Honda Pilot once ruled but no more
The Honda Pilot debuted 21 years ago as the Japanese carmaker’s largest sport utility vehicle. It succeeded quickly as an alternative to its seven-year older and smaller sibling, the Honda CR-V.
The Honda HR-V, the smallest of an SUV foursome, arrived in North America in 2015. The Honda Passport, positioned between the HR-V and the Pilot, debuted in 1993.
Without exceptions, the vehicles provide customers Honda at its best: value, dependability and strong resale marks. But other manufacturers have infiltrated the marketplace which makes the 2023 Honda Pilot not quite the front-runner it once was. Kia, Hyundai and Mazda, among other manufacturers, offer formidable competition.
Still, the Honda Pilot, newly designed for 2023, is far from a slacker. It’s a solid choice for many reasons.
A five-door crossover with three rows of seating, the Pilot shares a platform with the Acura MDX, as well as its stablemate, the Odyssey minivan. The Pilot has a unibody construction and independent suspension and it’s a mixed breed. It drives similarly to a car but also has the strength for towing and light off-road use.
To further expand its off-road capabilities, the TrailSport joins the previous four trim levels — Sport, EX-L, Touring and Elite. With competitors looming, Honda changed the Pilot in several areas. It has a revised V6 engine and a new 10-speed automatic transmission.
