Lighter, more powerful 2016 Honda Pilot

The third-generation SUV gets a sleek new look and plenty of slick technology for enhanced performance and safety.

Programs for new re-engineered vehicles pose a great challenge for the engineers and other professionals assigned to them: load the vehicle with more advanced technology, consumer-friendly amenities, and safety features required to meet stringent requirements, all while trimming weight from any area necessary to maintain-or ideally decrease-overall weight compared to the previous generation. The 2016 Honda Pilot development team, faced with said challenge, succeeded brilliantly.

The new three-row SUV is 289 lb (131 kg) lighter-the previous Pilot Touring weighed 4632 lb (2101 kg) vs. the new Pilot Elite, which includes more features but weighs 4343 lb (1970 kg)-while recently earning a 2015 Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).