I Sold My Honda Pilot After 6 Months, It’s Not Young Family Friendly, It Looked Great At the Dealer, But I Quickly Realized the Space Here Is Not Going To Cut It

SUVs are the hottest new car segment, but are they the best for families? 

If you consider the Honda Pilot as a family hauler, you may want to think again. It's an excellent vehicle, but it's not for everyone. Here is Anna's story on why she sold her new Honda Pilot after only six months. "Oops, you live, and you learn," she says.

Here is Anna's story.

Anna's video on TikTok (@annaelundy) reveals her dilemma. Her husband spent a ton of money on it for her, but she doesn't love her new Honda Pilot.

She starts by saying, "The Honda Pilot is a wonderful car if you don't have multiple kids in car seats. If your kids are grown and you don't have car seats, I love the Pilot."

Maybe you can relate to Anna.

"We have three kids, one in an infant seat and two in convertible car seats, and all are rear-facing. When you look at the Pilot in the car dealership, it looks great."

"Wow, this is a lot of space. This is a ton of trunk space. However, when you put the car seats in the seats and put your stuff in the trunk, you quickly realize the space here is not going to cut it."

"In the Pilot, I had to install all the car seats in the middle, put my kid in the back (third row), and then couldn't use the trunk. I couldn't load the stroller, I couldn't load groceries, I couldn't bring the port-a-potty. Miserable."

"To have all three kids in the middle was not realistic. I couldn't even buckle my son up; he can't buckle himself up; if he fell asleep in the car, I couldn't pull him out, and it was just hard." 

"The car seats in the middle fit, but with that being said, the middle console vents just hit the back of my kid's car seat. The vents in the third row were angled back, so literally no AC, and all they could feel was the cabin temperature." 

"We had to crank the AC up and wait five minutes before we went anywhere. Otherwise, they would truly smolder, and we have to always drive with the AC on full blast."

Anna went on to say that the AC on full blast overstimulated her to the point that she even cried a few times in the car.

"That's when I hit my breaking point, and I confessed to my husband that I did not love the car that he spent a ton of money on for me."  

"Another thing is that the cabin doesn't cool off as fast when driving in Eco mode. So, I had to switch from the Eco model to the Normal mode, and I was getting 18 miles per gallon. Not only was I disappointed in the AC, but it wants to rip me off and give me 18 miles per gallon."

Anna has buyer's remorse.

"To have just bought the car and be this unhappy, I didn't want to own it for the next ten years and still feel this huge buyer's remorse over it."

"So, my husband and I decided to sell the Pilot while still feeling on top. We lost a few thousand dollars on it, but we wanted a minivan. We are already looking at some that are well below our budget, and we feel good about the decision to see; we don't regret it at all."

"The Pilot was a really nice car. It was a beautiful car, but I have a feeling that I'll get in my minivan and never look back."

"My husband and I decided that this vehicle just was not as "young family friendly" as we had hoped it would be and, honestly, just really lessened our quality of life (not to be dramatic, but for real)." 

Anna has excellent advice for car shoppers.

"When car shopping, take the car seats to the dealer or ask if you can take it home first. I've heard of that before where you can take the car home overnight, load your stuff there, and make sure it works for you and your family."

A report from Kelly, the Car Mom Official, gives her advice.

The sliding doors are an iconic minivan feature. 

She says, "Sliding doors are a trademark feature of minivans and a game-changer for families. They provide easier access, especially when parked in tight spots or loading kids into car seats."

Car Seat versatility.

Kelly says, "Minivans, hands down, offer more versatility when it comes to car seats. A minivan's adaptability makes it the top choice if you've got multiple young kids in car seats. Minivans offer more car seat hardware and easier third-row access and are equipped with unique, family-friendly features. Full-size SUVs (like the Honda Pilot) aren't bad, but minivans have the edge in versatility."

Miles Per Gallon

She says, "Miles per gallon matters, especially for families on the go. With our Yukon XL, we get roughly 16 miles per gallon combined, while the Kia Carnival boasts a more efficient 22 miles combined."

Kelly's Hot Take, Minivan vs. SUV. 

"My SUV is preferred, but it depends on your phase of life. Choosing between a full-size SUV and a minivan isn't easy. Both have their perks. As a mom of 3, how can I possibly choose? Personally, I love the convenience of sliding doors in this phase of my life, but the powerful presence of an SUV can't be ignored."

Conclusion:

Choosing between a full-size SUV and a minivan isn't as easy choice because both have their significant advantages. It's important to consider the phase of life when making such a significant choice. It could save you thousands of dollars. 

My question is, why didn't the Honda salesperson who sold them the Pilot show them the more young, family-friendly Honda Odyssey? 

Here are what other commenters said:

75Kaybee

The minivan is the way to go if you have multiple small kids in car seats. I fought it kicking and screaming but loved my minivan and gifted it to my son to drive. 

Meagan_B

I viewed the Odyssey and Pilot when pregnant with our third. Choosing the Odyssey was the easiest and best decision! 1.5 years later and zero regrets.

Qball0077

I love my Honda Pilot black edition. Not sure what issues you had.

MandaB122

Loveeeeeee my pilot!!

Caitlin Kennelly

I said I'd never buy a van- yet here we are with a Toyota Sienna, and I LOVE it!

PEJF18375017319973111233

You need a Honda Odyssey 😉

Life in the Dannenberg House

Every mom not trying to by a minivan. I have lived my best life in my Toyota Sienna for 6 years and still love her.

ta198839

We did the same thing with the Toyota Grand Highlander…back to the Tahoe! Way better

Sarah snow

I have a 2023 Toyota Sienna and LOVE it. I didn't want a minivan, but it made the most sense for our family, and I've never regretted the purchase once.

It's Your Turn.

If you have a young family, what's your experience with the Honda Pilot? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my "10 Best SUVs For Car Seats" report here. 

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via @annaelundy