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Large Honda SUV – Which Is The Largest SUV By Honda?

by Jordan Harris
Large Honda SUV

Are you on the market for a new vehicle and you are quite interested in a large Honda SUV? If that is the case, you are at the right place because we are going to cover everything you need to know when it comes to the large Honda SUV and more.

Getting yourself properly informed before you buy a vehicle is a key thing. And specifically is good to learn what the companies have to offer on the market right now. Knowing the models will save you a ton of time and money.

Knowing the models will also going to help you choose the right vehicle for yourself. Because every model is different in design and as well in dimensions. Getting the proper sized car will be the way to go since everybody has different needs. And in this article, we are going to understand precisely that how large an SUV do you need for you and your family. Specifically, Honda SUV since this article is about Honda’s SUVs.

Nevertheless, in this article, we are going to learn what is an SUV and we will cover the types of SUVs. Since there are a few types of them on the market. Then we will learn the advantages and disadvantages of owning an SUV. After we will cover the large Honda SUV and we will learn what is in Honda’s lineup. Lastly, we will discuss the alternatives that you can get. So, let’s get started.

What Is An SUV?

The abbreviation SUV stands for Sport Utility Vehicle. The SUV market has seen incredible growth during the past two decades. Once taking a marginal share of the sales of vehicles, know it’s one of the most popular vehicle segments out there. As of 2017, they are accounted for almost 37% of the vehicle sales globally. Which is insane, to be honest.

As they progress, it is highly likely that they are going to replace sedans altogether. Ford America even stopped manufacturing sedan vehicles in order to focus on this market. So, it is highly unlikely that you will ever see a new Ford Fusion or a Ford Taurus.

And other companies are following the same example into diversifying or simply said enriching their line up of vehicles that they can offer. Namely, Honda which produces a large Honda SUV, and other companies that are in this game as well. Basically, they all want their own fair share.

Large Honda SUV

Car manufacturers are building their platforms with this in mind to be able to make the same car under the skin, but the outside to be quite different and unique so it can attract a lot of buyers. That’s how they manage to satisfy people who want sedans or SUVs. Pretty ingenious, to be honest. But effective.

That’s why Honda also has a great variety of vehicles in order to make buyers happy. In fact, they have a couple of SUV offerings for each of the types that are out there. But have you ever wondered yourself what are the types of SUVs that are out there? Well, in the following chapters we are going to answer that question before we cover the large Honda SUV offering that is there.

Types Of Crossover SUVs – Large Honda SUV

As we mentioned in the previous chapter. In the following chapters, we are going to focus on the types of SUV vehicles that are out there. We will primarily focus on the US market spec cars where the large Honda SUV is sold. We will start from the smallest and then move on to the largest type of SUV. So, let’s get started.

Mini SUV

The mini SUV category is the smallest when it comes to SUVs. They are also known as subcompact crossover SUVs. Because they are a class below the compact SUV. Which translates into smaller dimensions.

These cars are perfect if you want to have a proper SUV in a small form factor. The Honda HR-V is one example of these cars. This SUV is not a large Honda SUV. More on that we are going to discuss later.

Nevertheless, these SUVs are more popular in Asia and Europe rather than in America. Since everything in the US is quite bigger. Even though, you can get an HR-V in the US as well.

Compact SUV

The compact crossover is quite bigger than the subcompact one. Also known as the C-SUV since they are based on the C segment platforms used by a variety of vehicles in the same form factor.

The compact SUVs are one of the most popular cars on the market. They offer both practicality and performance. Some of the examples in this class are the large Honda SUV the CR-V, BMW X3, Subaru Forester, Ford Escape, Toyota RAV4, and others.

Overall, if you want a large Honda SUV but still practical. The CR-V is the way to go. If else, we are going to cover in the next category what are your other options.

Mid-Size SUV

Then there is the mid-size SUV, the mid-size is also known as the D-segment. This segment was pioneered by BMW with its X5 in 1999. Soon after a lot of other companies followed and offered their products as well.

Namely, there are the large Honda SUV the Honda Pilot, and also the Honda Passport. These are the biggest offerings of Honda when it comes to SUVs. And we will go in-depth later in the article where we will cover their specs and other important bits that will be of crucial importance for you if you are on the market for a large Honda SUV.

Full-Size SUV

The crossover SUV is probably one of the most popular options out there. The full-size SUV is basically based on a truck platform. Most of them are so big that they implement a ladder chassis also known as body on frame.

These SUVs are the biggest and they simply described look like tanks. Representatives of this category are the Chevy Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and the Ford Bronco.

Enough on the categories, in the following chapters, we are going to cover the advantages and also the disadvantages before we cover in-depth the large Honda SUV later in the article and learn more about Honda’s offering when it comes to cars and their specs respectively.

Honda SUV Advantages

Let’s first cover the advantages of owning an SUV. Because since you are on the market for SUVs you probably want to learn the gains that you will have when it comes to getting yourself a large Honda SUV. So which are the benefits or advantages?

The biggest benefit is probably the practicality that you will get with this car. SUVs are so roomy and spacious that you will fully enjoy your SUV to the fullest. The SUV is much bigger which means that the cabin space is not comparable with a regular sedan. Your children are going to enjoy your new large Honda SUV. Not to mention that it is also pet friendly as well.

It is also good for off-roading. If you are an off-road fanatic then getting an SUV is the right deal for you. The SUV is so versatile and off-road friendly. Even though it is not a true off-road vehicle, it still has some 4WD capabilities that you are going to love.

Large Honda SUV

It is also good for road trips. You will have all the space that you want for comfort and also a large place to carry stuff that you will need when you reach your destination.

Other aspects are the increased ride height that allows you to improve your driving as well. You can see a lot further when it comes to SUVs and not forget the safety aspect.

The ride height is much higher than on a sedan and you basically are quite safer in case of an accident. That’s why a lot of people love these cars and want to get a large Honda SUV for them. But there are also some disadvantages and that’s what we are going to cover next.

Honda SUV Disadvantages

Owning an SUV has a lot of advantages. But there are also a few disadvantages to it. And in this chapter, we are going to list these disadvantages and help you out if you really want a large Honda SUV or not.

The first downside when it comes to SUVs when compared to sedans is the price. SUVs are considerably pricier than sedans. The price increase is owed to the higher manufacturing costs as well the desirability of these vehicles. Carmakers simply can afford to increase the price of these vehicles because they sell quite better than sedans.

Another downside when it comes to money is the cost of the parts on these cars. The parts for SUVs are quite more expensive than parts for sedans, even though they share a lot of the componentry between them since most of the SUVs are built on a platform that is shared with a sedan as well.

Another downside is the fuel costs. SUVs are quite bigger and can spend quite more fuel than other cars. This is owed to their sheer size. Especially if you are running a mid-size or a full-size SUV like a large Honda SUV. Since these cars spend quite a lot more fuel it is understandable that they pollute more as well. So, your CO2 emissions will take a hit if you drive an SUV which will translate to a higher registration cost.

The last aspect is parking space. But this is America, we don’t care much about parking space a lot since there is a lot of it at every corner.

Large Honda SUVs?

In the following chapters, we are going to cover the large Honda SUV topic. Since the HR-V is the smallest offering on the market. We will primarily focus on the CR-V and the bigger Honda Pilot and also on the Honda Passport.

We will cover all three SUVs in detail and we will list all the important specs when it comes to the overall size and also the performance that these SUVs offer. So, let’s begin.

Honda CR-V – Large Honda SUV

The CR-V is the compact crossover that Honda is offering right now. It cannot be classified as a large Honda SUV since the Pilot is bigger. But the CR-V is also quite big as well, later we will cover the dimensions of the CR-V.

Nevertheless, the CR-V started production in 1995 and is still produced. During these years, the CR-V has evolved into what is today. This model is one of the best sellers out there and it gained a lot of traction because of the modern and sleek design language that it implements.

It’s basically the best seller with more than 350,000 sales on average since 2014. Not a lot of SUVs can do that, to be honest.

The latest generation is produced since 2016 up until this day and is based on the Honda Civic platform.

Dimensions And Practicality

When it comes to the dimensions of this SUV, as we noted it belongs in the compact category. This means that it needs to follow some dimension rules to be classified as such. Because if it goes beyond those dimensions it will become a large Honda SUV and will compete with the Pilot. Which isn’t the thing that Honda likes.

This model has a wheelbase of 104.7 inches and a length of 180 inches. It is 73 inches wide and 65.5 inches tall. The weight varies between 3,307 to 3,514 lbs depending on whether you go for the RWD or the AWD model. AWD understandably is quite heavier.

The CR-V has a trunk space of 39.2 cubic feet and if you fold down the rear seats this space increases to 75.8 cubic feet. Which is quite respectable for a vehicle in the compact class.

Engines And Transmissions

With the CR-V there are two options when it comes to the engine. One of them is a 1.5L turbocharged straight-4 engine that is making 190hp and 179 lb-ft of torque.

Then there is the 2.4L straight-4 naturally aspirated engine that produces 184hp and 180lb-ft of torque.

In terms of transmissions, the CR-V implements only one CVT transmission. But what about the large Honda SUV? More on that later when we will cover the Pilot and the Passport.

Safety

In terms of safety, the CR-V delivers a good performance. On the NTHSA tests, it got 5 stars on most of the tests, except in the case of a rollover where it only got 4 stars.

Fuel Mileage

In terms of fuel mileage, the CR-V is a good performer. The 2.4L engine gets 25 mpg in the city 31 mpg highway and 27 mpg combined.

The 1.5L on the other hand gets 27 in the city, 33 mpg on the highway, and 29 combined. Overall, good car if you want to get good fuel mileage.

Price

The price of the CR-V starts at $26,525 for the base model and then it moves up for the more upscale trims.

Honda Pilot – Large Honda SUV

Now we came to the elephant in the room and that is the large Honda SUV, the Honda Pilot. Since the Pilot is the largest vehicle that Honda offers in this market.

It is not a full-size SUV like the Suburban or the Escalade, but it belongs in the mid-size category. This means that even it is that big, it is still quite compact for an SUV and that’s why it is one of the most popular choices when it comes to getting an SUV for yourself.

The Pilot was introduced in 2003 and currently is in its third generation. The current generation debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in 2015.

The new Pilot implements a sleek and modern design that looks particularly bold and aggressive. There are a couple of trim levels. The LX, EX, EX-L, and the Touring.

Dimensions And Practicality

Now let’s discuss what the large Honda SUV should have and that is big dimensions and practicality. The Pilot has a wheelbase of 111 inches. The overall length is 194 inches and the width is 78.6 inches. The pilot is 69,8 inches high. The curb weight is between 4,054 and 4,317 lbs depending on which model you go. The AWD tends to weigh a bit more than the 2WD.

When it comes to practicality. The Pilot exceeds in every aspect when compared to the CR-V. It is far roomier and more comfortable.

The Honda Pilot has a trunk space of 46.8 cubic feet. When you lay down the third-row seats, you get 83.9 cubic feet. And if you lay down the first row you get 109 cubic feet, which is rather good for hauling a lot of things in your SUV. This large Honda SUV gets all the checkmarks when it comes to practicality.

Not to forget that the Pilot can seat 7 to 8 passengers. It is the perfect vehicle if you have a large family.

Engines And Transmissions

In terms of engines, the Honda Pilot includes only one engine. That is the 3.5L V6 engine that is producing 280hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine implements a single overhead camshaft which means that it is a SOHC design. It also includes variable valve timing.

When it comes to transmissions there is also one transmission to choose from. That is the 6-speed automatic transmission. No CVT in this model, unfortunately. But who knows, maybe on the future Pilot there will be a CVT.

Safety

When safety is concerned. The Honda Pilot performs quite well for an SUV of its size. According to the NHTSA, the Pilot got 5 stars on most of the tests except the rollover where it got only 4 stars, and also for the frontal passenger it only got 4 stars. Overall good car in terms of safety.

Not to forget all the tech that this Honda Pilot implements. Features like blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic monitor, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, adaptive cruise control, and other important systems come as standard or you pay more to purchase these specific safety packages.

Fuel Mileage

Considering the size of the Honda Pilot, the fuel mileage is not that bad at all. The Pilot gets 18 mpg in the city, 26 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined. Good fuel mileage for a large Honda SUV.

Price

The Pilot is quite more expensive than the CR-V and the prices for these SUVs start from $33,725. And based on the options this price will increase accordingly.

Honda Passport – Large Honda SUV

Now let’s cover the Honda Passport. The Honda Passport is basically a Honda Pilot but without the third-row seats. This means that every spec is pretty much the same with the Pilot so, it is not necessary to repeat ourselves.

What is important to note is that you do not have that extra third-row seat. This means that there is more space in the rear for cargo. The load capacity for the Passport is between 41 to 50 cubic feet and when you roll down the seats you have the full 100 cubic feet of trunk space. The base price of the Passport is similar to the Pilot. Starting at $33,965.

Not to forget that the Passport also implements a sportier design with a blacked-out grille that looks quite aggressive and will increase your presence on the road.

Alternatives To A Large Honda SUV

When it comes to alternatives to the large Honda SUV, it is worth noting that there are other options on the market as well.

Namely, the Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-9, Toyota 4Runner, VW Atlas, Jeep Grand Cherokee, BMW X5, and more.

Honda SUVs: HR-V vs Pilot – Facts

  • Honda’s smallest SUV is the subcompact HR-V, which shares the Fit hatchback’s platform and features “Magic Seats” that allow the 2nd-row seats to fold and move in many ways.
  • The HR-V has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine with 141 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque, and a CVT transmission that replaced the manual option in the US.
  • The HR-V’s starting price is $20,820, and it offers good value, according to Car and Driver’s small SUV comparison, but it ranked fourth out of five.
  • The HR-V’s interior is comfortable, and it has a simple and easy-to-use infotainment system, but its physical climate control switchgear is replaced by touchscreen controls.
  • The HR-V has a ground clearance of 6.7″, which is not suitable for off-roading, but it has enough space for cargo and passengers, although the roofline affects headroom.
  • The Pilot is Honda’s only 3-row SUV and has a starting price of $31,650, with the Elite trim starting at $48,220.
  • The Pilot has a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, a 9-speed automatic transmission, and available AWD with multiple terrain-specific driving modes.
  • The Pilot’s latest safety feature upgrade makes it an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and addresses past reliability issues, such as problematic transmissions, making it more responsive and smoother.
  • The Pilot’s interior is practical, with lots of storage bins and cupholders, and high-level trims like the Elite get features like heated front and 2nd-row seats, LED lights, and leather trim.
  • Alternatives to Honda’s SUVs include the Mazda CX-9, the Kia Telluride, the Hyundai Palisade, and the Hyundai Kona, which scored higher in Consumer Reports’ testing and had better reliability in some cases.

Conclusion – Large Honda SUV

In this article, we have covered a lot when it comes to large Honda SUVs. We have learned the basics of the SUV market and the segments that there are. As we noted there is the compact class, mid-size and full size.

Then we have covered the best-selling Honda SUVs on the market right now. And these are the CR-V and the Pilot. We have learned all of the specs, but we focused precisely on the practicality when it comes to purchasing one of these.

If you are on the market for a large Honda SUV, then the Pilot without a question is the best offer out there.

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