After months of anticipation and a tease during this year’s Rebelle Rally, Honda has finally taken the wraps off of the 2023 Pilot. The automaker’s three-row, midsize mainstay for two decades now (the company has sold more than 2 million of them since 2003), the popular Pilot will keep its family-friendly format, standard V6 engine and bevy of safety features, but grow larger and bolder as it enters its fourth generation.
Amazingly, the new Pilot will be about the same size as the Dodge Durango at 199.9 inches long in most rims and 200.2 as the new off-road themed TrailSport. That’s almost half a foot longer than before, though it isn’t any wider or taller.
That extra size translates into even larger second and third-rows, and more cargo space too, and the old Pilot was no slouch in these areas. With 22.4 cubic-feet behind the third row and a hearty 113.7 cubic-feet with all the seats folded down, the 2023 Pilot challenges even cargo champs like the Chevy Traverse and Volkswagen Atlas. Second-row legroom grows by 2.4 inches, and third-row legroom by 0.6. To this are added new “body stabilizing” front seats, which Honda says reduce fatigue on long trips.
The extra size comes wrapped in a much more attractive shape than the frumpy outgoing version, which was entirely forgettable from a style standpoint. Does it have as much curb appeal as its arch rivals the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade? That’s a matter of opinion.
Inside, those Korean challengers still offer what look like considerably plusher accommodations, but from what we’ve seen Honda has taken some inspiration from the newly-stylish interiors of its smaller Civic and HR-V for the updated Pilot interior, which is likely to remain functional and storage-friendly. There’s a newly removable second-row middle seat that can stow beneath the rear cargo floor to create easier third-row access, and it can be stowed in the vehicle if it’s needed for added kids.
On the power front, the Pilot will keep its standard 3.5-liter V6 engine, but it’ll make a little more power for 2023 at 285 horsepower (up 5 from 2022). Peak torque stays the same at 262 pound-feet, though it does come a little higher in the rev band (5,000 rpm instead of 4,700 last year).
The former nine-speed automatic transmission is gone, replaced by a ten-speed unit that promises even faster and more accurate responses. Front-wheel drive is still standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) optional. As before, the new Pilot can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Speaking of AWD, 2023 marks a big evolution of the Pilot’s TrailSport model, an off-road-themed trim first seen on last year’s Pilot and Passport. This year, the TrailSport gets even more capability with all-terrain tires, a 1.0-inch lift in ride height for more ground clearance, skid plates and an exclusive trail torque logic off-road system, which Honda claims offers precise torque vectoring for slippery and uneven terrain. Hill descent control is included too, allowing drivers to maintain a speed from 2 to 12 mph depending on the situation.
It’s unlikely that the TrailSport will be a serious rival for SUVs like the Ford Bronco or Toyota 4Runner, but it still promises a little more talent at getting up that forest road to the trailhead or the lake. We’ll reserve judgment on its capabilities until we’ve driven it.
There are four other Pilot trims that correspond to past models (Sport, EX-L, Touring and Elite), but they get plenty of changes too. The base model’s former 5.0-inch infotainment screen is banished in favor of a nicer-looking 7.0-inch unit, but every trim above the Sport gets an even fancier new 9.0-inch unit. Analog gauges are long gone too, replaced by a standard 7.0-inch digital driver’s display (as seen on the Civic), though Elite models get a 10.3-inch unit. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, and wireless on all but the base version.
Honda Sensing, the automaker’s standard quite of active-safety gear, grows even more comprehensive, with Blind Spot Information standard (and its range expanded to 82 feet) as well as traffic jam assist, low speed braking control and traffic sign recognition. Rear seat passenger reminders and rear seatbelt reminders are also now included on all Pilots. Honda has also redesigned its camera and radar sensors, both of which now sport wider angles of view than before.
Expect the Pilot to get pretty good ratings from IIHS and NHTSA, though they won’t arrive for some months.
When Will the 2023 Pilot be Available?
Honda hasn’t officially confirmed it, but Pilots should start arriving at dealerships in time for the December holiday season.
How Much Will the 2023 Honda Pilot Cost?
Exact pricing won’t be released until closer to the Pilot’s on-sale date, but we don’t expect the new Pilot to cost too much more than the old one.
That probably means a starting price for the base-model Sport of around $40,000, with the top-trim Elite cresting above $52,000 before options but including destination fees (likely to be $1,295, as the Pilot is made in the same Lincoln, Alabama factory as the Odyssey minivan, and that’s what Honda charges for that). The newly-enhanced TrailSport should fall right in the middle of that range before options.