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2020 Honda Pilot Black Edition Review by Mark Fulmer



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For the Ultimate Raider Fan

By Mark Fulmer
Editor-In-Chief
THE AUTO CHANNEL


This is the one for all you die-hard Raider fans. First you find four like-minded buds who can pitch in $10K. Then you find just the right silver and black logo, subtle but not too subtle. And you are now ready to cruise to the games in sweet style. And don't worry about whose turn it is to ride in the third seat because it actually accommodates an adult.

The Power Game. The 3.5-liter V6 bursts forward with 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque - good for those short yardage 3rd down plays. Concerned about having something left in the gas tank for the fourth quarter? Be not concerned. The 9-speed transmission can get you 27 mpg. The black painted 20 inch alloy wheels and well tuned suspension will let you shake, bake, and juke around pesky obstacles with both nimbleness and precision unlike most other large SUVs.

The Look. The Crystal Black Pearl paint job and the theme runs throughout the interior where it is enhanced with red stitching on seats, steering wheel, and doors. Heated second-row captain’s chairs add to the mix, and both they and the third row flop down to create the well thought out and versatile cargo space that has always been a hallmark of Hondas. The large windows give passengers a widescreen view for scenic trips.

The Protection. You don't get a 5-star overall crash rating plus 4-star frontal and 5-star side ratings without a bevy of standard safety features like blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert systems, a forward-collision warning system, automatic emergency braking, a backup cameras with multiple views (which are extremely helpful to keep from curb-scraping those alloy 20 inchers - although someone needs to design inset rims). And by the way, the best protection from distraction problems with tech touchscreens? Use the voice recognition commands.

Overall, the Black Edition is a car with a style, an attitude, and a countenence. Good qualities in a SUV.