After a bit of a tease in late July, it’s time for Honda to detail the changes on its 2012 Pilot SUV that has received a mild facelift as well as some mechanical and equipment upgrades.

So what’s new? Let’s start with the exterior. Up front, the most evident change is a new and more “politically correct” grille with a three-bar horizontal design that replaces the letter-box style six-sided grille insert.

The reconfigured headlights and turn signals, a new front air dam and optimized strakes in front of the wheels that improve aerodynamics, along with the fresh alloy wheel designs in sizes 17- or 18-inches round off the tweaks on the outside.

The front styling changes result in a slight increase in overall length (0.5 inches to 191.4 inches) while ground clearance stands at 7.97 inches, down slightly from 8.00 inches in the previous model.

Interior improvements include a different color theme for the instrument panel along with new graphics for the speedometer and tachometer gauges, a glossy black center panel for the audio controls that replaces the silver trim of the previous model, and a redesigned center stack that adds a U-shaped character line and different textures.

Honda added that changes to the body seam sealing around the unit-body connection points, and re-tuned rear suspension sub-frame mounts, result in lower noise levels in the passenger cabin.

For 2012, the Japanese carmaker also upgraded the audio systems on the EX and EX-L models to include a 2GB CD-Library (CD-L) and Bluetooth Audio Streaming, along with the addition of Bluetooth HandsFreeLink to those trim levels.

Under the hood, while it was expected that Honda might introduce a six-speed automatic transmission, the five-speed unit remains for the 2012 model year, as does the 250-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 engine.

However, combined improvements to the powertrain, chassis and vehicle aerodynamics result in a 1-mpg increase in City, a 2-mpg increase in Highway and a 2-mpg increase in Combined for both the 2WD (18/25/21 mpg) and 4WD (17/24/20 mpg) models over the 2011MY Pilot.

The 2012 Pilot is on sale now with prices starting from $28,470 not including an $810 destination charge ($29,280).

2012 Pilot Feature Change Summary

  • All-new front fascia, grille and headlights
  • New 18-inch aluminum wheels (17-inch styled steel on Pilot LX)
  • Upgraded interior materials and revised instrument panel with new center stack layout
  • Acoustic windshield glass (previously exclusive to Pilot EX-L and Touring)
  • Upgraded audio and available navigation systems
  • Improved EPA-estimated1 fuel economy (+1 mpg City/+2 mpg Highway/+2 mpg Combined)

Pilot LX adds:

  • AAC audio file playback from data discs to the CD player

Pilot EX adds or replaces:

  • 18-inch aluminum wheels and P235/60R18 all-season tires
  • Bluetooth HandsFreeLink and Bluetooth audio streaming
  • 2 GB CD Library (CD-L)

Pilot EX-L adds or replaces:

  • Power tailgate
  • Intelligent Multi-Information Display (i-MID) with QVGA resolution (includes backup camera display, album artwork display and user-loadable wallpaper function)
  • USB Audio Interface

Pilot EX-L with Navigation adds or replaces:

  • Upgraded navigation system with higher VGA resolution and 60-GB hard drive (includes 15 GB audio hard drive memory) and FM Traffic
  • Song by Voice™
  • Wide-view rearview camera with 3-mode display

Basic Specs:

  • Engine: 3.5-liter 24-valve SOHC i-VTEC® V-6
  • Horsepower: 250 hp @ 5,700 rpm
  • Torque: 253 lb-ft. @ 4,800 rpm
  • EPA-estimated1 fuel economy, City/Hwy/Comb.: 17/24/20 (4WD), 18/25/21 (2WD)
  • Seating capacity: 8
  • Passenger volume: 153.7 cu-ft.
  • Cargo volume: 18.0 cu-ft. (minimum), 87.0 cu-ft. (maximum)
  • Towing capacity: 4,500 lbs. (4WD), 2,000 lbs. (2WD)3
  • Standard airbags: Driver’s and front-passenger’s dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags; driver’s and front passenger’s side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS); and 3-row side-curtain airbags with rollover sensor
  • Standard Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) and an Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution and Brake Assist

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