I drove Honda’s $55,000 Pilot SUV. These 23 features make it perfect for families.

Although it boasts the same displacement as the outgoing engine, 3.5 liters, and a similar horsepower output, this is a very different beast.

This is the first Honda V6 in three decades not to feature the brand’s iconic VTEC variable valve timing system. The system, which optimized fuel economy at low revs and delivered increased power at higher RPMs, gave Honda’s engines multiple, distinct personalities in which the driver would feel a sudden jolt of extra power at high RPMs when VTEC kicks in.

It’s a sensation that has made VTEC engines highly sought after among automotive enthusiasts.

In this engine, Honda uses a new system that constantly adjusts its intake and exhaust valve timing. The result is a more linear power delivery and an engine with the lower emissions output that Honda needed to remain compliant with environmental regulations.

The new engine remains whisper quiet at idle and feels silky smooth as it revs freely toward its 6,500 RPM redline. It can also shut down three of its six cylinders when high power output isn’t needed to save fuel.

My all-wheel-drive Pilot Elite test car boasts EPA fuel economy figures of 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. Front-wheel-drive models get one additional mpg, while the TrailSport gets one fewer.

The Pilot’s cabin is not fancy. Even in its fully loaded Elite trim, you won’t confuse the Pilot for a luxury vehicle. However, you will find a spacious, thoughtfully designed cabin made with durable, high-quality materials and filled with useful storage nooks.

For example, the climate control panel on the front dash is a perfect blend of rotary knobs, physical buttons, and digital displays that make for easy, idiot-proof use on the fly.

In addition to a 10.2-inch digital instrument display, Elite and Black Edition trims also get a color head-up display projected onto the windshield in front of the driver.

The Pilot’s front dash offers occupants four different charging options with a wireless charging pad, a USB-A plug, a USB-C plugs, and a 12V socket.

At 200 inches, my test car is about three and a half inches longer than the previous generation Pilot and rivals like the Hyundai Palisade.

As a result, the Pilot boasts one of the roomiest cabins in the segment, with an impressive 114.3 inches of combined legroom and space for up to 8 occupants across its three rows.

Second-row passengers have dedicated climate controls and a bevy of device charging options with a pair of USB-C plugs and a 110V power outlet.

The two outer seats in the row are heated, but not ventilated like the front seats.

My test car came equipped with a large panoramic moonroof. Instead of opening up and out, the Pilot’s moonroof opens by sliding back under the glass over the rear seats. This allows occupants full use of the moonroof even when the roof rack is loaded with cargo.

The Pilot comes standard with a rearview camera, but higher trims come equipped with a surround-view camera system that gives the driver a 360-degree overhead view of the vehicle’s surroundings.

Honda placed the system’s activation button at the end of the windshield wipe stalk to the right of the steering column. This is an unorthodox but ingenious location for the camera button.

Higher trim levels of the Pilot come equipped with a smart, hands-free power tailgate that automatically opens when you kick your foot under the rear bumper when in possession of the key fob.

Under the cargo floor is a deep well for additional storage. The removable middle seat module is also stored in this compartment.

The Pilot’s compact spare tire is located immediately under this compartment.

All Pilots come standard with the Honda Sensing suite of safety tech that includes collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, traffic sign recognition, traffic jam assist, blind spot awareness, cross traffic monitor, driver attention monitor, and auto high-beam headlights.