Honda is launching a new version of its popular Pilot SUV for 2023, and it can’t come soon enough; the current-generation Pilot placed last in Cars.com’s 2020 comparison testing of three-row SUVs. What should we expect from the new version of the Pilot? Honda released teaser images and a couple of details today, promising the next Pilot will be “the most rugged Honda SUV ever.”
Related: Honda Pilot: Which Should You Buy, 2021 or 2022?
Honda is talking about the 2023 Pilot in TrailSport trim, which is the automaker’s off-road line. The TrailSport trim launched on the smaller 2022 Passport as mostly a rugged appearance package, though Honda says other future TrailSport models will have increased off-road goodies to back up their aggressive looks.
In the 2023 Pilot, Honda says the TrailSport will come standard with all-terrain tires, steel skid plates, an off-road-tuned suspension and expanded all-wheel-drive system capabilities.
What else do we hope the new 2023 Pilot has? The Pilot was last redesigned in 2016, and it shows; several key components need updating. The current Pilot came in last in our recent three-row SUV challenge due to several shortcomings: Its cabin design and materials, as well as its multimedia technology, lag many newer rivals. It was also among the loudest SUVs in the test.
Look for more details on the new Pilot later this fall.
