This research was the foundation for specific minimum performance criteria for the new Pilot, including travel through standing water nearly 19-inches deep, off-road friendly approach and departure angles (27.8 degrees front and 24.5 degrees rear, respectively), rocks, off road and paved grades up to 60 degrees. Components located underneath the vehicle are tucked away to avoid damage in off-highway driving and the fuel tank's evaporative canister is protected by a high-strength steel guard.

The available VTM-4 system with computer-controlled traction capabilities helps the Pilot meet typical off-road challenges without the need for low-range gears. (See powertrain section for full description.) The system is designed for "decision free" operation meaning that the driver does not need to actively choose when to engage four-wheel-drive. The system is always active and ready to proportion rear wheel torque as needed. For stuck situations in mud or snow, a driver-selected 4WD "lock" mode locks the two rear wheels together at speeds up to 18mph. Consistent with typical SUVs, the front approach, break-over and rear departure angles enable the Pilot to meet the medium duty off road needs of its target buyers.

Hill Start Assist
New for 2009, Hill Start Assist helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling backwards when the driver switches from the brake pedal to the accelerator pedal while the vehicle is stopped on a hill. Hill Start Assist automatically activates when the road incline exceeds a 10 degree threshold and the vehicle is fully stopped in any forward or reverse gear. The system uses a longitudinal G-sensor along with a wheel speed sensor and steering angle sensor to control the hydraulic brake modulator. While activated, the brakes are released when the driver depresses the throttle to make the vehicle move.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System
An onboard Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) warns the driver if the air pressure decreases significantly in any tire. The system helps reduce the chance of damaging a tire or losing control of the vehicle due to low air pressure. This is important because a slow leak, such as one that might be caused by a nail or road debris, might not be easily detectable but could cause loss of grip and potentially a blowout.

TPMS uses a sensor mounted on each wheel that continually monitors tire pressure and sends a coded signal to the TPMS electronic control unit (ECU). The process begins with a signal initiator located inboard of each tire on the chassis. The initiator sends a unique signal for each TPMS sensor. Then the TPMS sensor sends tire pressure data to the TPMS ECU, which compares the values for each tire's pressure against an acceptable range of pressures. When a tire's pressure drops significantly below the proper level, an alert will appear on the information display screen.

On the Pilot Touring model, the system can display the air pressure in all four tires simultaneously via the Multi-Information Display (MID). At the driver's preference, the MID can continually show the air pressure in all four tires. Regardless of whether the driver chooses to monitor the pressures, a warning will still occur if a tire drops significantly below specification.

Fuel System
The 21.0gallon, saddle-shaped fuel tank is molded of high-density polyethylene for low weight, freedom from corrosion and impact resistance. It is positioned ahead of the rear wheels and over the propeller shaft to help guard against collision damage. The shape of the tank is designed to diminish the likelihood of sloshing-fuel noise. The polyethylene filler pipe and fuel lines are lightweight, and resistant to corrosion and fuel vapor losses. A high-efficiency fuel pump is housed inside the fuel tank. The fuel-filter is a lifetime design that never needs replacement.