The new 2023 Honda Pilot is bigger, more powerful and now has a rugged off-road model, too

Outside, the Pilot now exudes far more personality with rugged and contemporary styling. Inside, it’s even roomier than the outgoing model, which was already among the segment’s most accommodating. With a slick new second-row center seat that can be removed and stored in back, the Pilot can switch between 7-passenger openness and 8-passenger capacity on the fly.

A new V-6 engine delivers ample power via a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission matched with front- or all-wheel drive. And the new TrailSport variant is as serious an off-roader as there is in this segment, and looks the part.

2023 Honda Pilot pricing

The 2023 Honda Pilot starts at $35,950. The rugged TrailSport starts at $48,350, while the top-of-the-line Elite kicks off at $52,030. We expect the EX-L to be the top seller. We’d recommend against the Sport for most buyers, with the savings not worth the equipment trade-off. If you’re not sure which Pilot is right for you, take a look at a breakdown of each trim.

For comparison, the Subaru Ascent, Chevrolet Traverse, and Hyundai Palisade all start in the mid-$30,000 range. The Kia
000270,

Telluride is priced from $35.7K, with the Toyota
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Highlander at $36.4K, and the Ford
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Explorer at around $36.8K. Slightly more upscale and with an off-road heritage, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L begins at $43K. Honda’s other 3-row vehicle, the Odyssey minivan, runs about $2,000 less than the new Pilot.

See: The all-new 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander: This 3-row midsize SUV offers expanded cabin space and a broad choice of trims

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 with strong resale values.

Plus: In a tough car market, more Americans are turning toward this Goldilocks option

What’s new for 2023

Welcome to Generation Four of the Honda Pilot 3-row midsize SUV, unveiled in November of 2022. 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

The new V6 delivers power, acceleration and fuel economy on par with others in the segment, but we found it smoother and quieter than the engine it replaces. The new engine pairs perfectly with Honda’s excellent 10-speed automatic transmission, which finally finds its way into the Pilot.

As for steering and stopping, the new Pilot delivers the same brand of intuitive responsiveness we’ve come to expect from every Honda vehicle. We were particularly impressed by the feel and function of the Pilot’s bigger new brakes.

Out on the highway, power is plentiful, the ride is smooth, and outside noises are kept in check. Our initial testing puts the latest version of Honda’s adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping features among the segment’s best. They’re more accurate, more responsive, and they’re standard across the line. If you regularly drive long distances or in stop-and-go traffic, this alone is a good reason to put the Pilot on your shortlist.

The new Pilot also excels in the many parking lots it’s sure to frequent, thanks to light steering, one of the segment’s tightest turning circles, and no shortage of technological assists.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and researching the current collection of 3-row midsize SUVs, including the fourth-generation Honda Pilot.

Roomy and flexible interior

The roomier interior of the new 2023 Honda Pilot is among the most accommodating midsize SUVs money can buy, including a third row that’s easy to access and downright spacious compared with some others. Depending on trim, the second row comprises a 3-position bench, dual captain’s chairs, or a bench with a center seat that can be removed and stowed under the rear cargo floor. There’s nothing too fancy up front, just well-positioned screens and controls, and generously sized bins, cubbies and cupholders.

Also see: 10 electric SUVs that seat 7

Sharp new look

The new Pilot is bigger, bolder, and boxier than the outgoing version, looking readier for adventure than any of its direct competitors. The big, upright grille, sharp lines, and increased length give the Pilot a stronger presence, and the TrailSport takes it up a notch from there. Count us among fans of the new look.

2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport

As evidenced during our early first drive of the redesigned Pilot, the new TrailSport version is the most capable off-roader in the 3-row midsize SUV segment outside of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L (which is something of a segment outlier anyway). More than just special badging, wheels, and knobby tires, the Pilot TrailSport sits an inch higher for greater ground clearance, features specially tuned suspension and all-wheel-drive systems, and the gas tank, transmission, and oil pan are protected by steel skid plates built to withstand the entire weight of the vehicle dropping directly onto a rock. It also has front and rear recovery points, a full-size spare tire, and a fantastic new TrailWatch camera system with four cameras that can help the driver position the Pilot just right when navigating rocky, rutted or narrow terrain. Still, some buyers will buy it for the rugged looks alone, and that’s just fine with us.

Our favorite features and tech

Traffic Jam Assist

The 2023 Honda Pilot can pretty much drive itself through stop-and-go traffic, watching its surroundings and working the accelerator, brakes, and steering. If you’re a regular participant, this capability should be at or near the top of your list of must-have features. Impressively, it’s standard across the Pilot lineup.

Walk Away Close

Press a button, grab all the bags or boxes you can handle, and when you walk away (with the key on you), the Pilot will kindly close the tailgate behind you. Touring and Elite only.

Removable/storable seat

The Touring and Elite trims also feature a second-row bench with a removable center seat. When in place, you have seating for eight. Fold down the seatback and it provides an armrest and cupholders for the two outboard positions. Remove it entirely and you’ve opened up an easy pathway to the third row. It stores very conveniently beneath the rear cargo floor, so you’re always ready to welcome an eighth passenger again. This is minivan-level flexibility.

Wireless Apple
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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 phone 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.

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.

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New V-6 engine

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. Honda is renowned for making smooth and refined V6 engines, and this one is pleasantly muscular. Replacing a 9-speed transmission, a new 10-speed automatic transmission in the 2023 Pilot feeds power to the front wheels in basic form (FWD), 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. Fuel economy figures are about typical for the segment.

3.5-liter V6
285 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm
262 lb-ft of torque @ 5,000 rpm
EPA combined fuel economy: 22 mpg (FWD), 21 mpg (AWD), 20 mpg (TrailSport)

More Honda Pilot fuel economy information is available on the EPA’s website.

Many safety features

The Honda Pilot comes standard with the Honda Sensing safety tech suite, which bundles features like automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and more. The latest safety ratings are available on the IIHS and NHTSA websites.

3-year/36,000-mile warranty

The 2023 Honda Pilot is covered by Honda’s basic new-vehicle warranty for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. The powertrain has its own coverage of five years or 60,000 miles. These arrangements are typical for the class. Honda includes two years or 24,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance as well.

KBB’s car review methodology.

This story originally ran on KBB.com.