2023 Honda Pilot
Overview
An all-new generation of Honda’s three-row Pilot SUV has launched for the 2023 model year and it’s been improved from grille to tailgate. The new Pilot’s styling is boxier and more truck-like this time around, which gives it a more rugged overall appearance. A 285-hp 3.5-liter V-6 and a 10-speed automatic are standard and come with either front- or all-wheel drive. The interior can be set up with room for seven or eight passengers, with upscale Touring and Elite models coming standard with a panoramic sunroof and a 12-speaker Bose stereo system. An off-road-oriented TrailSport variant sits at the middle of the lineup and offers all-terrain tires on unique 18-inch wheels and tweaks to the all-wheel-drive system that allow for more torque transfer to the rear wheels. Its off-road capability and newfound on-road refinement and updated features make it easier for the Pilot to challenge segment leaders such as the Kia Telluride, the Hyundai Palisade, and the Jeep Grand Cherokee L.
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What’s New for 2023?
The Pilot has been entirely redesigned for 2023, complete with updated styling to match the newest models in the Honda lineup, such as the smaller CR-V SUV and the Civic compact sedan and hatchback.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
We recommend the Pilot EX-L due to its balance of price and features. The EX-L trim adds leather seats, the bigger 9.0-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smartphone charging, and a power tailgate. Whether or not you need all-wheel drive is a matter of personal preference. For us, we think the increased towing capacity is worth the money.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Like the 2022 Pilot, the all-new 2023 model comes with a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. However, in the new generation SUV, it makes 285 horsepower, a 5-hp increase over last year. The 2023 Pilot has ditched the old nine-speed automatic transmission for a new 10-speed unit, although the SUV remains a front-wheel-drive-based model with all-wheel drive available as an option. While the updated V-6 engine doesn’t make the Pilot feel much quicker than the last generation model, its throttle response is improved and the 10-speed automatic’s shifts are nice and smooth. On-road refinement is improved over the 2022 model as well, with more confidence-inspiring steering and braking. The most rugged Trailsport model proved itself capable of the moderately-difficult terrain we encountered on real-world off-road trails near Breckenridge, Colorado, and again in Sedona, Arizona. But Honda hasn’t created a rock-crawling super-machine that’s intended to tackle Moab alongside Broncos, Wranglers, and 4Runners. The Pilot Trailsport has a special suspension with a 1.0-inch lift, steel skid plates, all-terrain tires, a hill-descent control system, and a specially tuned all-wheel drive system with a Trail driving mode.
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
The EPA estimates that the Pilot is good for up to 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway. We’ve tested a 2023 Pilot Trailsport, with its beefier all-terrain tires and added off-road armor on our 75-mph highway fuel economy route, and it returned 22 mpg. That’s just shy of other V-6-powered three-row SUVs such as the Kia Telluride and 2023 Volkswagen Atlas that returned 24 mpg. For more information about the Pilot’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Being a family-friendly SUV, the 2023 Pilot’s cabin is designed with that use case in mind. All models are capable of sitting up to eight in the three rows but the EX-L trim can be had with optional second-row captain’s chairs that reduce passenger capacity to seven; captain’s chairs are standard on the TrailSport. The Touring and Elite models come with a second-row seat design where the middle seat portion can be removed and stored under the floor in the cargo area when not needed. Honda boasts that eight of the Pilot’s cupholders are capable of holding big 32-ounce water bottles and that its cargo area is more voluminous than ever before. When we get a chance, we’ll see for ourselves how many suitcases can fit inside the Pilot’s cargo area and update this story with test results.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
A 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and an accompanying 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster are standard on the 2023 Pilot. Honda’s latest infotainment interface is easy to use and features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. TrailSport, Touring, and Elite models get a larger 9.0-inch infotainment display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability; the Elite also comes with a 10.2-inch gauge cluster. Honda hasn’t said what the standard stereo will be in the Pilot, but the Touring and Elite models come with a 12-speaker setup from Bose.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
Honda equips all Pilot models with a comprehensive suite of driver-assistance features it calls Honda Sensing. The bundle includes automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, automatic high-beam headlamps, and more. For more information about the Pilot’s crash test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
Honda’s warranty is entirely average for its class. Hyundai, for example, offers one that’s significantly longer. All 2023 Pilot models come with a complimentary maintenance plan that covers regular oil changes and basic services for two years or 24,000 miles.
Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 milesComplimentary scheduled maintenance is covered for two years or 24,000 milesArrow pointing downArrow pointing down
Specifications
Specifications
2023 Honda Pilot Trailsport
Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/As Tested: $49,695/$50,150
Options: Diffused Sky Pearl paint, $455
ENGINE
DOHC, 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and aluminum heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 212 in3, 3471 cm3
Power: 285 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque: 262 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
TRANSMISSION
10-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, F/R: control arms/multilink
Brakes, F/R: 13.8-in vented disc/13.0-in disc
Tires: Continental TerrainContact A/T
265/60R-18 110T M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 113.8 in
Length: 200.2 in
Width: 78.5 in
Height: 72.0 in
Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 57/57/40 ft3
Cargo Volume, behind F/M/R: 87/49/19 ft3
Curb Weight: 4709 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 6.9 sec
100 mph: 20.3 sec
1/4-Mile: 15.4 sec @ 90 mph
Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.4 sec.
Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 6.9 sec
Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 4.0 sec
Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.2 sec
Top Speed (gov ltd): 111 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 189 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.85 g
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 18 mpg
75-mph Highway Driving: 22 mpg
75-mph Highway Range: 400 mi
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 20/18/23 mpg
C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
More Features and Specs
