2021 Honda Pilot now has 9-speed AT

The new 2021 Honda Pilot may be a mid-sized, three-row SUV with a strong V-6 engine and spacious enough to seat eight adults, but there's another option that Pilot is offering to its US buyers right now: a standard nine-speed automatic added alongside its six-speed automatic.

This nine-speed automatic goes well with its 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine (that has a 365 Nm of pulling power). It is capable of giving you a more responsive handling compared to standard minivans and mid-sized SUVs.

What's more, the Pilot's engine becomes more efficient, thus using up less gas despite carrying hefty weight.

Another bonus when it comes to more gears is that it offers smoother shifts and an easier ride, so driving this huge SUV almost feels like you're just driving a compact sedan. The difference here is that there's better visibility on the road. 

Honda has also decided to become more generous by making its once-exclusive top trims available to its new 2021 Pilot SE. It now includes leather seats, second-row sunshades, and a power driver’s seat with 2-position memory settings, 20-inch black wheels, roof rails, grille and front/rear skid garnishes, a foot-activated hands-free access power tailgate and a wireless phone charger.

The Honda Pilot is often touted as a family-friendly and versatile car. It's one of the few models in its class to include eight-seating positions (seven with the optional second-row Captain's Chairs), plus an available three-person capacity in both the second and third rows.

Its One-Touch Walk-In feature is a special treat that allows easy access to the third row--something that doesn't come easy for people who make eating at all-you-can-eat buffets their sole mission in life. 

Of course, we're not going to discuss Pilot here without the famous Honda Sensing, a suite of driver-assistive and safety technologies. Aside from the standard features, there's also an available 8-inch touchscreen Display Audio system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, CabinTalk® in-vehicle public address system, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free access power tailgate.

Honda's prowess on city roads more than matches its capability off-road. Thanks to its  Intelligent Variable Torque Management system (i-VTM4®) with true torque-vectoring system (standard with its AWD models), the torque between the left and right rear wheels are more distributed evenly. What's more, it uses an electronically-controlled, hydraulically-actuated rear differential to apportion engine torque between the front and rear axles.

The result here is excellent all-weather handling and neutral, accurate steering under power that's fit to tread in every nook and cranny that the outdoors has to offer.

As above-mentioned, the newest Honda Pilot with 9-speed transmission is only available in the US soil.

So, let us keep our eyes peeled for updates whether Honda Cars Philippines will be bringing it here. 

Photos from Honda US

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