First Drive: 2023 Honda Pilot | Reviews (2024)

The last-gen Honda Pilot had everything, except the good look of a winner. Especially in comparison to its boxier ancestors, it just looked and felt bland and vanilla. The fourth-generation all-new Honda Pilot is addressing that issue head-on with a complete redesign, and by focusing on its rugged capabilities with the new TrailSport model.

Article content

Honda will admit that its last Pilot missed the mark with three-row shoppers, but this new one makes a bold first impression with strong, horizontal design lines and a taller, longer profile. The redesign leads to shorter overhangs, a more upright grille, and wipers that stealthily tuck away under the hood. The TrailSport model adds skid plates to protect the front underbody and the fuel tank. It also packs an exclusive Sky Blue Pearl paint, TrailSport-specific wheels, and slings a full-size spare under the trunk (while standard models use a temporary space-saver).

While the last Pilot pushed premium trimmings, this one applies more practical touches throughout the cabin. It has more space for passengers and cargo, while top-trim-level versions of the Pilot will feature an eight-seater configuration with a removable center seat in the second row, turning that bench into something more spacious or comfortable. While heavy at about 30 lbs, the removable seat has an undertray storage area in the trunk.

Article content

Hydration enthusiasts will appreciate the 14 cupholders and storage bins for massive Nalgene bottles. I appreciate the seatback pockets for phones and tablets, but there is no rear-seat entertainment option, forcing passengers to entertain themselves or risk talking to each other.

Article content

There are USB A and C ports, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, and the infotainment system spans seven to nine inches depending on the trim level. The system feels intuitive thanks to a blend of touchscreen and familiar physical controls. There is plenty of space below the screen to brace your hand for more precise pokes. This generation Pilot also receives its very first HUD option, and all the integrated tech doesn’t feel overwhelming or distracting.

The six-cylinder motor of the 2023 Honda Pilot measures the same 3.5 litres as the outgoing one. However, it features an all-new design. It packs five more horsepower for 285 total, along with 262 lb-ft of torque. The new motor is supposed to be significantly better in terms of greenhouse-gas emissions, which is a nice upgrade, although that might not make a real impact at the pumps like a hybrid might.

Article content

That motor is matched with a ten-speed automatic, which is a first for the Pilot. It has a lower first gear for responsive off-the-line starts and can downshift four gears in one go for hasty passes. A new version of Honda i-VTM4, a full-time all-wheel-drive system, is found on the new Pilot, which can send more torque (up to 75 per cent now, instead of 70) to the rear wheels and has a faster response.

On the road, the naturally aspirated V6 sounds nice, lacking the buzziness or wheeziness of a four-cylinder; it also feels far more responsive than any of its turbocharged competitors. It doesn’t feel like a major step forward for the Pilot, but it is smooth and refined. The transmission is my highlight of the powertrain, as it swaps cogs quickly and fairly seamlessly for a large SUV. Haulers will also appreciate that the Pilot can tow up to 5,000 lbs and no longer requires a dealer-installed cooler accessory to accommodate that capability.

Article content

The updated rear suspension helps with the packaging to improve the interior space. While the new Pilot is compliant and comfortable on the road, the new variable-ratio steering resulted in a few moments of uncertainty, where it was unclear how much or how little steering input was required.

The biggest story of this large crossover is the TrailSport trim. While the TrailSport model was found on the Pilot and Passport back in 2022, this new model goes beyond just some badging and additional body cladding. Important components are protected from the elements, the overall ride height has increased by one inch, and there are all-terrain tires wrapped around those wheels for extra grip on off-road trails. The suspension system is also tweaked to support drivers tackling the elements, and there are optimized stabilizer bars.

Article content

The AWD system is improved to allow for confident propulsion even when a wheel is lacking traction, like when it’s in the air. The Trail driving mode (one of seven modes in the Pilot) also triggers the TrailWatch front camera, which provides a more detailed view of the trail ahead. It even has guidelines to help you avoid spiky rocks or other destructive obstacles. It’s not as fancy as the underbody/through-the-hood camera in some Land Rovers, but still useful in these tricky conditions.

Article content

We put the Pilot through the tight Broken Arrow Trail in Sedona, Arizona, and it handled it with ease. The dropped jaws of the drivers of the Jeeps and modified pickups on the trail help point out just how impressive the seemingly mundane crossover is in this situation.

However, boxy, tough, and rugged three-row crossovers aren’t anything new. The Subaru Ascent, Ford Explorer, and Kia Telluride all suggest that they, too, can go off the beaten path with ease and confidence. The additional ground clearance, technology, and AT tires of the Pilot TrailSport make it seem a bit more serious.

But serious crossovers require a serious budget. The 2023 Honda Pilot Sport is the entry-level model and starts at $50,650, plus the $1,950 freight and PDI fee. The rugged TrailSport is $59,400 including freight and PDI, while the top trim Black Edition will cost you $64,800. That entry-level model is priced on par with the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade, and is in the ballpark of the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander. It’s significantly more expensive than the Subaru Ascent (which starts at around $40k) and the Nissan Pathfinder (which starts at around $45k). The Pilot is among the more spacious, confident, and high-quality options in this crowded segment. That now matches its tough look and completes the overall package that was sorely lacking in the outgoing model.

Check out details on the latest Honda Pilot via our shopping tool.

Sign up for our newsletter Blind-Spot Monitor and follow our social channels on X, Tiktok and LinkedIn to stay up to date on the latest automotive news, reviews, car culture, and vehicle shopping advice.