The 2019 Honda Pilot's Tougher Looks, Other Improvements in Photos

We found the updated nine-speed automatic transmission (a six-speed is standard) behaved better than before the 2019 updates, delivering quicker and sharper downshifts and generally being less obtrusive.

At long last, the Pilot has an actual volume knob. The oddball, difficult-to-use-smoothly touch-sensitive slider controls are no more. The Pilot isn't the only Honda to benefit from a volume knob—the change is rapidly spreading throughout the automaker's lineup after the touch slider thing received widespread criticism. Good on Honda for listening!

As before, the Pilot offers three rows of seating. Buyers can choose between seven- and eight-seat configurations. The former is pictured here, wherein the second row consists of two captain's chairs, while the third row has a three-across bench. A three-across second-row bench seat is standard.

All of the rear seats can be folded flat to accommodate bulky cargo. If you're intrigued by the Pilot but don't need school-bus seating, Honda now offers the two-row Passport. It's based on the Pilot (the two are nearly identical from the B-pillars forward, and share the same wheelbase dimension) but is stubbier in length and features slightly different rear-end styling.

With its third-row seats raised, the Pilot offers 17 cubic feet of cargo space. That, you're probably thinking, isn't much, but most three-row crossovers post low-ish cargo figures behind their third rows.

To really haul, fold those rearmost seats flat; in this mode (pictured here), the Pilot can carry a whopping 47 cubic feet of stuff.

Fold the second-row seats flat, too, as pictured here, and that cargo capacity expands to a massive 84 cubic feet!

The rear-seat entertainment system adds a new feature for 2019: A widget that tells rear-seat passengers how much time is left in a given journey. Trust us, your kids will probably still ask you if they're there yet.