Honda ready to take chunk out of midsize SUV market

American Honda Motor Co. Inc. expects to sell 80,000 units in the first 12 months of production of its all-new Pilot midsize cross/utility vehicle, which goes on sale June 3. The CUV will be priced at $26,900 for the LX trim level and $29,270 for the EX trim level. More than half of first-year sales will carry a transaction price of less than $30,000, officials say. And while Pilot will compete with midsize SUVs and CUVs including the Ford Explorer, Chevrolet TrailBlazer and Toyota Highlander, Honda officials say they don't expect it to pirate many sales from domestic nameplates. The prime focus is import-brand customers and Honda customers who have “strayed from the brand.”