Station wagons are so yesterday and minivans are fading. But families still need a vehicle that carries kids to school and to games, hauls groceries and lawn supplies, and functions impressively when they go into vacation-mode.

No wonder, then, that the versatile Honda Pilot crossover sport utility vehicle gets gussied up with bolder styling and more luxury appointments for 2009. It certainly won’t be confused with a station wagon or a minivan.