The 2023 Honda Pilot midsize 3-row SUV marks an all-new generation with more space, refinement, and power than before. We expect pricing to start at around $39,000.
The Pilot has always been a fine midsize SUV. The 2022 model was among our best family cars.
Now Honda has produced what’s likely to be its Pilot and one of the strongest choices in this category. Cabin space is abundant for passengers and cargo alike; seating arrangements are versatile; the engine is muscular. And there’s a TrailSport version for families who like a bit of adventure.
Made in Lincoln, Alabama, at the same Honda plant that has produced the other three generations of Pilot, this new model was made to ace all the current crash tests as well as meet higher safety standards in the future. It’s shaping up to win yet another of our family vehicle awards.
2023 Honda Pilot Pricing
We expect the 2023 Honda Pilot to start at around $39,000. The range kicks off with Sport trim and goes up to the plush Elite version, which should be about $51K.
- 2023 Honda Pilot Sport: $39,000 [estimated]
- 2023 Honda Pilot EX-L: $41,000 [est.]
- 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport: $45,000 [est.]
- 2023 Honda Pilot Touring: $48,000 [est.]
- 2023 Honda Pilot Elite: $51,000 [est.]
For comparison, the Subaru Ascent, Chevrolet Traverse, and Hyundai Palisade all start in the mid-30s. The Kia Telluride is priced from $35.7K, with the Toyota Highlander at $36.4K, and the Ford Explorer at around $36.8K. Slightly more upscale and with an off-road heritage, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L begins at $43K.
Before buying a new Pilot midsize SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should really pay. This latest generation of Pilot will no doubt follow in the impressive tire tracks of its predecessor by retaining value at a rate that’s comfortably above average.
What’s New for 2023
Welcome to Generation Four of the Honda Pilot midsize 3-row SUV. It’s bigger, more versatile, and more powerful than before. And it has greater off-road abilities in the TrailSport model.
Driving the 2023 Honda Pilot
Our first taste of the redesigned Pilot came in the new TrailSport version, and only on a trail. But we can already tell that the 285-horsepower V6 engine is more than up to the task.
The TrailSport isn’t meant for the extreme rock-climbing heroics that a Jeep Wrangler could handle, but it’s arguably the truest off-roader among its closest competitors. It has its own special suspension set up for greater axle articulation and wheel travel than a regular tarmac-spec new Pilot, and rides an inch higher. This makes it a comfortable drive, even over rough surfaces.
The TrailSport’s all-wheel drive system can send 70% of torque to the rear wheels — with the ability to send all of that to just one wheel if the other is losing grip and traction.
Active noise cancellation is standard, while Honda has also paid particular attention to sound insulation in the quest for a quiet cabin. Not even the all-terrain tires of the TrailSport model should be intrusive.
We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of midsize 3-row SUVs, including early versions of this new Pilot.
Effective Interior
During our brief first acquaintance with the 2023 Pilot SUV in the top Elite trim, the front seats felt well-shaped and supportive, like they would be comfortable throughout a long journey.
Honda claims class-leading interior space. It certainly seems expansive enough in all three rows. Legroom in the second row is now 40.8 inches, about half an inch more than the Kia Telluride. The company has also improved space and comfort in the third row. The 2023 Pilot can accommodate a total of eight occupants.
One clever feature in the Touring and Elite trims is a removable middle seat in the second row, making third-row access even easier. When not in use, the seat folds up and fits into a dedicated space beneath the cargo floor. It weighs about 35 pounds and should be fairly easy to click in or out of its position.
On the subject of cargo space, the new Pilot has more than ever: 22.4 cubic feet behind the third row, filling out to 113.7 cubic feet behind the front seats. That’s massive.
The Pilot has 14 cup holders, eight of which can handle 32-ounce bottles. And the storage space in the center console can take a tablet, such as an iPad.
Naturally, the Elite version has fine materials like perforated leather seating surfaces, as well as plenty of tech. But the mid-pack TrailSport model is also well-appointed.
Fresh Exterior
Honda has been busy launching fresh HR-V, CR-V, Civic, and Accord generations. Now there’s the new Pilot midsize 3-row SUV. As well as their modernity, they all share another trait — bold new looks.
The company’s latest design approach steers away from the anonymity of older models in favor of greater presence. On the Pilot, this makes itself apparent with the upright grille, large clamshell hood, and flared fenders.
Diffused Sky Blue is an exclusive paint color for the TrailSport. A new set of options from the Honda Performance Development [HPD] division includes bronze-finished alloy wheels.
On a more practical note, the new Pilot is 3.4 inches longer overall than the outgoing model, with most of that creating a longer wheelbase [the distance between the axles]. The result is more interior space, as well as the potential for a better ride quality.
Our Favorite Features and Tech
Finger rest
The trouble with touchscreens is that you have to touch them. You could drive over a bump and suddenly end up with Liszt when you wanted Lizzo [or the other way around]. The touchscreens in the new Pilot [7-inch in the Sport, 9-inch in the rest of the range] are recessed into the dashboard by
almost an inch, giving users something to rest their hands while making inputs.
Digital instrument cluster
Every new Pilot SUV comes with a digital driver information display, although it’s the highest Elite trim that has the biggest, a 10.2-inch unit. The others have a 7-inch display with an analog speedometer. They’re both customizable to show whatever information the driver requires.
Traffic Jam Assist
Operating at speeds below 45 mph,
Traffic Jam Assist adds small steering movements to keep the Pilot in its lane. It’s a new feature for a Honda Pilot, also standard.
Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto
Only the base Sport trim requires a cable, while the rest of the 2023 Pilot range has wireless smartphone integration as standard. We just love the convenience.
Wireless charging
Fitted as standard in the four upper trims. It’s great to see features like this making their way
out of expensive vehicles and into more affordable rides.
Under-body protection
The TrailSport has thick steel plates for the gas tank, transmission, and oil pan, built to withstand the entire weight of the vehicle dropping directly onto a rock.
Engine & Transmission
Same, but different. The 2023 Pilot SUV has a naturally aspirated [no turbos or superchargers] 3.5-liter V6, just like its predecessors. But this is a new engine, making more power than any Pilot has enjoyed before.
Output is 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. Honda is renowned for making smooth and refined V6 engines, and this one is pleasantly muscular. But some rivals have more. The Kia Telluride, for example, makes 291 horsepower, and the Chevy Traverse brings 310 ponies to the races.
Replacing a 9-speed transmission, a new 10-speed automatic transmission in the 2023 Pilot feeds power to the front wheels [FWD] in basic form, or to an all-wheel drive [AWD] system that’s standard in the TrailSport and Elite trims, optional elsewhere.
Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, which is easily enough for a trailer with an ATV or a couple of dirt bikes, that kind of thing.
3.5-liter V6
285 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
262 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: TBA
3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty
The basic new-vehicle warranty from Honda is for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain has its own coverage of 5 years or 60,000 miles. These arrangements are typical for the class. Honda includes 2 years or 24,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance as well.
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