LOS ANGELES — Honda’s fourth-generation Pilot takes the stage as the closing act to what the Japanese automaker dubs the “year of the Honda SUV.” The kid hauler has been reimagined for 2023 as a more competitive crowd pleaser in one of the industry’s toughest segments.
Though the three-row Pilot is technically a unibody crossover, in its newest form it represents the closest thing Honda has to a true sport utility vehicle — reaching beyond the size and capability of the midsize Ridgeline pickup.
The 2023 Pilot, based on Honda’s new light-truck architecture, stretches 3.4 inches longer than the crossover it replaces. The wheelbase is up by 2.8 inches to 113.8 inches, while the front and rear tracks are extended by more than 1 inch. The bigger size lends to a smoother ride and greater stability, Honda says, while adding more space in the second and third rows and to the cargo area.
Also noteworthy is Pilot’s powertrain — a new 3.5-liter V-6 engine mated to Honda’s second-generation 10-speed automatic transmission. Honda says this is its most powerful engine yet with 285 hp and 262 pound-feet of torque. Though fuel efficiency is not yet certified, Honda expects ratings will improve over the outgoing model.
U.S. sales of the Pilot, Honda’s No. 3 light truck after the CR-V and HR-V, dropped 33 percent to 82,795 through the first three quarters of the year as the company battles parts shortages and shipping delays. Pilot deliveries peaked at 159,615 vehicles in 2018. The Toyota Highlander, with U.S. sales of 182,413 vehicles, down 19 percent through October, and the Ford Explorer, with 172,130 deliveries, down 4.8 percent, dominate the lucrative three-row crossover market.
The new Pilot reclaims the boxy silhouette of the second-generation model that was swapped for a softer, more aerodynamic shape on the third-generation. A strong beltline and flared fenders help portray a move aggressive stance.
The Pilot’s upright grille resembles the rest of Honda’s light trucks.
The A-pillar is now pushed back and, in combination with a giant clamshell design hood — the largest Honda has ever produced — makes for a longer, more athletic dash-to-axle ratio.
