On or Off-Road, the 2023 Honda Pilot Sets a New SUV Standard

Honda’s record of innovation continues with the re-designed, fourth-generation 2023 Honda Pilot. Two things particularly will set the 2023 Pilot above the rest of the field of three-row SUVs:

1. A new “TrailSport” trim that comes equipped specifically to take off-road. It has all-wheel drive, 18” all-terrain tires, higher ground clearance (8.3”), off-road drive tuning, full-size spare tire, two skid plates. The i-VTM torque-vectoring AWD allows a massive 70% torque transfer to the rear axle, enabling traction on uneven terrain.
2. “TrailWatch,” an all-around camera technology that makes going off-road safer and able to take on some of the most rugged terrain more confidently. TrailWatch allows drivers to see the terrain and make driving decisions based on what you see. TrailWatch is offered on TrailSport and the top-of-the-line Elite models.

After a test drive of the TrailSport with the TrailWatch cameras in Sedona, Arizona, Gear Junkie’s Robin Warner concluded, “The trail proved manageable for a novice off-roader like me. The combination of skid-plates, more ground clearance and all-terrain tires provided the Pilot TrailSport with capability to spare.”  Or as Auto Evolution put it, “a comfortable family-sized crossover that wouldn’t feel out of place off the beaten path.”

The Honda Pilot is impressive in every one of its five trims – Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring and Elite. It is larger than previous Pilots, which means more space for both people and gear. The 3.5-liter, 285-hp, six-cylinder engine has 262 lb-ft of torque married to a 10-speed transmission. There’s a choice among Normal, ECON, Snow, Tow and Sport driving modes. All-wheel-drive adds Trail and Sand modes.

Every 2023 Honda Pilot comes with the outstanding Honda Sensing® safety suite. It is more fuel efficient: 2WD models get 22 mpg combined city/highway, while the AWD Elite gets 21 mpg and the TrailSport, equipped with the all-terrain tires gets 20 mpg combined.

Excellent audio and connectivity technology come with all trim levels, with each level building on the last. The same is true of other convenience and comfort features. The Pilot comes as a seven or eight-passenger vehicle. You can remove the second-row center section on the Touring and Elite trim levels.

The 2023 Honda Pilot is happy and performs well in any environment that Colorado’s roads, mountains and weather conditions can throw at it. It’s an ideal vehicle for the Centennial State’s families.