The largest and most powerful SUV in Honda history, the all-new 2023 Honda Pilot is the ultimate family SUV with rugged new styling, more passenger and cargo space, and a class-leading combination of off-road capability and sporty on-road dynamics. The new Pilot TrailSport is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever, engineered to get weekend adventurers even further off the beaten path with special off-road features including a raised off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, steel skid plates, and expanded all-wheel drive system capabilities. This fourth-generation Pilot goes on sale next month in five trim levels: Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite.
The 2023 Honda Pilot now belongs on the trail with all-new rugged styling that complements its trail-ready capability. The tough and aspirational design features a large upright grille and a powerful stance accentuated by flared fenders, wider tracks, and larger tires. Under its new longer hood is Honda’s most powerful V6 ever, an all-new dual overhead cam (DOHC) 3.5-liter engine producing 285 horsepower.
Inside, Pilot’s all-new interior makes it the new flexible king of the carpool lane with unmatched comfort, versatile seating with an available removable 2nd-row seat that can be conveniently stowed under the rear cargo floor. Complementing the interior flexibility is the most passenger and cargo space in Pilot history, including a more comfortable third row, and Pilot boasts best-in-class overall passenger space and top-class cargo volume behind the third-row seats. The new modern interior is also more comfortable with new front Body Stabilizing Seats that help reduce fatigue on long drives. Sophisticated materials, premium touches, and must-have tech features create the most upscale Pilot ever.
Standard class-leading safety features include a new and improved suite of Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive technologies, a next-generation front passenger airbag, improved front-side airbags, and new driver and front-passenger knee airbags.
New Exterior
Designed in California, developed in Ohio, and built-in Alabama, the all-new fourth-generation Pilot further advances the new rugged design direction of Honda light trucks with a tough new look and powerful stance. Complementing its off-road capabilities, Pilot’s all-new styling is tough, aspirational, and adventure-ready with a large, upright grille, a strong horizontal beltline, and aggressively flared fenders. Pulled-back A-pillars and a long hood create a longer dash-to-axle ratio for a sportier profile.
A strong horizontal beltline highlights its increased overall length (3.4 inches longer), while a longer wheelbase and wider tracks give it a stronger, more aggressive presence. A sleek body-color roof spoiler and new LED taillights make the fourth-generation Pilot instantly recognizable from the rear.
Sport features gloss black trim and grille bar, a chrome exhaust garnish, standard black roof rails, front fog lights, and Shark Gray 7-spoke, 20-inch wheels. EX-L adds flash with chrome trim and grille bar and machined 5-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels.
Pilot Touring and top-of-the-line Elite feature an even more upscale design with premium exterior finishes, including a gloss black grille mesh and B-pillar, dual chrome exhaust garnishes, and distinct 7-spoke, 20-inch alloy wheels with a machined finish.
For the first time, Pilot will be available with a new line of four post-production option packages, including a new HPD Package for those looking to take Pilot’s rugged new styling even further. Created in collaboration with Honda Performance Development (HPD), Honda’s U.S.-based racing company, it includes bronze-colored aluminum wheels, fender flares, and HPD decals.
Modern, Spacious Interior
With clean surfacing, sophisticated materials, and premium touches, Pilot’s all-new modern interior build on the Honda design direction to create the most upscale Honda SUV ever. A clean, uncluttered instrument panel top reduces windshield reflections and improves outward visibility.
The 2023 Honda Pilot is also more comfortable and spacious, with class-leading passenger space and notably more rear-seat legroom in the second and third rows. New Body Stabilizing front seats reduce fatigue over long drives. Second-row legroom is up a generous 2.4 inches and the second-row seats feature up to 10 degrees of recline angle (+4 degrees) for increased comfort. Additional forward tilt range improves entry and exit to the more comfortable third row, which gains 0.6 inches of legroom.
On-demand 8-occupant flexibility gives Pilot Touring and Elite an extra level of versatility. In the second row, a first-in-class multi-function removable middle seat can be conveniently stored underneath the rear cargo floor instead of being left at home in the garage. Families then have the seat available if they need it later in their journey, providing owners three distinct seating options at any time:
- A traditional second-row bench for 3-across seating and 8-occupant total capacity (middle seat up)
- A captain’s chair-style wide center armrest with additional drink holders (middle seat down)
- Wide pass-through for access to the third row (middle seat removed), particularly useful when child seats are installed in the outboard second-row seats.
The 2023 Honda Pilot is also the only vehicle in its class with 8-person seating and an opening panoramic sunroof, which is standard on Touring and Elite. Heated seats are standard across the lineup. TrailSport and Elite also feature a heated steering wheel. EX-L and Touring have soft leather upholstery and the top-of-the-range Elite gets exclusive perforated leather inserts and ventilated front seats.
The 2023 Pilot has the most cargo room in the model’s history, with up to 113.67 cu.-ft.1 behind the first row, and up to 22.42 cu.-ft.1 behind the third row. Expanded cabin storage includes a massive console bin that can swallow a full-size tablet, the return of Pilot’s clever passenger-side instrument panel shelf, and 14 large-volume cupholders throughout the cabin, including eight that will fit wide 32 oz water bottles.
Smart Technology
Intuitive easy-to-use technology has been smartly integrated into Pilot’s new modern cabin, including a digital instrument display, standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility, and an available, notably larger, touchscreen.
A standard 7-inch digital instrument panel features an all-digital tachometer on the left and a physical speedometer on the right side. The display also features user-selectable functions such as Honda Sensing® settings, vehicle information, and more. Exclusive to Elite is a configurable 10.2-inch digital instrument display with a multi-view camera system paired with a color head-up display.
A new 7-inch touchscreen audio system is standard on Sport with physical knobs for volume and tuning, and a simplified menu structure. Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility are standard. A large multi-use tray ahead of the shifter can accommodate two smartphones side-by-side and features two standard illuminated USB ports, a 2.5A USB-A and 3.0A USB-C port. For second-row passengers, two 2.5A USB-A charging ports are standard. EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite feature Qi-compatible wireless charging and add two 2.5A USB-A charging ports in the third row.
All other trims, including TrailSport, get a larger 9-inch color touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility and a faster processor for lag-free performance. Pilot’s navigation system also has been simplified with new graphics and fewer menus. To make it easier to use when the vehicle is in motion, the screen is recessed slightly from the edge of the dash, resulting in a 0.8-inch finger rest that allows the user to steady their hand while making selections.
Touring and Elite models get a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system custom-engineered for the new interior. Featuring Bose Centerpoint technology, SurroundStage digital signal processing, and a large 15.7-liter capacity subwoofer box, the new system places all occupants in the middle of the music, regardless of their seating position, with a clear listening experience.
More Power and Refinement
The 2023 Honda Pilot is one of the smoothest and most powerful SUVs in its class, and both the vehicle and the all-new 24-valve DOHC 3.5-liter V6 engine that powers it are made at the company’s auto plant in Lincoln, Alabama. This is Honda’s most powerful V6 ever, producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque (both SAE net).
The all-aluminum V6 features a unique block and low-profile cylinder heads with high-tumble ports and a narrow 35-degree valve angle for better combustion. The low-profile design of the new DOHC cylinder heads also allowed a more compact rocker arm and hydraulic lash adjuster design. Honda engineers also did away with separate cam bearing caps and instead incorporated them directly into the valve cover itself. The result is a 30 mm reduction in overall cylinder head height. The new design also reduces the number of parts. Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™) improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.
Performance is further enhanced by a refined and responsive 10-speed automatic transmission that has been tuned exclusively for Pilot. Paddle shifters are standard for manual control, making Pilot more fun to drive.
Pilot also introduces the second generation of Honda’s award-winning torque vectoring i-VTM4™ all-wheel drive system. Standard on TrailSport and Elite, the new and more capable i-VTM4 system features a stronger rear differential that can handle 40% more torque and provides 30% faster response, optimizing available traction in all driving scenarios, especially slick conditions and off-road. Up to 70% of the engine’s torque can be sent to the rear axle, and 100% of that torque can be distributed to either the left or right rear wheel.
Five standard selectable drive modes optimize the driving experience for various conditions: Normal, Econ, Snow, plus new Sport and Tow modes. TrailSport, EX-L (with all-wheel drive), Touring (with all-wheel drive), and Elite also feature an updated Sand mode and a new Trail mode that optimize Pilot’s capabilities off-road.
Pilot can tow as much as 5,000 pounds, which is more than enough for most boats, campers, or “toy” trailers that serve as the key to adventure for many customers.
2023 Honda Pilot Features
- Rugged exterior design
- All-new 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine is more powerful
- The new available second-generation i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system improves off-road capability
- More modern and comfortable interior
- Class-leading overall passenger space
- First-in-class multi-function removable second-row middle seat provides three discrete seating options (Touring, Elite)
- Increased cargo volume
- Standard digital instrumentation
- 10.2-inch digital instrument display (Elite)
- 9-inch HD touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility (EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite)
- Standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility (Sport)
- 7 available drive modes, including new Sport, Tow, and Trail modes
- Standard Honda Sensing® system with new wide-view camera and radar
- Standard Hill Descent Control
- Next-gen front passenger airbag designed to reduce the potential for traumatic brain and neck injuries
- Standard driver and front-passenger knee airbags
- Trail torque logic optimizes the off-road performance of i-VTM4 torque vectoring all-wheel drive system (TrailSport)
- TrailWatch camera system to help drivers navigate obstacles (TrailSport, Elite)
