Curry Honda Yorktown

It's not easy being the mediocre kid in a class packed with straight-A students. This is the fate the Honda Pilot has suffered in recent years. The midsize crossover has been OK but not exceptional, and that simply hasn't been good enough to make it a compelling pick in a tough segment. For 2012, though, the Pilot gets some upgrades that should make it more appealing.

The most notable of these has to do with fuel economy. Relative to its predecessor, mileage improves by 1 mpg city/2 mpg highway and 2 mpg combined thanks to various efficiency tweaks made to the engine and body aerodynamics. These gains are enough to make the Pilot one of the most fuel-efficient models you can choose if you're looking for a V6 midsize crossover. Thankfully unchanged is the Pilot's agreeable ride quality and ample room for both passengers and cargo, with a third row that's spacious enough to seat adults.