2023 Honda Pilot

2023 is the launch year of the fourth generation (on sale December 2022). Every trim uses the new 3.5L DOHC J35Y8 V6, so the volume trim and the range maximum are the same figure.

The naturally aspirated V6 makes its peak torque high in the rev range, at 5,000 rpm. That's mid-pack for mid-size three-rows and short of the low-end pull of turbo rivals.

Honda publishes no 0–60 time. Car and Driver's instrumented 2023 Elite AWD ran 7.2 s, which matches the generation's test average; Consumer Reports clocked its AWD car at 7.7 s.

The new naturally aspirated V6 is smooth and quiet, with linear throttle response and no turbo lag. It needs revs to feel strong, though, and lacks the low-end punch of turbo and hybrid rivals.

New for 2023, a Honda-built 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters replaces the ZF 9-speed. Reviewers note crisp upshifts, but also some abruptness off the line and busy part-throttle shifting.

AWD Pilots are rated to tow 5,000 lbs with accessory towing equipment; 2WD versions are limited to 3,500 lbs. That's in line with the mid-size three-row norm.

Second-generation i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD is offered on every 2023 trim from LX to Elite and is standard on TrailSport and Elite. Drive modes include Snow and Tow, plus Trail and Sand on AWD EX-L and up. There is no low range.

The new-for-2023 TrailSport trim adds ground clearance (8.3 in vs 7.3 in), all-terrain tires, steel skid plates with a front recovery point, and Trail Torque Logic. That makes it credible for light off-roading, but it has no low range or locking diffs.

There is one powertrain: the 3.5L V6 with 10-speed automatic on every trim. Rivals such as the Highlander, Explorer and CX-90 offer turbo, hybrid or plug-in options; the Pilot offers none.

The 3.5L V6 with 10-speed automatic, with no hybrid option, returns 21 MPG combined in the AWD volume trims. FWD gains 1 MPG; the TrailSport on all-terrain tires loses 1.

With no hybrid assist, the V6 manages 19 MPG in EPA city testing, well short of hybrid three-row rivals.

Cylinder deactivation and tall 10-speed gearing give the AWD volume trim 25 MPG highway. That's average for a non-hybrid V6 three-row.

An 18.5-gallon tank at the AWD trim's 21 MPG combined gives about 389 miles per fill. That's adequate, but behind hybrid rivals with 500+ mile ranges.

EPA's annual fuel cost at 15,000 mi/yr on regular gas is $3,200 for the AWD volume trim. It's high because the V6 has no hybrid assist.

Every 2023 Pilot trim is designed for regular unleaded, with no premium requirement or charging needs. The fuel is cheap and available everywhere; the high cost comes from how much the V6 uses.

NHTSA rates the 2023 Pilot 5 stars overall in both FWD and AWD form, with a 5-star side, 4-star frontal and 4-star rollover rating.

The redesigned 2023 Pilot earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+, with Good small overlap (driver and passenger), Good original moderate overlap and Good updated side results. It loses a few points because the later updated moderate overlap test (rear-seat dummy) rates Marginal for 2023–24 models, which Honda fixed only for MY2025.

Honda Sensing is standard on every 2023 trim from LX up: CMBS automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Keeping Assist, ACC with Low-Speed Follow, Traffic Jam Assist and Traffic Sign Recognition. IIHS lists blind-spot detection as standard for 2023, so the full AEB/ACC/LKA/BSM/RCTA suite is on every trim.

IIHS rates the standard CMBS Superior in both daytime and nighttime pedestrian front crash prevention: it avoided the 12 mph crossing-child and crossing-adult tests and avoided or heavily reduced the 25 mph parallel-adult tests.

Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Monitor are standard on every trim, but both are alert-only with no active steering or braking intervention and no trailer-length coverage.

Standard LKAS plus Traffic Jam Assist provide working lane centering that reviewers find competent day to day, though it can wander through curves and is less polished than Hyundai/Kia Highway Driving Assist.

Full-speed-range ACC with Low-Speed Follow is standard on every trim and pairs with LKAS/Traffic Jam Assist for serviceable highway assist; gap changes can feel abrupt next to the best rival systems.

No 2023 Pilot trim offers hands-free highway driving; Traffic Jam Assist requires hands on the wheel.

IIHS rates the LED headlights Good across the 2023 range, with credit for standard high-beam assist.

The upright, boxy fourth-generation body gives good forward and side sightlines for a three-row SUV. A rearview camera is standard, but the surround-view camera is limited to upper trims, so rear blind zones are only partly covered on the volume trim.

IIHS rates the LATCH hardware Good+, with extra LATCH positions beyond the minimum, and the wide rear doors and One-Touch second-row seats ease car-seat fitting and third-row access.

The volume EX-L seats eight in the first year of the fourth generation; the EX-L 7P and TrailSport seat seven.

The EX-L has no moonroof, so it gets the full 40.5 in.

Front legroom is average to tight for a mid-size three-row.

Generous second-row headroom on the non-moonroof volume trim.

Second-row legroom is among the best in the mainstream three-row class.

The third row has 39.3 in of headroom and 32.5 in of legroom, and every trim gets One-Touch 2nd-row tip-and-slide. Adults fit for moderate trips, but legroom trails the Traverse and Atlas, and the 2023 third row gets USB-A ports only.

Cargo space with the third row up is good for the class, but the figure behind the second row trails the biggest three-rows.

Max cargo is competitive for a mid-size three-row.

A deep hidden under-floor well, a large console and plenty of cupholders make storage good. The removable 2nd-row middle seat that stows under the floor is Touring/Elite only, though, and the 110V outlet is TrailSport only.

Supportive seats, with a 10-way power driver seat, memory and power lumbar on the EX-L, plus a roomy second row. Reviewers call them comfortable but not class-leading.

Smooth, composed ride that absorbs bumps without excessive lean. It is not as plush as the Palisade.

Active Noise Cancellation is standard and the EX-L gets an acoustic windshield. Reviewers found noise well controlled but not impressively quiet, with some A-pillar wind noise.

The EX-L gets tri-zone auto climate, heated front seats, rear sunshades and remote start (LX/Sport have dual-zone only). A heated wheel is TrailSport/Elite only, and ventilated fronts and heated 2nd-row seats are Elite only.

The launch year of the fourth generation opens with the LX 2WD (a trim Honda dropped for 2025), placing the Pilot's entry price mid-pack for a mainstream three-row mid-size SUV.

EX-L is the volume trim and AWD the typical configuration; typical transactions span roughly $43.6k–$50k across EX-L, Touring and TrailSport.

Edmunds' True Cost to Own projection for the 2023 EX-L AWD is high for the class, driven by year-2 and year-5 scheduled service spikes; KBB projects lower figures for the sibling 2024 (~$5.6k), so the true cost likely sits between the two.

KBB's market data shows the 2023 Pilot has lost about 37% in its first three years, which extrapolates to roughly 52% retained at five years — solid Honda resale, around the segment average.

Industry-baseline bumper-to-bumper coverage, behind Kia/Hyundai's 5 yr / 60k mi.

Industry-floor powertrain coverage, half the length of Korean rivals' 10 yr / 100k mi.

No complimentary scheduled maintenance; perks are limited to 3 yr / 36k mi 24-hour roadside assistance and a HondaLink connected-service trial, behind ToyotaCare's 2 yr / 25k mi included maintenance.

$45,745 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (52% retained, or about $23,787) leaves about $21,958 in depreciation. Add the projected $9,404 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $31,362 in total.

2023 is the first model year of the redesigned 4th-generation Pilot, so its prediction is not proven. J.D. Power rates it Average (80/100) on a score carried over from the prior generation, and Consumer Reports' prediction for the redesign is no better than average. That puts it in the middle band, a little below the 2024 that followed.

Honda ranks in the upper tier of mainstream brands in Consumer Reports' brand rankings. It sits only mid-pack in J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study, so it falls short of the consistent top-5 band.

Five NHTSA campaigns cover MY2023, and three of them are large and serious: a fuel leak, an engine stall and an unsecured brake-pedal pivot pin. A small-volume campaign also covers possible loss of steering. None carries a do-not-drive advisory, but the count and severity for a first-year redesign put it at the top of the below-average band.

The J35 V6 family has a long high-mileage record. In 2023, though, the new J35Y8 and Honda's in-house 10-speed automatic were in their first year in the Pilot, and the FI-ECU stall campaign covers them. The 10-speed does replace the 2016–2022 ZF 9-speed and its documented shift complaints.

The new 4th-gen cabin is sturdy and practical, an upgrade on the plain previous generation. Reviewers still note hard plastics low on the dash and doors and a small 9-inch screen, so it trails the Palisade and Telluride for perceived richness.

Lincoln, Alabama assembly is generally tight. Several MY2023 campaigns, however, stem from assembly errors in the launch year (an unsecured brake pedal pivot pin, under-torqued seat-frame fasteners, a steering gearbox with a loose bearing).

Honda runs one of the densest mainstream dealer networks in the US, with strong service-satisfaction scores among mass-market brands.

The Pilot shares its V6, 10-speed and chassis parts with the Passport, Ridgeline and Acura MDX, which keeps parts plentiful, aftermarket support strong and repair costs moderate.

EX-L and up get a 9-inch screen, small next to the 12.3-inch screens in Kia/Hyundai rivals.

Quick, simple interface with a physical volume knob and physical climate controls. The 9-inch screen looks plain and undersized in the big cabin.

Wireless CarPlay and Android Auto are standard from the EX-L up. LX and Sport are wired only.

Native navigation with voice recognition is Touring/Elite only. The EX-L relies on phone projection.

The EX-L gets a 245-watt, 9-speaker system, and the 12-speaker Bose is Touring/Elite. Adequate, not standout.

Most trims pair analog gauges with a 7-inch TFT. The 10.2-inch digital cluster is Elite only.

No meaningful whole-vehicle OTA updates. Software and map updates are dealer- or USB-based.

HondaLink connected remote services and the Wi-Fi hotspot are Touring/Elite only and need a paid subscription after the trials end. There is no phone-as-key.

The EX-L has ports in all three rows and a Qi wireless charger, but in 2023 the 2nd- and 3rd-row ports are 2.5-amp USB-A, with one front USB-C. A 110V outlet is TrailSport only.

The EX-L gets Smart Entry (front doors and tailgate), push-button start, key-fob remote start and a power tailgate. Hands-free tailgate and all-door entry are Touring/Elite only, and there is no phone-as-key.

A multi-angle rear camera is standard, and front/rear sensors come on the EX-L. The Multiview 360 camera is TrailSport/Elite only, and there is no automated parking.

A head-up display is offered, but only on the top Elite trim.

Eight seats, One-Touch 2nd-row tip-and-slide on every trim and G+-rated LATCH make family logistics easy. The removable middle seat is Touring/Elite only.

IIHS Top Safety Pick+ for 2023 and NHTSA 5-star overall. Honda Sensing with ACC and Traffic Jam Assist is standard, and blind-spot monitoring is standard per IIHS.

The EX-L brings a roomy 2nd row, a usable 3rd row, tri-zone climate, rear sunshades, ports in all three rows and 18.6 cu ft behind the third row. There is no rear entertainment, and 2023's rear ports are USB-A.

The smooth V6, comfortable ride and standard Traffic Jam Assist make it relaxing. The new 10-speed can feel abrupt off the line, and it is a big vehicle.

21-22 MPG combined on regular fuel is typical for a non-hybrid three-row V6.

A 37.8-ft turning circle is tidy for its size, and sensors come on the EX-L. The 360 camera is TrailSport/Elite only.

Rated to tow 5,000 lb with AWD (3,500 lb with 2WD) and has a Tow drive mode. Fine for light duty, but not a work vehicle.

The J35-family V6 has a strong longevity record, but 2023 is the first year of a new generation, with a new 10-speed. It is a unibody family SUV, not built for abuse.

Four cargo tie-downs and bag hooks on every trim help, but the EX-L lacks roof rails. The hitch receiver, skid plates and 110V outlet are TrailSport only.

Comfortable ride, standard ACC with Traffic Jam Assist and roomy seating, with about 390 miles of range. Cabin noise is controlled rather than hushed.

Available i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD with Snow, Trail and Sand modes, plus a 5,000-lb AWD tow rating. The TrailSport adds 8.3 in of clearance and skid plates, but the volume EX-L has 7.3 in.

A flat-folding second row, 60/40 third row, deep hidden well on the EX-L and 87 cu ft max make it flexible. The stowable middle seat is Touring/Elite only.

Stable and well planted in curves with controlled lean, but softly tuned. It placed last in Car and Driver's three-row comparison against the CX-90, Explorer and Pathfinder.

Light but linear and precise steering, with little feedback.

The pedal is responsive and easy to modulate, but the 189-ft stop from 70 mph is long for the class.

The 285-hp V6 is smooth, but peak torque arrives high at 5,000 rpm, and the new 10-speed can be abrupt off the line.

The V6 sounds pleasant when pushed, and Active Noise Cancellation masks cylinder-deactivation drone. Refined, though audible under load.

Tidy turning circle for a three-row SUV about 200 in long.

Commanding upright seat with a 10-way power driver seat and memory on the EX-L, a tilt/telescoping wheel and physical climate controls. Outward visibility is good.

Competent and family-first rather than engaging. The V6 has some character, but the ride is tuned for isolation.

Every 2023 Pilot gets the 285-hp V6, 10-speed automatic, full Honda Sensing suite, tri-zone climate and LED lighting, but the LX base has cloth seats, a 7-inch screen and wired-only phone integration; Telluride LX and Palisade SE match or beat that content for similar money.

Fair-to-good value: a roomy eight-seat cabin, smooth V6 and up to 5,000-lb towing from $37.6k to $53.7k, with the LX keeping the entry price close to Korean rivals; no hybrid option against Toyota's three-rows.

Seven trims (LX, Sport, EX-L 8-passenger, EX-L 7-passenger with captain's chairs, Touring, TrailSport, Elite) spanning $37.6k–$53.7k, with 2WD/AWD on most and an off-road-tuned TrailSport; only one powertrain.

Calendar 2023 Pilot sales reached 110,298 as the new generation ramped up from its December 2022 launch — a solid rebound but still behind Highlander, Explorer and Telluride, before surging to segment leadership in 2024.

Honda's reputation for reliability, resale and owner loyalty gives the Pilot a trusted family-SUV halo, though it lacks the style-driven pull of the Telluride.

As an all-new launch-year model during tight post-pandemic inventory, the 2023 Pilot mostly sold near MSRP with minimal incentives; modest APR/lease offers appeared only later in the model year.

2023 is the first model year of the all-new fourth generation on a revised platform with a new V6 and TrailSport variant — as fresh as the nameplate gets.

Reviewers praised the redesign's space, ride, and TrailSport capability, and it earned IIHS Top Safety Pick+, but it rarely won comparisons against the Telluride and Palisade; KBB ranked it #4 among 2023 three-row SUVs.