Midsize SUVs are extremely popular and well-liked by consumers all over the Middle East. The combination of a spacious and practical cabin, along with a sizable boot and numerous modern features make these relatively-affordable cars pretty hard to ignore. As one of the premier names in the UAE, Al-Futtaim has just welcomed the Honda Pilot Special Edition. The Pilot may not be the most sold Honda model in the country, but its existence is very important for the Japanese automaker.
What’s the price of the Honda Pilot Special Edition in the UAE?
While the standard, entry-level Honda Pilot starts from AED 166,900 in the UAE, the newly-launched Special Edition model understandably costs a little bit more. It is priced at AED 171,900, though the range-topping Touring version remains the costliest of them all – coming in at AED 181,900. In terms of its rivals in the region, the Honda Pilot goes up against the likes of the Nissan Pathfinder, Ford Explorer, Chevrolet Traverse, Kia Sorento etc.
What’s so special about the ‘Special Edition’ Honda Pilot?
For the most part, this is a Honda Pilot as you know it. However, look closely enough and you will find differences that tend to stand out from the regular model – both inside and out. Walking up to the car, one of the first things you will notice are the 20-inch alloy wheels that are now painted in a sporty black color, which does look good on the SUV. Then there’s the front grille and lower bumper elements that are now finished in black, whilst the lower portion of the rear bumper also sports black trim.
Finally, the roof rails are finished in black, and there’s also the obligatory ‘Special Edition’ badge as well. On the inside of the Pilot Special Edition, there’s black trim to be found on the steering wheel, dashboard, door panels and center console. While there’s plenty of beige color to be found on the seats, doors and front lower console, the black bits do make their presence felt. Buyers can choose between 6 exterior colors: Crystal Black, Modern Steel, Lunar Silver, Sonic Gray, Platinum White, and Obsidian Blue.
What features does the Honda Pilot ‘Special Edition’ get?
Some of the features that the Special Edition gets when compared to its lower variants include a front armrest, leather interior upholstery, a 4-way electrically-operated front passenger’s seat, a wireless phone charger, remote engine start, and a turn-by-turn navigation system with voice recognition. Apart from these, the Special Edition Pilot also gets Smart Entry with push-button start, a power sunroof, LED headlights, a hands-free power tailgate, an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Active Noise Cancellation, tri-zone automatic climate control, and cruise control among a few others.
The Special Edition Pilot also comes with Honda LaneWatch, Multi Angle Rear View Camera, front and rear parking sensors, 6 airbags, ABS with EBD, Hill Start Assist, Traction Control System with Vehicle Stability Assist, Tire Pressure Monitoring System, and ISOFIX child-seat anchors.
The powertrain of the Honda Pilot ‘Special Edition’ in the UAE
The Special Edition of the Honda Pilot comes powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that’s equipped with direct injection and Variable Cylinder Management. The result of all this is 280hp and 355Nm of maximum torque, with the power from the engine being directed through a 9-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels via an AWD system. You can control the gearbox via paddle shifters and the performance using pre-programmed drive modes – Normal, Snow, Sand, and Mud. In case you’re curious, the Honda Pilot can do 0-100 km/h in over 8 seconds and a top speed of 175 km/h.
