2014 Honda Pilot

One of the better midsize crossover SUVs on the market, the Honda Pilot’s throwback boxy shape affords a roomy and interior that can seat up to eight passengers (though the third row, which can fold flat into the floor for added cargo room when not in use, tends to be short on legroom). The Pilot’s 3.5-liter 250-horsepower V-6 engine accelerates smoothly, though not necessarily speedily, and gets reasonably good fuel economy, thanks in part to a variable displacement function that shuts down select cylinders while at cruising speeds. A five-speed automatic transmission is standard, with all-wheel-drive (AWD) optional. Handling is well balanced, and the Pilot affords a reasonably smooth ride over all but the most pockmarked pavement.