Could anyone school me on Honda comfort/reliability ?
I currently have a 2007 Civic and a 2013 Pilot*. I have also owned a 2011 CRV, and a bunch of other non-Hondas.
Honda AWD is not Subaru AWD, but it's good enough for most cases. Honda handling is not fun like Mazda or VAG, but it's competent.
Honda 4 cylinders are definitely reliable, though the usual mileage-related maintenance and replacement is still going to occur.
Reliability was/might-not-be not so certain with the V6s and their Variable Cylinder Management. VCM was intended to improve mileage, but it actually fouled cylinders, and its constant activation and deactivation was very noticeable and annoying while driving. The VCM problems might be fixed, but I would definitely speak with some current gen Honda owners and browse some Honda forums before getting any of their vehicles with a V6. This goes for Acura V6s, too.
Comfort-wise, I don't like our 2007 civic. It sits low, and I feel every bump in the road (not in a good handling way, either). The 2011 CRV was good, but I put a lot of miles on it in a couple years, and I suspected it was causing me some back pain. The 2013 Pilot is a tank, and super roomy and comfortable.
I have heard people complain the the CRV is not really as spacious as they expected.
Anyway, YMMV, but Hondas are generally good value. The new CRVs with the redesigned rear look pretty neat to me. There is the new Passport to check out, too. The starting prices on new Pilots is way too high, but I don't really consider making one that isn't at least EX-L AWD.
* I bought the 2013 Pilot used, with low mileage. The VCM ruined 4 of the 6 cylinders. Fortunately it is a known problem covered by an extended warranty. The fix would have been ~$4,500 out of pocket if not. I love the 2013 (boxy) Pilot now that it's fixed.