The Honda Pilot is comfortable and quiet, with user-friendly controls, lots of interior storage cubbies, and a hospitable third-row seat. We also enjoy its smooth and powerful V6 engine. All of these virtues make it an excellent choice for families, and have helped move the Pilot closer to the top of our three-row midsized SUV rankings.
The 2023 Pilot made incremental but notable gains in power and interior space. Like before, it shares its underlying structure and most of its powertrain with the Acura MDX. Honda updated the woefully slow-responding infotainment system, and attention was given to improving the fit and finish of the Pilot’s interior. Our tested fourth-tier Touring trim (out of six available) has nicer materials and better-feeling controls than the previous generation, yet the interior layout remains clean and straightforward rather than fancy and futuristic.
Unlike some competitors that have switched to turbocharged four-cylinder engines, Honda is sticking with a naturally-aspirated 3.5-liter V6. The 285-horsepower engine is smooth and refined, packing plenty of reserve power. By the numbers it’s about mid-pack in outright acceleration, with our all-wheel-drive model (front-wheel drive comes standard) scampering from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7 seconds. The 10-speed automatic transmission upshifts with precision, although there’s some initial abruptness off the line that takes some getting used to. The 21 mpg overall on regular fuel the Pilot AWD managed in our testing is a 1-mpg improvement over the previous model, and par for the course for the midsized three-row SUV class.
Handling is sharper than before, with well-controlled body roll through corners, but the steering’s overly light feel takes away from driver confidence. The Pilot doesn’t possess the eager, agile character of a Ford Explorer or Mazda CX-90. The firm suspension absorbs most bumps nicely, with a steady and controlled ride, even with the large 20-inch tires that most Pilots come with. Braking performance is commendable, with some of the shortest stopping distances in the class.
The cabin is quiet, which helps make the Pilot a relaxing long-distance cruiser. Also contributing to comfort is the wide and accommodating driver’s seat, which has decent adjustability (including two-way lumbar) and long-lasting support. The second-row bench seat in our tested Pilot is pretty comfortable and offers lots of headroom and ample foot space under the front seats. Most Pilot trims come with an eight-passenger seating configuration, with a second-row middle seat that can be removed and handily stored in a well behind the third row. A beautifully simple push-button tilt-and-slide mechanism on the second-row seats creates a clear path to one of the roomiest third-row seats in the midsized SUV class.
Many of the Pilot’s controls are physical in nature, placed logically around the cabin, and within good reach of the driver. The infotainment system is a breeze to learn, with large text and icons that can be moved around on the 9-inch touchscreen (standard on the EX-L trim and above), like on a smartphone, so often-used features can all be on one screen. We also love the solid feel of the climate control’s large knobs and buttons. However, the electronic push-button gear selector takes some getting used to, as it usually forces the driver to look down during parking maneuvers when shifting between Reverse and Drive.
The Pilot comes with the “Honda Sensing” suite of active safety and driver assistance features. Standard systems include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking that operates at highway speeds, lane centering assistance, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. The base LX trim has been dropped for 2025 and a Black Edition trim added. Blind spot warning and rear cross traffic warning became standard on all trims.