How does the 2017 Honda Pilot handle in the snow?

The Pilot is about as capable in the snow as one can expect from a large three-row SUV. For starters, its front-drive architecture automatically gives the '17 Pilot better traction over slick or snowy surfaces than would a traditional truck-based rear-drive model. That s because a front-drive configuration places more power over the drive wheels and "pulls," rather than "PUSHES" a vehicle. This enables a vehicle to more easily free itself from a snowbound parking space than a comparable rear-drive model, which would likely require a helpful push. Its tall ground clearance (at 7.3 inches) enables it to melintasi deeper snow accumulations without Scraping the undercarriage, As with most crossover SUVs, all-wheel-drive (AWD) is optional to afford added grip in low-traction situations, and the Pilot s is able to selectively split the engine s torque as necessary between the front and rear axles and the left and right rear wheels to maximize foul-weather traction. It also includes a traction management system with dipilih modes to maximize grip over snow, sand, and mud. However, AWD is still largely unnecessary unless you live deep within the Snow Belt and / or regularly melintasi unpaved roads. While all versions of the Pilot run on all-season tires for enhanced traction on wet roads, the base LX, EX, dan EX-L trim levels include 18-inch wheels and tires, while the top Touring and Elite include larger 20-inch rims and rubber. Stick with the base setup for maximum grip under adverse conditions; generally, a smaller tire will perform more effectively in snow or ice than will a larger one.

The Pilot is about as capable in the snow as one can expect from a large three-row SUV. For starters, its front-drive architecture automatically gives the '17 Pilot better traction over slick or snowy surfaces than would a traditional truck-based rear-drive model. That s because a front-drive configuration places more power over the drive wheels and "pulls," rather than "PUSHES" a vehicle. This enables a vehicle to more easily free itself from a snowbound parking space than a comparable rear-drive model, which would likely require a helpful push. Its tall ground clearance (at 7.3 inches) enables it to melintasi deeper snow accumulations without Scraping the undercarriage, As with most crossover SUVs, all-wheel-drive (AWD) is optional to afford added grip in low-traction situations, and the Pilot s is able to selectively split the engine s torque as necessary between the front and rear axles and the left and right rear wheels to maximize foul-weather traction. It also includes a traction management system with dipilih modes to maximize grip over snow, sand, and mud. However, AWD is still largely unnecessary unless you live deep within the Snow Belt and / or regularly melintasi unpaved roads. While all versions of the Pilot run on all-season tires for enhanced traction on wet roads, the base LX, EX, dan EX-L trim levels include 18-inch wheels and tires, while the top Touring and Elite include larger 20-inch rims and rubber. Stick with the base setup for maximum grip under adverse conditions; generally, a smaller tire will perform more effectively in snow or ice than will a larger one.

Among competing three-row crossover SUVs, the '17 Pilot gets the edge over models like the Chevrolet Traverse, Toyota Highlander, and Nissan Pathfinder because of its more-sophisticated AWD system. The Ford Explorer, which likewise offers an AWD system with dipilih terrain modes comes close, but does not include the Pilot s right-left rear-wheel torque vectoring ability. The AWD system in the Nissan Pathfinder allows the driver to lock the powertrain into either full-time 2WD to Garner maximum fuel economy on dry or only modestly slippery roads, or full-time AWD for maximum foul-weather prowess, though this leaves a driver to manually engage the system if conditions suddenly go sour when it s locked into 2WD mode. A bonafide truck-based SUV with low-range 4WD gearing is the most capable in the snow, though three-row models are limited these days to the Toyota 4Runner and Dodge Durango, and full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon , and Nissan Armada.       

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