2023 Honda Pilot AWD TrailSport test drive review

To compete with some options in the three-row midsize SUV class, the Honda Pilot has been redesigned for 2023. To the relief of many, Honda ditched the rounder, almost minivan-like design of the outgoing model for a more boxy, sporty-looking version. 

Now that it looks more like a rugged SUV, does it play the part as well? KSL Cars spent a week with the 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport to find out. Shop 2023 Honda Pilot models 

Price and value 

The 2023 Honda Pilot comes in six different trims with an MSRP ranging from $36,300 for the base LX trim to $52,380 for the range topping Elite trim. Some of the major differences in trim levels are noted below.

• LX: $36,300 See listings

10-speed automatic transmission 

18-inch alloy wheels

Multi-angle rearview camera

• Sport: $39,500 See listings

20-inch alloy wheels

Roof rails

Heated front seats

• EX-L: $42,300 See listings

9-inch touch screen

Power tailgate

Trail and Sand driving modes available 

• Touring: $46,800 See listings

20-inch alloy wheels

Bose premium sound system

Honda satellite navigation

• TrailSport: $48,700 See listings

18-inch TrailSport wheels

Panoramic moonroof

5,000-pound towing capacity

• Elite: $52,380 See listings

Head-up display

Heated and ventilated front seats

Heated second-row seats

Our off-road oriented TrailSport tester had the special Diffused Sky Blue Pearl color, which added $455 to the price. With destination and handling fees, the total came to $50,150. That may feel a bit on the steep side when compared to other three-row midsize SUVs, especially since the TrailSport isn’t the highest trim in the lineup. But you’ve got to hand it to Honda for trying to offer something fresh with this off-road version of the Pilot. Shop 2023 Honda Pilot models

Performance 

To be fair, we never took the TrailSport off-road, despite the fact that that’s what Honda intended for its use. Its on-road manners were perfectly fine, though, and it should make for a capable and comfortable daily driver.

Engine and drivetrain

Each Pilot has a 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts out 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Honda switched from a 9-speed to a 10-speed automatic transmission, which seemed to have no trouble shifting smoothly through the gears. Front-wheel drive is standard but all-wheel drive is available. 

The 2023 Pilot gains five horsepower over the outgoing model, but it’s not likely you’ll feel a huge difference. Even though it doesn’t feel overly powerful, it’s far from weak. The power is more than sufficient to meet the average driver’s needs.

Fuel economy 

Interestingly, fuel economy between the 2022 model and the 2023 model slightly decreased. The TrailSport, which does come standard with all-wheel drive, gets an estimated 18 mpg in the city, 23 mpg on the highway and 20 mpg combined. The front-wheel drive model gets 19 mpg in the city, 27 on the highway and 22 mpg combined. 

By comparison, the 2022 front-wheel drive model achieved 20 mpg in the city, 27 on the highway and 23 mpg combined. That puts the 2023 Honda Pilot on the lower end of the pack for its class in terms of fuel efficiency.

Acceleration and handling 

The Pilot doesn’t feel particularly zippy, but it’s not sluggish either. In testing, Car and Driver found that the TrailSport went from 0-60 mph in 6.9 seconds.

Braking 

The brakes on the TrailSport seemed a tad squishy at stop-and-go speeds, but they had no trouble bringing it to a complete stop at higher speeds.

Interior comfort and convenience 

The Honda Pilot TrailSport was comfortable and good-looking on the inside, with materials that made it look fancier than it was. That said, the infotainment system wasn’t particularly impressive.

Seats 

Sinking into the driver seat, it was clear that this was the type of SUV you wouldn’t mind driving for several hours. The leather seats of the TrailSport were very comfortable up front and in the second row, though the third row will likely feel cramped for full-grown passengers.

Climate control

We drove the Pilot on some chilly mornings and it felt like it took more time than we’d like for the tri-zone climate control system to bring the cabin up to a comfortable temperature. But once it did, we could’ve stayed in those heated seats for days.

Cargo space and cabin storage 

Another welcome update, Honda added some extra storage space to the 2023 Pilot. It has 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row up, 48.5 cubic feet with the third row down and 87 cubic feet total with all rear seats folded. That’s definitely on the generous side for three-row midsize SUVs.

Infotainment system 

The most notable thing about the infotainment system is that there’s nothing particularly noteworthy about it. A 7-inch touch screen is standard on the lower trims while TrailSport, Touring and Elite models get an extra 2 inches. Wired AppleCarPlay and Android Auto are available in the lower trims as well, but the trims with larger screens also get wireless compatibility. Shop 2023 Honda Pilot models

Exterior appearance and functionality 

The box is back! And it’s full of goodies.

Wheels 

The 18-inch exclusive TrailSport wheels add a handsome touch to the off-road styled Pilot and also muffled road noise well.

Lights and turn signals

The LED headlights, taillights and brake lights look sharp and put the road into sharp focus. As with many modern SUVs, Pilots equipped with the blind spot information system conveniently sound a light warning alarm if a vehicle is in your blind spot while signaling.

Front and rear windshield 

The return of the boxy design definitely enhances visibility all around for the PIlot. At a time when many cars rely on the camera system to help you see around the vehicle, it’s refreshing that you can get by without them in the Pilot.

Cameras and side mirrors 

Of course, the cameras do come in handy as well. Each Pilot has a multi-view camera system equipped with its own washer. The TrailSport and Elite trims have the added benefit of even more views, including from the ground. That should be helpful for anyone looking to take the TrailSport off-road. Find 2023 Honda Pilots

Safety

The 2023 Honda Pilot comes loaded with a slew of standard safety and driver assistance features, which are all part of its Honda Sensing Suite. These included:

• Collision mitigation braking

• Road departure mitigation 

• Multi-angle rearview camera

• Adaptive cruise control

Higher trims are also equipped with a blind spot information system with a cross-traffic monitor as well as parking sensors. For a full list of safety features, click here.

Awards and ratings

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety named the Honda Pilot a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ for its crashworthiness and crash avoidance and mitigation. The Pilot got the highest rating of “Good” in all categories except for the “Moderate overlap front: updated test” category. 

Rear passenger injury measures received a second highest rating of “Acceptable” in the “head/neck” category and “Poor” in “rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics.” For more information, visit iihs.org.

Final impression 

There are lots of things to like about the Honda Pilot. It’s comfortable, spacious and offers a generous assortment of standard features. But this particular segment has some tough competitors and it’s hard to pinpoint any clear advantages the Pilot has over other three-row midsize SUVs. You likely won’t be disappointed with the PIlot — but you might not be blown away by it either. Shop 2023 Honda Pilot models on KSL Cars.

FAQs 

What kind of fuel does the Honda Pilot require? 

Honda recommends using unleaded gasoline with an octane rating of 87 or higher.

Which Honda Pilot trim is best?

Each Pilot has the same 285-horsepower V6 engine under the hood, so the driving experience shouldn’t vary too much. The base LX offers a lot for $36,300, but if you’re after the biggest bang for your buck in terms of interior luxury, the mid-range EX-L is a good option, with a starting price of $42,300.

Is the 2023 Honda Pilot a reliable car?

J.D. Power gave the 2023 Honda Pilot a Quality and Reliability rating of 80 out of 100. A rating 70–80 is Average.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.