Buying a car is an important decision and one that tends to be based on the answers to a multitude of questions. How well does the car handle while driving off road? What type of city and highway mileage can I expect? What is the size and performance capabilities of the engine?
The answers to these questions can be found in a million and one car reviews today. They are the standard questions that car buyers are asking and therefore the ones you read about. These questions and answers pertain to the average car buyer who may be buying just for themselves or for part of the family. But what about your pets? Are they not also members of the family? Shouldn't their well-being play a part when composing your car buying matrix?
That's where we can help. Paws on Wheels is a new car review platform from the pet owner perspective. The partnership was formed between Bumper2Bumpertv, an established car review blog and TV channel with over twenty years of experience, and Petopia, an online web platform and resource guide for pet owners. As pet owners and pet enthusiasts, the founders of Paws on Wheels understand the challenges of buying a car suitable for you, your family, other passengers, pets, and luggage. We have established five categories that will help ease your decision and the information provided will answer those questions that you may not have initially considered. What size dog can fit into the back seat or cargo space? Will I be able to fit both my cat carrier and dog in the car together without being seated next to each other? Will I be able to tow my horse trailer?
Once these pet considerations are taken into account, the answers to your initial questions can also be answered through our forum. Each review includes a video or article that provides you with the complete overview of the car features, performance, design, and more! In this review, Paws on Wheels presents the 2017 Honda Pilot - the family SUV with everything you need.
1. DESIGN & PET ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES:
The legroom in the front is 40.1"; 38.5" in the middle, and 31.9" in the rear which is enough to put extra small and some small (depending on the type) pet carriers on the floor in all 3 rows. The Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control paired with a sufficient number of air vents regulates the temperature throughout the entire vehicle. Also, the panoramic roof, which is standard only on the Elite model, provides additional ventilation and gives passengers a chance to enjoy the scenic views and outside air. Roof rails with crossbars can also be purchased as an accessory, which is helpful when hauling luggage and equipment on long journeys.
2. PET CABIN CAPACITY:
The family size SUV has 3 rows and enough room to seat up to 7 passengers. When all 3 rows of seating are in place, the cargo capacity behind the 3rd row is 18.5 cubic feet. When the 3rd row seats are folded down, the cargo capacity increases to 55.9 cubic feet. When the 2nd row seats are also folded down, the cargo capacity increases to 109.0 cubic feet. This seating layout comfortably allows a family of 4 and their medium sized dog to travel together and still have space for storing luggage.
3. HAIR/ STAIN REMOVAL, & SCRATCH RESISTANCE:
The entry level models for the Pilot come equipped with a cloth and vinyl combination for seat coverings which is not necessarily easy to clean or resistant to claw scratches. However, a good preliminary Scotch Guard treatment could potentially prevent a lot of problems. The more luxury models come equipped with leather seat coverings which may be easier to clean but more expensive to repair when damaged. 
4. HANDLING & SAFETY FEATURES:
The suspension and handling has improved over previous models and a full safety suite is available as an option. Also the Intelligent Traction Management system helps during on-road situations where there is excessive moisture, sand, snow, gravel, or uneven surfaces. 
5. PERFORMANCE & TOWING CAPABILITIES:
The SUV is equipped with a 3.5L V6 engine; 280 HP; 262 lb-ft of torque which is sufficient for towing trailers. Vehicles with 2WD have a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs (1590 kg) which increases to a 5,000 lbs (2272 kg) capacity for AWD vehicles. And considering the size, the SUV has a respectable fuel performance and obtains 22 mpg for city and highway driving combined.
The perfect paws on wheels rating is 25 out of 25. Overall the 2017 Honda Pilot received a score of 22/25 which results in a 5 Paw-Friendly rating.
- The Pilot's design has more than enough space to comfortably seat a family of 4, plus pets, and still have room for bags and water bowls. Therefore the full score of 5 Paws was achieved in the Design and Pet Accessibility features category.
Final score of 22/25 results in a 5 Paw-Friendly rating
According to Bumper2Bumpertv, Honda has literally knocked the edges off the Pilot with its refined looks and features. This SUV is perfect for large families that include dogs, cats, and horses too. The Pilot delivers reliable performance that is paired with practicality, and is a good competitor for its class in the market. Click here to watch the complete review of the 2017 Honda Pilot from Bumper2Bumpertv