The Honda Pilot is known as one of the most well-rounded 3-row SUVs on the market. And the 2023 version is no exception. Honda decided to redesign the Honda Pilot from top to bottom, and we think you'll love the updates. The fourth-generation Pilot is boxier on the outside and more spacious on the inside. There's also an all-new trim that allows for off-roading capabilities. The 2023 Honda Pilot truly has it all, so let's take a closer look to see why this might be the perfect car for you.
Blocky Exterior; Spacious Interior
With the more rugged design choices other manufacturers have been making with the SUVs, Honda decided to follow suit. It sports a blocky grille that is on par with other Honda redesigns, such as the Honda CR-V. It's also altogether 3.4 inches longer than the 2022 Honda Pilot.
Because the Pilot is 3.4 inches longer, that space has been designated to add extra legroom for second and third-row passengers. Not only is there more legroom, but the cargo capacity has also gone up. There are now 113.7 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.
Honda even went a step further to ensure customer comfort by providing a second-row bench or captain's chairs. The Touring and Elite trims also feature a removable center insert. If you take it out, now you have captain's chairs (and don't worry, the removable center console easily fits in a storage cubby under the cargo floor!). If you choose to leave the console, it acts as a third seat in the second row.
Infotainment System
Each 2023 Honda Pilot has a 7.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster. Honda has made this latest infotainment system easy to use and features both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. If you upgrade your trim to the TrailSport, Touring, or Elite model, there's a 9.0-inch display with a. 10.2-inch gauge cluster. Honda decided not to follow suit with the sleek dashboards we've seen in newer model Hondas and instead opted for a more driver-friendly design. With the high-mounted screens, your eyes will stay near the road even when checking the nav.
Under the Hood
The 2023 Honda Pilot comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and has 285 horsepower - five more than the 2022 Pilot. Another upgrade to the fourth-generation Pilot is that it no longer has a nine-speed automatic transmission but an all-new 10-speed unit. Both the Sport and Touring models come with front-wheel drive and all-wheel-drive options.
The Elite and TrailSport models have Honda's i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system and feature trail, sand, snow, and tow modes.
While all of these improvements are exciting, the biggest news for the 2023 Pilot is the new TrailSport model. While this model was introduced in 2022, it has had serious upgrades in its off-roading equipment. The Pilot TrailSport has a new suspension design for trails and an extra 1 inch of height. The front and rear bumpers are also reshaped for better off-road angles, and skid plates were added to protect the underside from brush.
Safety Features
Honda also upgraded this year's generation's safety features. Each model is equipped with driver-assistance features called Honda Sensing. This bundle includes blind-spot monitoring, emergency braking, automatic high-beam headlamps, and more. Some other amazing key safety features are:
- Standard adaptive cruise control
- Standard lane-departure warning
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
There's no doubt about it; the 2023 Honda is going to be one of the best in its class. While we're still waiting on an exact release date from Honda, know that Southtowne Automall will be the place to purchase one. While we're waiting for the 2023 Pilot, come by and test drive one of our new or used vehicles.
