The 2006 Honda Pilot is the perfect family vehicle for people who can’t stand a minivan.

The Honda Pilot has long been the family sport utility for people who can’t stand minivans. It gets lightly updated for the 2006 model year, with a refreshed exterior style that takes it a few steps further away from its smaller CR-V cousin. The Pilot is also offered with a front-wheel drive for the first time this model year, which lowers the cost of entry to the SUV.

The Pilot is targeted at new-car buyers that want a practical, dependable, and powerful SUV with the comforts of a true family vehicle. It competes with the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Toyota 4Runner and Highlander, Hyundai Santa Fe, and Nissan Pathfinder. Honda offers the Pilot in three trim levels for the 2006 model year: LX, EX, and EX-L. All are available with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, which Honda calls "advanced four-wheel-drive."

The Pilot is powered by a single engine for 2006—a 3.5-liter V6. It sends power to the wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. The engine is equipped with a cylinder deactivation system that can disengage up to three cylinders to save fuel when not accelerating or pulling a heavy load.