more sophisticated than the Subaru. With either vehicle it's important to have good tires to really take advantage of their capabilities.
Awesome Video!! Sad to see my own make and model vehicle struggle so badly over and over again. I do Agree, Definitely needs better and bigger tires for anything more than regular roads and highways.
U did it dude… cool video
Picked one up a week ago . Great car
Pilot has a better transmission than Passport and looks better inside and out. It is a no brainer it is the one to go for.
For a while I was thinking about going for the passport. But with the pilot, I like the idea of having two captain seats in the second row with no middle seat. I don't normally drive people around but if I do I prefer having comfortable seats for them. I can fold the 3rd row down for more cargo space. Will probably never use it. Then of course the pilot has a better transmission and better off road ability. Hill descent control is a big win
Awesome video! Good to see real off-roading.
Pretty good video.
I prefer 5-7 minute videos that are clear, concise with no fluff and no filler.
Make those changes and you’ve got a new subscriber. 🇺🇸👍
My wife’s pilot always cuts power in snow mode & we get stuck in the deeper snow
When I use the sand mode in the deeper snow, it never cuts power & lets me keep the rpm’s up.
I can always get us unstuck unless we’re high centered.
I wish you would have tried the sand mode to see what would have happened.
Great video
I thought he did try sand mode? At 13:14. It didn't help and he still lost power. I need to go back and look for that. I thought trail mode would do it, but it still cut power.
Guess I missed it
Wow, great test. As a 21 Ridgeline owner I have been very interested in this Pilot with it's improved clearance and protection. So, as usual, the Honda will be superior to the 4Runner or Tacoma on road. But don't you think even a base level 4wd 4Runner or Tacoma would have made it up this course a good bit easier? And for sure a TRD Off Road or Pro, which don't cost much more, if any? I definitely think they would not cut power nearly as often. Then again, on road is so important! Pros and cons.
If you go see grandma a lot and she lives up on top of the hill, get the 4Runner. If grandma lives in the city buy the Honda.
@@RRr-yl8zr 😂
There are other pros and cons, the 4runner is not as safe in a collision (it's safety shell is ancient engineering) and Toyota tech interface is almost always a generation behind
Love this!
Excellent demonstration of its capabilities, thanks for the video! The power cutting must be to protect the tranny from overheating like you said. For a 3-row family hauler the Pilot Trailsport is impressive. I wish Honda offered it with all the Elite trim's features and another interior color choice, maybe the gray with orange stitching and badging would be cool. Call it the Elite Trailsport.
Agreed. I was debating between the two but on a long road trip id rather the elites better sound system and extra sound deadening
"It's okay, it's my road" lol
Huge flex😄
Love the trailsport, but am I going to use it on anything other than pavement.. Fits in well tho when pricing out online. Hmmmm
How is road noise on the highway? I just test drove a used 2023 Pilot Trailsport with 15,000kms. The cabin was so loud with road noise. I used an app with a decibel meter and it was reading 87-90 decibels at speeds of 100km/h and up. When driving around 50km/h it was much quieter (didn't record at lower speeds). Using the same decibel meter app, I recorded my 2019 ram at 65-68 decibels at speeds of 100km/h with an aftermarket muffler and oversized goodyear wrangler duratrac offroad tires.
Is there a way to absolutely turn down all the traction control systems and let wheels spin 100% ?
I think this is one of the best of the offroady crossovers, just wish it had a bit more ground clearance. I was really torn between this and the outback wilderness when buying last year, and the 9.5 inches on the OBW was ultimately one of the deciding factors.
Did honda provide a response to what happened during the previous test?
I've never seen a channel confront a manufacturer with the overheating question.
@@stingygunner watch the response TFL got when the new hornet failed during their slip test
Hey Ryan, you might want to look into any “secret handshake” disable codes for VSA. The current generation Ridgeline and Passport have one that is a little bit like an old video game cheat code, but it does fully disable the traction control.
I wonder how this compares to an Ascent with comparable tires? Our Ascent does quite well with beefy tires and low psi. Tires, skid plates and tow points are easy to add...
That mpg is surprisingly low. I almost got one of these but you just can't beat the 3rd row/ cargo space of a van. I was pleasantly surprised by our mpg in our 19 sienna AWD. We average 24.5 and that's with the non hybrid version with an actual driveshaft. It gets better than the fwd 2012 we had before that. It did great in the snow as well with standard all season tires. Can't find the right settings for awd doughnuts though
My 08 FJ Cruiser came across a lot of these conditions and I just locked the rear diff turned off A-Trac and used momentum to plow forward. I was at a few Toyota off road events and people wondered why they couldn't climb a loose dirt hill, they had A-Trac enabled and it applies brakes to a slipping front wheel slowing momentum. Traction control features work great when a wheel is lifted off the ground and it brakes that wheel and transfers power to the opposite wheel.
“We would roll, but we wouldn’t plummet to our death!” Comforting. LoL.
Yeah they definitely did something to the rear drive unit to solve the overheating problems because with the older system from years ago you would have gotten an overheat warning long before you even made it half way up that hill. I only wish they would have installed this new unit in the Ridgeline along with the DOHC J35. Oh well I guess.
Hello Ryan, Thanks for the video. I'm from Akron, Ohio. Back in the 70's and 80's, before the all wheel and 4 wheel drive craze, we only had rear wheel drive cars. When I bought my first car, a 84 Buick Regal, my pops taught me to put a 50 to 80 lbs bag of sand in the trunk for weight, with snow tires of course. Would that have help in a modern day vehicle like the Pilot or passport?
not much if at all, the tires and the power management where the limiting factors, not the weight....if the Pilot was loaded up with weight there would be less effective friction as the traction control and IVTM cut power
1st!!! 😁 I wish Honda would offer options to allow to have a Trailsport equipped like the top of the line. For example why is it not possible to get the Bose system on the Trailsport? These were actually difficult testing conditions; it was probably cutting power to avoid overheating.
So which is better the Honda Pilot Trailsport or Subaru Outback Wilderness?
That was hard but impressive 👏
Great pilot… adventure guy … cool test drive video …
Interesting comparison to 4Runner. The TRD Off Road MSRP is $5k less with a lot more capability. The Limited would come with full-time 4wd negating the on-road benefit of Honda's system for $3k more than TrailSport. So really the only benefit of Trailsport is 3 more mpg and ability to seat 1 more person (as the 3rd row is too tight for 3 in reality).
Also the part where 4Runners feel like absolute ass on pavement where 99% of its miles will be spent.
You can deactivate traction control in Hondas, but it’s like a 10 step dance with the TC button and the brake pedal.
I thumb up you for airing down.
The 2025 Passport has been confirmed to be a full redesign with the new transmission, IVTM4, engine, and TrailSport features from this Pilot making it probably the most capable two row crossover in the segment.
I'm really considering a Honda Pilot, if l'm honest with myself this is all the SUV need. love the fact that it doesn't have a Turbo and rather has a V6 NA which equals reliability. And also, lI'm not sure if I would be comfortable rock climbing with my brand new 60K off-road truck/SUV so who am kidding. If really want to go off-roading would just buy a Honda SXS or a Polaris and tow it with my super comfortable Honda Pilot
Id like to see the quattro system in the same conditions
I’m not a Honda fan. I’m more of a night rallye stage crazed Subaru type. However, I’m pretty impressed. I would have bet dollars to donuts that joker would have overheated. Definitely seems more capable than its little brother. I wonder if the power cuts were to KEEP it from overheating possibly and it sensed it was coming so it cut power. Just a thought. Anyway, still impressed. Not bad Honda! Good looking rig too! Love the color.
Great video, thank you for continued follow ups on the Pilot Trailsport! I'd love to hear your comparison to the Land Cruiser when it comes out and you get a chance to drive it. I agree with your comparison to the 4Runner, I'm cross shopping all 3.
@@RRr-yl8zr Haha, absolutely agreed. Similarly the 4Runner is way more capable than the Pilot, but the 4Runner is way more dated than the Pilot. Land Cruiser looks like it will be the perfect blend of capability and modernity. Pilot is probably capable enough for my needs if I'm being realistic, but I want the Land Cruiser way more.
Do the grand cherrokee. And wagoneer in these snow tests!!
I would have opted for a Pilot over the Ascent (we purchased) but 1. Worse MPG. 2. Why in the world does Honda put a timing belt on the Pilot vs a chain is beyond me… nice tactical testing!!!
Never going to match a vehicle with low range. My Armada would have had this over within 5 minutes. Great review as always. Thank you.
what about using the manual shifters to keep it in gear and hopefully not loose all your rpms
hahahahahahahaha
please do these tests with winter tires
TRD 4Runners are around $75000 at the local dealerships here. With this $1000 door edging, $5000 warranties, $1000 tint, $2000 paint protection, $10,000 markup, $100 subscription to cat fancy, $3000 dealership college fund, $2000 commission fee, $1500 prep fee, $1000 synthetic unicorn blood oil. $500 for special nitrogen air, also known more commonly as "AIR" with a lifetime refills of "AIR" unless the Earth runs out of "AIR". $3000 car tracking, and other "fees" that are "non negotiable"
Still less than their preorders on the Land cruisers which are $100,000
And what does Toyota do to help with these price gouges?
Absolutely,
Positively
Unequivocally,
Nothing.
Listen, that extra 22% nitrogen is going to make THE difference in tires 😁😁😁😁😁😁
Well, buying an extended warranty on your Toyota is a special kinda dumb.....
F that! No way I would ever pay a penny over MSRP for anything
Wonder how it would work out with winter tires.
Luv ur videos Ryan. Thanks a bunch. Have u done the new sequoia on thia road?
Getting a Tacoma Trailhunter later this year instead
Are you going to do a head to head with Outback Wilderness? If not, how do you think the 2 compare in terms of capability, and also ride comfort on the highway?
I have my Eyes on the Honda Pilot for a While and I really like the New Pilot👍👏👍...... But I wish Honda makes Hybrid model soon Comparing to Toyota Highlander Hybrid
To put the Pilot in context, wonder how it would compare to OG vehicles like a 1970 Scout or old Bronco in original configuration?
I've never driven on trails, but i love watching these videos, lol. What's the rationale on only reversing down the trail and not turning around?
Turning around on snow tracks is a guaranteed way to get stuck.
اكثر شركات السيارات في الوقت الحالي اتجهت في التصامييم الحاده والجريئه بدلاً من التصاميم الأنسيابيه اشجع هوندا على تصميمها الجميل هذا الذي يواكب المنافسين في الأسواق الأخرى كنت اتمنى توزيع الدفع الرباعي في هوندا بايلوت ان يكون أفضل ولاكنها تفي ب الغرض و أكثر لفتني في هذه المركبه تصميمها وبساطتها ومحركها التنفس الطبيعي
Mate, when did you shoot this, because the crispy snowyness is just epic
I think the pilot can be vs the Nissan Pathfinder
Vs the 4Runner don't think so
Does the i-VTM4 system send 70% of its torque to the rear with 100% of that to one side?
❤ Honda the Power of Dreams ❤