How much will the Honda Pilot 2023 be?

What kind of vehicle is the 2023 Honda Pilot? What does it compare to?

The Honda Pilot offers three rows of seats, V-6 power, and all-wheel drive, so it’s in the same class as the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Toyota Highlander, and Ford Explorer. 

Is the 2023 Honda Pilot a good SUV?

Review continues below

It’s new, and we haven’t yet driven it—but the recent brace of improved Hondas, from the Civic to the HR-V and CR-V, bode well for the big Pilot. We rated last year’s model at 6.5 out of 10; we’ll rate the new one as soon as we drive it. (Read more about how we rate cars.)

What's new for the 2023 Honda Pilot?

It’s revamped, reskinned, and retooled, and just in time given the stunning success of its South Korean rivals. Honda bets the Pilot’s new shape and upgraded technology, not to mention a tougher Trailsport edition, will draw the spotlight back in its direction.

It’ll have to convince drivers that the Pilot’s new shape is a winner. We’re intrigued: there’s some Isuzu (!) in its rear end, some Acura MDX across the front. It’s a pendulum swing away from the softly rounded Pilot of last year, more in line with the rectilinear model that preceded that one in the 2010s. The Pilot squares up with a patterned grille and slim, wedgy LED headlights set on C-shaped air intake pedestals. The grille’s in proportion with the related MDX, but veers into its own country down the sides, where an upkick in its rear roof pillars reminds us of the old Honda Passport/Isuzu Rodeo duo. Inside, the 2023 Pilot adopts a very clean dash capped with a 7.0-inch touchscreen on base models, upgraded to a 9.0-inch touchscreen on all other versions. Simple knobs and buttons reign over the dash, including the gear selector.

For power Honda taps a new 3.5-liter V-6, identical in displacement to the engine in the outgoing model. The new unit churns out 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, up marginally, but paired now to a 10-speed automatic, versus the 9-speed unit found in the previous version. Paddle shift controls are standard. A new all-wheel-drive system (standard on Trailsport and Elite models) can shift up to 70% of the power to the rear end, which can then split it across the rear wheels for better distribution, Honda says. The drivetrain has Normal, Econ, Snow, Sport, and Tow modes—it can tow up to 5,000 lb—and special Sand and Trail modes in higher-end models promise more fine control of traction. Wheel sizes range from 18- to 20-inchers.

On the new Trailsport, Honda tunes the Pilot’s suspension for better off-road performance with an extra inch of ground clearance and better articulation, and fits standard 18-inch all-terrain tires. Skid plates protect the Pilot’s tenderer bits—its transmission and gas tank—while the Trail mode helps keep wheelspin in check by moving and reducing power as needed and applying the front brakes to modulate power more precisely. A special surround-view camera system generates specific views at low speeds to help drivers pick out the least treacherous path.

All Pilots ride on a new, stiffer platform—up to 60% stiffer across the front end and 30% across the rear, Honda claims. At 199.9 inches long (Trailsport: 200.2 inches), the 2023 Pilot has a wheelbase of 113.8 inches, a gain of 2.8 inches, and a wider track to make the most of its front strut and rear multilink suspension and its quicker steering reflexes. Bigger front brake rotors and hill descent control are standard, too.

The new Pilot seats up to eight passengers in a 2-3-3 configuration—and the ‘22 Pilot has been one of the most comfortable in the third row for larger passengers. The second-row seat has a removable middle section and, Honda says, 2.4 inches in additional leg room. Row three leg room has risen 0.6 inches. With the third row folded down the Pilot has up to 113.7 cubic feet of cargo room; it’s 22.4 cubic feet with the third row up.

No crash-test data has been released, but the 2023 Pilot has automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, adaptive cruise control, active lane control, and traffic-sign recognition.

How much does the 2023 Honda Pilot cost?

The 2023 Pilot arrives in five trims: Sport, EX-L, Trailsport, Touring, and Elite. Prices haven’t been released but are sure to rise versus the 2022 edition’s range from about $40,000 to $55,000. All models come with heated front seats, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto; most versions offer it wirelessly, along with wireless smartphone charging. Bose audio, a 10.2-inch digital instrument panel, leather upholstery, a panoramic sunroof, and navigation are available.

Where is the 2023 Honda Pilot made?

In Lincoln, Alabama.

When can I buy Honda Pilot 2023?

Is the Honda Pilot changing for 2023?

How much is a fully loaded 2022 Honda Pilot?

How much should I pay for a 2022 Honda Pilot?