The Honda Pilot has always been a strong seller for Honda over the years, but when we last saw the TrailSport moniker on the previous generation Pilot, it was all show and no substance, with that model having no functional add-ons whatsoever. The second generation 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport has clearly learned from this faux paux and has arrived with usable upgrades that make it ready for the trail. But is all of this enough to help the 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport stand out from a growing pool of rugged light trail warriors?
The Sky’s The Limit With Pilot TrailSport’s New Look
The 2023 Pilot TrailSport benefits from some updates that helped sharpen up the rest of the family. A new light-truck architecture allowed engineers to work with an all-new canvas, and that’s evident in the Pilot’s styling, with the front end adopting a more slab-sided look that gets a bigger front grille and reworked headlights. This look has had time to grow on us, and we like how it works with the Diffused Sky Blue Paint (a $455 option exclusive to the TrailSport.)
TrailSport models stand out by offering a reworked front bumper to improve the approach angle and a slight suspension lift to improve ground clearance. Knobby all-terrain tires are also part of the package and are mounted onto 18-inch TrailSport exclusive wheels. The look is very balanced, and from some angles, the TrailSport manages to outshine rivals like the Ford Explorer, Toyota 4Runner, Subaru Ascent, and the Chevrolet Traverse.
Pilot TrailSport Interior Excels In Storage, Boasts Higher Quality
Slip inside the Pilot TrailSport, and you’ll find an interior that benefits from higher-grade materials and a new cabin design. Unlike other Honda models, the Pilot does not get the all-encompassing air vent piece that runs across the entire dashboard width. The Pilot gets a more traditional set of vents, with the passenger getting a small storage cubby for small items. TrailSport models get black and orange trim accents, with the latter color being used in the contrast stitching for the leather seats and the steering wheel. The seats offer a balanced mixture of comfort and support, but the thrones are still no match for some of the chairs we have seen in a few of its rivals. The second-row seats offer ample room for adults, but the third row (like others in its segment) is best left for children or folded down to help increase cargo space.
A 9.0-inch infotainment system is standard on the TrailSport, and while it’s small when compared to other systems in the segment, the software here is still slick, and the menu interface is easy to use and understand. The 9.0-inch screen also comes with a small sprinkling of analog buttons, including a formal volume knob which addresses some of the complaints consumers had about the older pure touch systems that Honda once used. A minor complaint that we have is the extensive use of piano black trim around some of the controls. While it looks sporty, it also attracts fingerprints that visually stick out in bright sunlight.
Performance Maintains V6 Flavor, TrailSport Shines On The Trail
Look under the hood of the 2023 Pilot TrailSport, and at first glance, it might seem that Honda chose to carry the 3.5-liter V6 from the outgoing model. However, while the displacement is the same, the inner DNA is not, with this engine actually having more in common with the Acura MDX’s engine. Here in the TrailSport it makes 285 horsepower (a gain of 5) while the torque figure remains unchanged at 262 lb-ft. A revised fuel control system and other tweaks help the engine be more efficient, and Honda claims that the revisions help the Pilot lineup as a whole reach SULEV30 status with its emissions being compliant with fuel regulations for the next decade.
This enhanced fuel economy does come at a price, with Honda pitching the fabled VTEC system for this iteration of the Pilot. While the VTEC system itself was starting to show its age in recent years, we’ll miss the unique driving character that it brought to the Pilot and other models especially when the RPMs lurked in the upper reaches of the rev-band. A 10-speed automatic is the lone transmission available, and while it was also designed with a nod to fuel economy, the TrailSport is no Prius, with our tester getting an EPA-rated 20 miles in combined driving.
We’ll credit Honda for sticking with a V6 in an era where turbocharged four-cylinder engines are becoming prevalent, and the TrailSport makes good use of its off-road upgrades. It’s not going to match some of the more established benchmarks, like the Jeep Grand Cherokee, in terms of sheer capability, but it still goes further in the wilderness than the outgoing model ever did. A prominent catch here is that this strong focus on the trails also diminishes the TrailSport’s usability in urban commuting, with the knobby all-terrain tires generating plenty of tire noise and the handling feeling like the SUV was asleep at the wheel. This was especially apparent during a trip to Lansing, Michigan where the TrailSport served as a support vehicle while Emily’s old car went to its new owner. The freeway portions of the journey highlighted some of the problems we mentioned earlier, along with the lousy rearward vision from the rear window during passing.
Value Quotient
In addition to the updates that Honda made for 2023, the company also wanted to make sure that the Pilot maintained pricing that would still allow it to be a strong choice for family buyers. A base Pilot LX starts at $38,465 for a base front-wheel-drive model with all-wheel drive, adding $2,100 to the sticker price. The TrailSport is the third most luxurious Pilot in the lineup, with a base version starting over $48,000. Our tester had a light sprinkling of options, which caused the final price to bump up to a final as-tested price of $50,630.
That’s certainly a considerable slice of money to throw around, but the pricing here is also on par with the Ford Explorer Timberline, the Acura MDX and the Subaru Ascent. it also doesn’t hurt either that the Pilot is fresher than the Toyota 4Runner, which is the last remnant of a bygone era in SUV sales with its outright age balancing out its impressive off-road capabilities.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.