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Does a new generation and three years make for a better vehicle? We’re going to find out by comparing the 2023 Honda Pilot to the 2020 Honda Pilot!
It’s Pilot vs. Pilot Today
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We already did a full review of the new 2023 Honda Pilot., which kicked off the fourth generation of the mid-size crossover. A few years ago, we also provided an in-depth review of the 2020 Honda Pilot, which we called a solid SUV with great features and an athletic design. There are fans of the Honda Pilot here. After all, we did rank it as one of the Top 10 Best Family Cars.
Now, however, the question is: how does the 2020 Honda Pilot compare to the 2023 Honda Pilot? Is the new 2023 model better or does the 2020 Pilot still offer car shoppers a good amount of features and performance? Let’s get right to it and find out!
Specs
The 2020 Honda Pilot is powered by a 3.5L V6 that produces 280 horsepower (hp) and 262 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed or nine-speed automatic transmission accompanies that engine. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard on most 2020 models, but all-wheel drive (AWD) is included with some trims. Fuel economy is OK with 19 miles per gallon (mpg) in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
A 3.5L V6 engine can also be found in the 2023 Honda Pilot. This V6 makes 285 hp, though. It still makes 262 lb-ft of torque. The biggest difference is that a 10-speed automatic transmission is standard across the lineup. Believe it or not, fuel efficiency (quite) isn’t as good in the 2023 model, with an Environmental Protection Agency-estimated 19 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.
Driving and Performance
The 2020 Honda Pilot is quite capable on the road. It has quick acceleration, whether during city or highway driving. It’s easy to slow down, too. The brakes are consistent, so going around curves in mountain declines isn’t an issue. The steering is precise enough that the 2020 Pilot doesn’t feel too heavy when zipping into turns. That holds true in city driving or on the highway. The ground clearance isn’t entirely impressive, measuring 7.3 inches, but it isn’t any worse than most mid-size SUVs. Though the 2020 Honda Pilot isn’t an off-roader like a Jeep or a Subaru, drivers can comfortably take it off the beaten path every now and then.
The acceleration of the 2023 Honda Pilot is about the same as it is for the 2020 Pilot. It really doesn’t feel much quicker, but the response is a bit more refined. Drivers will likely hear the transmission as it works to get the vehicle going. You don’t have to press very hard on the gas pedal to start moving, and the braking is smooth. Most trims have 7.3 inches of ground clearance, but the TrailSport trim gets an extra boost with 8.3 inches of ground clearance. The suspension in the 2023 Pilot soaks up a lot of the bumps along the way. There’s not much body lean in and out of turns either.
Comfort and Interior
The 2020 Honda Pilot may not be priced at a luxury level, but it does OK for itself. Seating up to eight people in three rows, the SUV has 40.9 inches of legroom up front, 38.4 inches in the second row, and 31.9 inches behind that. It does have a 60/40 split-folding or one-touch slide-and-fold seats for the second row. Since not all trim levels are created equal, you have to move up to mid-trim level to get leather upholstery.
There are six trims in total: the LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. The Black Edition, in particular, has a sharp-looking interior. Black leather seats with cherry red trim, second-row captain’s chairs, and a panoramic sunroof are all part of that Pilot. Some other nice features scattered across the lineup include an audio system with seven or 10 speakers, an 8” touchscreen, and a wireless charging pad.
If you’re looking for space, the 2023 Honda Pilot improves upon previous iterations of the vehicle. There’s more space in every row, increasing to 41 inches in front, 40.8 inches in the second row, and 32.5 inches in the third row. Yeah, that third row is still a little cramped compared to some competitors like the 2023 Hyundai Palisade and the 2023 Chevy Traverse, but this is still better than the 2020 Pilot.
Honda keeps the 2023 Pilot up to date with a nine-inch infotainment screen, wireless phone connectivity, a wireless charging pad, a WiFi hot spot, HD radio, satellite radio, and nine or 12 speakers. A lot of those features are the same as in the 2020 Pilot, but the nine-inch screen, for example, is an element that adds favor to the 2023 model.
Trims and Features
Honda equipped the 2020 Pilot with plenty of driver assistance features, including road departure mitigation, a rearview camera, adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, and lane departure warning. Those are on all six trim levels: the LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. One-touch slide-and-fold second-row seats are added starting with the EX.
Meanwhile, the EX-L adds leather upholstery and options for second-row USB charging points, navigation, and a rear seat entertainment system. The Touring is the trim that gets roof rails, front and rear parking sensors, a hands-free liftgate, heated rear seats, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Perfect for touring the countryside, huh? The Black Edition sits atop the mountain with black exterior accents and impressive cherry red interior.
Car buyers can also choose between six trims for the 2023 version of the Honda Pilot, but the EX and Black Edition trims are no longer available. Instead, for 2023, Honda offers the LX, Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Elite trim levels. Of course, the Elite is going to have the most features, like a heated windshield, ventilated front seats, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera. However, even the base LX trim starts off with a seven-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, tri-zone climate control, and a seven-speaker audio system.
The Sport and EX-L have their own additions (like leather-trimmed upholstery, blind-spot warning, and wireless Apple and Android connectivity), but the TrailSport is the trim to go with if you plan to use your Honda Pilot for adventuring. It comes with standard AWD, a full-size spare tire, an extra inch of ground clearance, a Class III trailer hitch, a panoramic sunroof, a surround-view camera, and a heated windshield. Plus, there are some additional features that make the TrailSport even more appealing.
New vs Used Honda Pilot: The Verdict
2020 Honda Pilot – hondanews.com | Shop Honda Pilot on Carsforsale.com
After reviewing all of that information, which vehicle is better here? If we’re going strictly by modern features, the 2023 Honda Pilot does edge out the 2020 Pilot. After all, it has a few new features, more space, and the new TrailSport model. It also has a starting price of $36,300. A used 2020 Honda Pilot (let’s go with a mid-level Touring still has a price tag of about $33,500.
That’s not much of a decrease for a model that’s three years old. However, the thing to remember is that the $36,300 starting price of a brand-new 2023 Honda Pilot is just that: a starting price. If you move up to the 2023 Pilot Touring, TrailSport, or Elite, you’re looking at a price tag of over $45,000.
Though the TrailSport will catch your eye for a bit of off-road fun, the 2020 Honda Pilot is the more economical choice. It has a slightly smaller touchscreen, slightly less legroom, and slightly less horsepower (just 5 hp less than the 2023 model). For me, those aren’t deal breakers. The 2020 Honda Pilot is capable, significantly less expensive than the highest trims of the 2023 model and can be had with around 30,000 miles on it. The 2020 Honda Pilot isn’t outdated enough to warrant a brand-new car purchase, especially if you’re looking to save some money.
Alright, we just compared the 2023 Pilot to the 2020 Pilot, but there are more than 20 years of the Honda Pilot models to go through. You can look at them all, from the first generation to the current, in our Honda Pilot Through the Years article.
