This year marks the beginning of the fourth generation of the Honda Pilot, which has upgraded technology, a new engine, more passenger and cargo capacity, and a more contoured external design. The new 200-inch long Pilot is more extended and broader than its predecessor, the previous generation’s Ford Explorer, Toyota Highlander, and Mazda CX-9. With the return of the LX basic trim and a decrease in the beginning price from the previous model year, the Pilot is again competitive with the base Kia Telluride and Palisade models.
The Honda Pilot has six trim levels, the lowest being the LX and the highest being the Touring Elite (EX-L). The Touring trim includes a panoramic sunroof, navigation as standard equipment, and premium sound. In contrast, the TrailSport trim is built for off-roading with skid plates, higher ground clearance, all-terrain tires, off-road shocks, terrain modes, a multi-view “TrailWatch” camera, and a specially tuned AWD system that sends more power to the rear wheels. The Elite trim is the range-topping option, and it comes with posh extras like a head-up display, heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, and an electronic instrument cluster.
The new 3.5L V6 in the Honda Pilot has 285 hp, an increase of 5 hp over the previous V6 (the engine’s 262 lb-ft of torque remains the same). All-wheel drive (AWD) is available on every Pilot for an additional $2,100, except the TrailSport and Elite, which come standard with a more advanced “intelligent variable torque management” (i-VTM4) AWD system. When properly equipped, the Pilot’s towing capacity increases from 3,500 pounds with front-wheel drive to 5,000 pounds with all-wheel movement.
The new TrailSport option adds sturdy skid plates that, unlike other casual off-roaders, can hold the Pilot’s weight, making it unexpectedly competent off-road. Even if it’s not quite as rugged as the Toyota 4Runner, this is the first contemporary Honda SUV that feels at home in the muck. It still rides well and handles smoothly on the road, but the heavier bulk makes it more challenging to maneuver. The Pilot isn’t as quick as the BMW X5.
The Honda Pilot is a reliable example of a midsize three-row SUV, seating as many as eight passengers. The Touring and Elite trim levels upgrade the regular second-row bench seating for three passengers by allowing the middle seat to be folded down and stored. You can remove and reinstall it if you have an extra passenger during band practice. TrailSport has captain’s chairs and a low second-row center console; all third-row seats are split folding.
Honda claims the 2023 model has more passenger and baggage space than any previous Pilot. Compared to class leaders like the Chevrolet Traverse and Volkswagen Atlas, the Atlas’s total load capacity of 87 cubic feet with the second and third rows folded is impressive. As previously mentioned, Honda provides a lot of active safety equipment for free, including adaptive cruise control. The redesigned Pilot now offers more space and capabilities at an affordable price.
Performance: Honda Pilot
Although the 285 horsepower produced by the new V6 is almost identical to that of the old VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) version, the Pilot’s acceleration seems a little lackluster, in part because it is now powering a somewhat more extensive and heavier car.
Although the Pilot has sufficient power for most situations with a three-row crossover, it may struggle with tasks such as merging onto a short onramp. The sport mode gives it a little more pep, but the increased responsiveness of the throttle pedal may make the Pilot jerky at low speeds.
The Pilot has a pleasant and responsive steering feel but is not a handling monster. Its supple suspension soaks up road roughness efficiently without feeling mushy and wallows only when pushed aggressively. However, the Mazda CX-9, the Kia Telluride, and the Ford Explorer ST are more finely tuned alternatives for those seeking a three-row crossover that ticks the “fun to drive” box.
The Pilot is unique among its rivals in that it comes in an off-road-specific model, sure to appeal to outdoor enthusiasts. The Pilot TrailSport is more capable than a standard unibody soft-roader because of its higher ride height, torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive, terrain modes, trail-monitoring video system, and other one-of-a-kind off-road features. It may not have the off-road capabilities of a Jeep Grand Cherokee, but it can compete with vehicles like the Explorer Timberline and the Telluride X-Pro.
Fuel Economy: Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot gets an estimated 22 mpg combined (19 city/27 highway) with front-wheel drive and 21 mpg connected (19 city/25 highway) with all-wheel industry (EPA), with the TrailSport doing around a point or two lower on both. While the Pilot’s fuel economy is less than most of its rivals at the lower end of the range, it is still competitive with the Volkswagen Atlas and the Nissan Telluride and just marginally behind the Nissan Pathfinder. There is no hybrid version of the Pilot, as there is for the Explorer and Toyota Highlander.
Technology for Safety and Driving:
Every Pilot has standard adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, lane-keeping, traffic sign recognition, and forward collision warnings. Additional aids like parking proximity sensors and blindspot monitoring with cross-traffic recognition swiftly become standard as you go up the trims and the vehicle’s price.
Recent testing of the outgoing model exposes several gaps for rear-occupant safety that 2023 must address. Still, neither the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) nor the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has concluded testing and ratings for the new Pilot. The Pilot receives the same “Poor” grade as the Palisade and CX-9 in the new IIHS test that positions a crash-test dummy in the second row behind the driver; among three rows, only the Ford Explorer and the Subaru Ascent have passed the new test so far.
According to Honda, the structural improvements made to the Pilot were aimed at earning the vehicle a “Top Safety Pick +” designation from the IIHS and a “5-Star Overall” certification from the NHTSA. When such numbers become available, we may provide a revised rating.
Comfort & Room:
There is plenty of space to spread out in the Pilot’s cabin, and the controls are simple. The second-row seats are spacious, can be moved forward and backward, and reclined. Plushier models have a detachable center seat that tucks away beneath the floor and its own set of temperature controls. When it’s time to go to the far back, the seats in the Pilot quickly move out of the way with the push of a button, unlike the cumbersome tilt-and-slide methods in some rivals’ second rows.
The two in the third row have decent legroom (32.5 inches, 1.2 inches less than in the Atlas but more than most alternatives) and can recline slightly for even more comfort. Extras like temperature control vents, twin cupholders on each side, and USB ports on higher trims are also included.
Up front, the Pilot’s “Body Stabilizing” seats are powered, heated, vented, and memory-equipped, making them comprehensive and supportive. You’ll need to become familiar with the memory button (which, to add insult to injury, won’t move the seat when the Pilot isn’t in Park) since the driver’s seat doesn’t like to remember its previous set position at the restart, even if “Seat Position Movement at Entry/Exit” is turned off. Finding what you’re looking for on the dashboard is a breeze thanks to its basic design and many obvious tactile switches and buttons.
Infotainment: Honda Pilot
The Pilot has a 9-inch touchscreen except for the base and upper-midrange versions, with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The entry-level variants have a more basic infotainment system and a 7-inch screen. The infotainment system in Honda vehicles is quick to respond, with a straightforward menu design and a flexible tile arrangement. The volume control knob is appreciated, but we can’t help but sense the cheapness of the hard buttons to the left of the screen.
The Pilot’s instrument cluster is a hybrid of digital and analog displays, with a tachometer shown digitally on the left and a traditional speedometer on the right. The Elite’s 10.2-inch digital display is standard equipment. In the EX-L and higher trims, the center console has a wireless phone charging pad and USB outlets in every seat, including the third row. Except for the highest two frames, which have a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system for an immersive, concert-like experience, a seven- or nine-speaker system is available for the audio experience.
Storage and carrying capacity:
With the rear seats collapsed, the Pilot’s load capacity increases to 87 cubic feet, placing it ahead of the Toyota Highlander (84.3 cu ft), slightly behind the Ford Explorer (87.8 cu ft), and behind the class-leading Volkswagen Atlas (96.8 cu ft). The Pilot, however, has up to 18.6 cubic feet of space behind the back seats, more than most of its rivals. A motorized liftgate, hands-free on the EX-L and higher trims, is standard equipment on the Pilot, but there is no power-folding feature for folding down the rear seats.
The Pilot has plenty of storage bins and nooks for your stuff. Slots and compartments beg from every accessible surface, while cupholders of varying sizes cascade down each door. The previous generation’s rollaway door has been replaced with a hinged lid in the bottomless bucket of the center console; an ingenious lighted shelf has been added to the passenger side of the dashboard; and there is now enough space for two smartphones to be placed side by side in the console. The Pilot’s Cabin is a veritable treasury of storage solutions.
Design and Style:
The exterior of the Pilot has been redesigned to seem more like a truck in an attempt to dispel long-standing criticism that it looks too much like a minivan. The Pilot’s appearance is a more chubby crossover than a scary SUV, even though the upright grille, squinty headlamps, and taller hood help toughen it up slightly. After dark, the Pilot looks excellent because of its standard LED headlights and the many gloss-black details in higher versions.
Rather than focusing on aesthetics, the redesign prioritized functionality by enhancing features like temperature control, storage, and seat reconfiguration. The screen positioning and gauges have also been updated, and some finer materials are available. The TrailSport’s cabin is attractive because of its wipe-clean leatherette and generous stitching and cushioning. Although it may not be as flashy as the new Telluride or as fashionable as the Mazda CX-9, it is more functional than its rivals.
Is the 2023 Honda Pilot Worth it?
The starting price of the front-wheel drive Pilot LX is $37,295 with destination, which is on par with the basic Telluride and Palisade trims but less than the starting prices of the Explorer, Highlander, and CX-9. It’s worth noting that the Subaru Ascent, which comes standard with all-wheel drive, has the lowest starting price at $35,120. Its degree of safety equipment is comparable to that of the Honda.
The Sport ($40,495) adds heated powered seats and blindspot monitoring to the already impressive standard equipment list found in the base and upper-mid levels of the Pilot. To get the bigger 9-inch screen, wireless CarPlay, parking proximity sensors, and a controlled lift gate, many buyers may consider the middle-tier Pilot EX-L ($43,295) the best place to begin.
The Pilot TrailSport is an attractive option because of its off-road suspension and high-tech video system, but it comes with a hefty price tag of $49,695 with the base AWD system. The Pilot Elite’s starting price of $53,375 is much more than that of the most expensive Highlander, Ascent, CX-9, and Palisade models. It’s topped only by the Grand Cherokee’s near-luxury trims and the Explorer’s King Ranch, Telluride Prestige X-Pro, and XLT.
How Much Does Insurance for a 2023 Honda Pilot Cost?
Insurance on a Honda Pilot won’t break the bank. If you’re a woman in your thirties with a spotless driving record, the national average premium for a Honda Pilot Touring is $2,009. Those prices are lower than those of the Kia Telluride SX ($2,081), Volkswagen Atlas SEL ($2,115), and Ford Explorer Limited ($2,217.
Verdict
The new 2023 Honda Pilot succeeds with practical and busy families thanks to its spacious cabin, ample storage space, high-standard safety technology, and easily changeable and accessible rear seats. Its optional torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and many drive modes make up for its unpopularity among driving enthusiasts due to its single-choice V6 engine and comfort-tuned chassis. In addition, a TrailSport trim level boasts exceptional competence with its high ride height and off-road hardware, allowing it to excel on terrain beyond accessible gravel roads.
