The 2023 Honda Pilot AWD TrailSport SUV
What is a Pilot? A Pilot is a midsize 3 row SUV built in the Lincoln, Alabama assembly plant and sold in North America by Honda. This all new 2023 Pilot has been improved from the front grille to the rear tailgate, and everything in between. The new Pilot’s styling is boxier, and more truck like, which gives it a more rugged overall appearance, with a new engine and transmission that actually makes it run and drive a lot smoother.
The Pilot drive line has a 3.5L liter V/6 gas engine with variable cylinder management, bolted to a 10 speed automatic transmission, routed into a full time all wheel drive (AWD) traction control system. The Pilot has an integrated drive mode select feature that provides settings for every driving condition, that include normal, econ, sport, snow, tow, trail and sand. It has hill start assist and hill descent control for that perfect traction on any surface that you might find yourself driving on road or off road at any time.
The 2023 Honda Pilot is longer and taller than the 2022 edition. It gained about four inches of exterior length, measuring 199.9 inches long compared to 2022’s 196.5 inches. It’s also taller, at 71 inches, compared to 2022’s 70.6 inches. The new 2023 Honda Pilot is bigger on the inside too, with more legroom, more headroom and more rear cargo room.
To prove that point, this week Honda sent me a 2023 Pilot AWD SUV to test drive and review. The base window sticker price for this TrailSport Edition is $48,700. The only option on the test SUV is the special Sky Blue paint charge for $455. The manufactures suggested retail price (MSRP), including the $1,345 destination charge, is: $50,500.
After adding in the state and local sales tax, plus the DMV and dealers fees, the out the door and in your driveway total purchase price came to: $56,813. At just under $57 Grand this Honda AWD Pilot with the TrailSport Edition checks off all the right boxes. It looks great, drives great, and has the best features for the price.
The midsize 3 row SUV segment has over 10 competitors, with many more coming down the pike every day. To stand out from the crowd the new 2023 Honda Pilot features many first class amenities: such as a full leather interior, a heated and leather wrapped steering wheel, an audio system with 9 speakers, a wireless phone charging pad, a 9″ center stack color touch screen with a surround view camera system, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Sirius XM HD satellite radio with Cabin Talk, push button start, a push button shifter, tri-zone climate control, a 10 way drivers power seat with memory, a 4 way passenger power seat, heated front seats, 2nd row captains chairs, one touch 2nd row folding seats, an auto dimming rear view mirror, illuminated vanity mirrors, a sunglass holder with rear mirror and 2nd row sunshades.
The Honda Sensing safety systems start with adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation and traffic jam assist.
Interior safety has front air bags, side air bags, side curtain air bags and knee air bags. In addition, there’s vehicle stability assist, anti-lock braking, electronic brake distribution, a tire pressure monitoring system, LED running lights and a LATCH system for child seats.
As the 2023 Honda Pilot has been redesigned inside and out, the new exterior features include front and rear parking sensors, a panoramic roof, a power tailgate, 18′ black alloy wheels with 265/60 R18 rugged all terrain tires, automatic high beam control, LED fog lights, heated power folding door mirrors with turn indicators, a heated windshield, roof rails, rear privacy glass, smart entry, a security system, remote engine start and a very cool walk away automatic door locking system.
I recommend the Pilot TrailSport AWD Edition due to its balance of price, function and features. The TrailSport trim adds leather seats, a leather wrapped steering wheel, the bigger 9″ inch touch screen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless smart phone charging and a power lifting tailgate. Whether or not you need all wheel drive (AWD) is a matter of your personal preference. Either way, a Honda Pilot is a great SUV.
Call, click or visit your local Honda dealer for a test drive, and a Bottom Line price review on the 2023 Honda Pilot AWD TrailSport SUV. And remember that the base price for a new Pilot starts at only $36,300. Honda – The Power of Dreams.
Be smart, stay safe, and just breathe. Remember, You Are What You Drive, and maybe, just for those reasons alone, you should Drive one, Buy one, Today. Have a great day, drive safely, and enjoy the ride, as the future looks bright – Tony the Car Guy.
This Bottom Line new vehicle review is a Nut & Bolt and Dollars & Sense editorial provided by Tony Leopardo. Tony the Car Guy is an automotive writer, editor and publisher in the San Francisco Bay Area. If you have a question, or comment for Tony, send it to tonyleo@pacbell.net and visit AutoWire.Net at www.autowire.net