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2025 GMC Sierra 1500 Review2023 Honda Pilot: Better, More Featureful and Full of Tech
The 2023 Honda Pilot comes out of the gate with a refreshed design and new features. We look at interior options, trim levels, and more.
2023 Honda Pilot – automobiles.honda.com | Shop 2023 Honda Pilot on Carsforsale.com
What’s New for the 2023 Honda Pilot?
Just about every facet of the Honda Pilot is new for 2023. That includes a new body, revised steering and pedal feedback, and a ten-speed automatic transmission. Two new infotainment screens are available including a 7-inch unit and a larger 9-inch version. As has been standard for years, Honda Sensing, the brand’s safety suite is included on every trim and comes with a number of desirable features.
The Breakdown
Smooth drivetrain
Spacious interior
Durable materials
Great safety package
Smallish infotainment screens
Drab driving characteristics
Still lagging behind rivals
A much-needed update
2023 Honda Specs
- 285 horsepower from base engine
- 262 lb-ft of torque from base engine
- 6 available trims
- 18.6 cu-ft of cargo capacity
- 87 cu-ft of cargo capacity with seats down
- Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Towing capacity of 5,000 lbs
- Honda Sensing safety suite
- 2 years or 24,000 complementary maintenance
2023 Honda Pilot Powertrain
The 2023 Pilot might be new in almost every way but the drivetrain beneath the sheet metal is nearly identical to the one it used last year. Back then, it was a 3.5-liter V6 that made 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It leveraged a nine-speed automatic.
This year, the Pilot uses a 3.5-liter V6 that develops 285 hp but no more torque than last year. It adds a cog to the transmission though so it’s a ten-speed. In terms of driving prowess, it doesn’t feel much different from the 2022 model at all.
This is, after all, a big, heavy SUV with less than 300 hp. If anything it feels slightly more responsive. The transmission does a nice job of keeping power delivery smooth and predictable.
Steering and pedal feedback is improved as well. That might be the biggest change since last year it could feel a bit disconnected at higher speeds.
Towing & Payload
While not a hardcore towing vehicle, the Pilot can pull up to 3,500 pounds in its front-wheel drive layout and up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with AWD. That’s short of the Telluride by about 500 pounds and 1,200 pounds shy of what a Jeep Grand Cherokee L can tow. Still, most will find that sort of capacity more than adequate.
2023 Honda Pilot Fuel Economy & MPG
There’s one other downside to Honda keeping almost the same old-school V6 engine it’s used for years and fuel economy suffers a bit for it. At its very best, the EPA estimates that the FWD Pilot will get just 19 mpg in the city and 27 on the highway.
The AWD version sees its highway rating drop to 25 but maintains its in-city score. For now, that’s decent for the segment but we expect electrified three-row SUVs to soon make those scores look low.
Interior, Comfort, & Cargo Space
Honda smashes the interior game out of the park once again in the Pilot. No, it’s not as luxurious or premium feeling as other brands’ offerings but it’s incredibly practical. And that’s great because it’s why the Pilot has always been a success.
The front seats are spacious and supportive. The controls are laid out in a very ergonomic fashion and the materials feel durable. Visibility is good too and the available surround-view camera system makes parking just that much easier.
The second row is almost the star of the show thanks to three different seating configuration possibilities. Most Pilots will come with a simple everyday bench seat there but captain’s chairs are also available. The top trims have access to a bench seat with a removable or stowable center seat too. It’s the best of both worlds.
Cargo space is strong too. Not only does Honda offer an excellent array of storage cubbies near every seat in the SUV but the actual cargo area measures 18.6 cubic feet. Stow all of the seats and the Pilot turns into almost a pickup with a camper shell thanks to some 87 cubic feet of storage capacity. When we compared the 2022 Pilot to the Subaru Ascent, the verdict was close. It wouldn’t be nearly as close had we been using the 2023 Pilot.
Entertainment & Technology
Across the Pilot lineup you’ll find a reasonable technology package. In lower trims, a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system is married to a 7-inch digital gauge cluster. It features both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay though many users won’t need them as Honda’s user interface is both snappy and simple to use. If there’s anything to complain about it’s that the system looks a bit small when compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride or Hyundai Palisade.
Thankfully, Honda also offers a 9-inch infotainment system in the top three trim levels. While it’s still smaller than the one you’ll find in the abovementioned rivals, it looks better and is easier to use than the 7-inch base unit. The top-level Elite trim adds a 10.2-inch driver information display and we especially like the heads-up display and available 12-speaker Bose sound system.
Safety Features
The Pilot features Honda Sensing, the automaker’s full suite of driver safety aids. It includes lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automated emergency braking, pedestrian detection, cyclist detection, and adaptive cruise control.
It’s a great package and we love to see that it comes on every trim regardless of price. It’s worth noting that the Pilot didn’t win any awards with the IIHS for 2023. As of this writing, the NHTSA hasn’t released any safety scores for the Pilot either.
2023 Honda Pilot Trims & Pricing
LX – $37,295
The Pilot LX gets push-button ignition, keyless entry for the driver’s door, manually-adjustable seats, remote start, dual-zone climate control, a second-row bench seat a 7-inch digital gauge cluster, a 7-inch infotainment system, wired Android Auto, wired Apple CarPlay, seven speakers, LED headlights, and 18-inch wheels. Safety equipment includes the Honda Sensing safety suite mentioned above. Front-wheel drive is standard but AWD is available.
Sport – $40,495
At this trim level, buyers get 20-inch wheels, keyless ignition and entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable heated front seats, and LED fog lights. The Sport trim also gets blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic alert.
EX-L – $43,295
The EX-L is the first real step toward luxury in the Pilot lineup. It goes back to 18-inch wheels but adds driver’s memory settings, leather-trimmed upholstery, optional second-row captain’s chairs, a sound-reducing windshield, heated wing mirrors, tri-zone climate control, second-row climate controls, second-row sunshades, wireless versions of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a 9-inch infotainment system, nine speakers, a wireless phone charger, an additional 12-volt power port, and parking sensors.
Touring – $47,795
This trim adds keyless entry for all doors, a hands-free power tailgate, a wifi hotspot, a panoramic sunroof, integrated navigation, 12 speakers, and a second-row bench seat with a removable or stowable middle seat.
TrailSport – $49,695
The off-road-focused TrailSport gets AWD as a standard feature. In addition, it gets 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires, a full-sized spare tire, a 1.0-inch suspension lift, skid plates, a hill-descent system, and special tuning for its AWD system including a “Trail” driving mode.
Elite – $53,375
The top trimmed Pilot also gets AWD as a standard feature but also adds a heated windshield, a heated steering wheel, heated outboard second-row seats, a household-style power outlet, ventilated front seats, a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, a heads-up display, and a surround-view camera system.
Warranties
Every Pilot comes with the same warranty. It includes bumper-to-bumper coverage for the first three years or 36,000 miles and powertrain coverage for up to five years or 60,000 miles. In addition, Honda will cover the first two years or 24,000 miles of scheduled maintenance too. That’s not bad but Hyundai and Kia offer substantially more. Even Jeep offers better coverage with its Grand Cherokee L.
What we think
2023 Honda Pilot – automobiles.honda.com | Shop 2023 Honda Pilot on Carsforsale.com
The 2023 Honda Pilot addresses a number of pain points we found with it in years past. It’s more spacious, it looks better, it’s more featureful, and it’s got better technology than ever before.
It’s still not the king of the segment that it once was as rivals have found a way to offer more at or below the price of the Pilot but we still think it’s worth cross-shopping if you’re in the market for a three-row SUV. It was one of our favorite family cars in 2022 and it likely will be again this year.
