2023 Honda Pilot
Overview
The popular Honda Pilot received a major makeover for 2023—the first complete update in eight years. The 2023 Pilot, US-built in Lincoln, Alabama, has a bigger wheelbase than its predecessors and offers more upscale touches like heated front seats (standard on all trims). Not surprisingly, the price tag has gone up, too. The new Pilot’s boxy lines give it a muscular, truck-like appearance. When it comes to “muscular,” the new TrailSport trim walks the walk, with some real off-roading capabilities. Clearly, Honda is determined to stay competitive in a market filled with capable, full-size, three-row SUVs.
The Perfect Ride for…
Family-oriented drivers who want all the people- and gear-hauling conveniences of a minivan, without the sting of minivan mundanity. They don’t want their passengers to feel cramped, even in the third row. But they also want a vehicle that can handle more than staid trips to soccer matches or yoga classes. They want something that not only looks rugged but can handle long treks into the boonies, while still offering a full complement of creature comforts.
Drive and Handling
The 2023 Honda Pilot offers just one, newly tweaked engine: a narrow-angle 3.5L V6, which generates 285 horsepower (slightly higher than the power of the 2022 models) and 262 lb-ft of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is available. For such a large vehicle, the acceleration from 0 to 60 mph is respectable, ranging from 6.5 to 8 seconds. The gas mileage is admirable for a full-sized SUV—19 mpg in the city, and 27 on the highway. That figure drops a bit for the TrailSport model with all-wheel drive. A variable cylinder management system has kept fuel economy from plummeting with the Pilot’s increased size. This system can deactivate some cylinders in appropriate, low-stress driving conditions—all without harming performance. The Pilot also tailors performance to road conditions by offering five drive modes: Normal, Econ, Snow, Sport, and Tow. All-wheel drive versions have two additional drive modes: Sand and Trail.
Honda offers five trims for the 2023 Pilot—Sport, Ex-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite. The upscale interior appointments start with the EX-L, featuring leather upholstery. A heated steering wheel comes with the TrailSport and Elite. Perforated leather upholstery and ventilated front seats make the fully loaded Elite, well, elite.
Key Features
The Pilot is equipped with most of the safety and driver-assistance technology that has become popular in recent years: adaptive cruise control, wider camera angles and radar views, pedestrian detection, traffic jam assist, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, automatic emergency braking, and blind-spot warning. In addition, it has eight airbags.
One unique feature is the removable middle seat, which stores neatly beneath the rear cargo area. Weighing about 25 pounds, it can be removed and stored fairly easily. If you want convenient access to the middle row or more room for gear, store the seat. If you need to haul another passenger (for a total of eight occupants), bring the seat out of storage.
The new TrailSport has some genuine off-roading chops: higher ground clearance; three steel skid plates to protect the fuel tank, oil pan, and transmission on rocky terrain; a TrailWatch camera system that kicks in at low speed to eyeball possible obstructions below the hood line; and TrailDrive mode, designed to extricate a stuck vehicle. If one tire is off the ground, this mode can send 75 percent of available power to the paired tire that is still in contact with the ground to get the car moving again.
Simplified Service
New for 2023, Honda is offering two years of select maintenance services at no cost! Talk about keeping your cost of ownership low. Services like oil changes, filter changes, tire rotations, and multi-point inspections are covered for two years or 24,000 miles. When your vehicle's Maintenance Minder lets you know that it's time for these services, it's as simple as scheduling them with the Heritage Honda Bel Air, Parkville & Westminster service team!
Alternative Options
If you want to prioritize efficiency in a smaller package, the Honda CR-V is an incredible option. For drivers who want capability paired with impressive efficiency, take a look at the HR-V. Need to see them all up close? Contact the Heritage Honda Bel Air, Parkville & Westminster team online today or visit our showroom. We'd be happy to give you an in-depth look at the entire Honda lineup.
Image Credit: Honda