2023 Honda Pilot Trailsport

Test Drive Notes Library

Pros
Big, but not huge. There’s an optional third row of seats for when you need it. And even adults will survive back there without too much squealing. When the third row is in use, it eats up much of the cargo space. But there’s plenty of cargo room with the third row folded down. So it’s not ideal for taking six people on vacation. But if you drive carpool, and sometimes have to carry five kids from soccer practice back to their reform school, you could flip up the third row seats and get it done without having to drive a much larger vehicle all the time.
Powertrain. The Pilot uses a rather old style (these days) normally-aspirated V6 that makes 285 hp. It’s a throwback in a way, but it’s smooth, quiet, and has plenty of juice to move the Pilot around when you step on it. With no turbo, the torque is available off the line without waiting for anything to spool up. The 10-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly and unobtrusively.
Well thought out. Inside, it’s typical Honda. It’s ergonomically sensible, with physical controls for most things, including a prized volume knob. The infotainment system, with a modest sized 9-inch screen, has been given a welcome upgrade, and now responds quickly to inputs. We found wireless Apple CarPlay worked perfectly every time. The cabin is reasonably quiet in the Pilot, but the Trailsport trim’s knobbier tires increased road noise. There are lots of Honda-esque cubbies and storage nooks, making life a little easier for us slobs. In another small but thoughtful touch, the wireless phone charging pad has side rails to keep your smart phone in place and charging while you drive. Anyone who’s driven a car without such a feature knows that this is a 15-cent game changer.
Comfortable ride. While the Pilot isn’t excessively long, it’s plenty wide, leaving passengers with plenty of hip and shoulder room. Wide, comfortable front seats enhance the roomy feeling. The second row comes with either two captain’s chairs or a removable bench for three. The quiet cabin makes longer highway drives easy. Overall, it’s a firm comfort, not a squishy comfort. But the suspension does a good job.
Improved handling. This version of the Pilot feels better controlled than the last one we drove. The steering is still a bit too light and numb, which can skew one's impression of how well the vehicle handles. But in reality, it stays well controlled and pretty flat in corners for an SUV. If you switch into “Sport” mode, the steering tightens up a bit, as does the throttle response, making it more fun to drive. But since Sport mode moves the shift points higher, driving that way for long can feel tedious.
Trailsport option. We tested Honda's recently introduced “Trailsport” version of the Pilot, for those who actually want to go off-road, or want to appear to go off-road. It includes all-terrain tires, an extra inch of ground clearance, skid plates, and some off-road oriented drive modes. We didn’t get a chance to test it off-road, but we’ll take Honda’s word for it that it can handle rougher terrain than the standard “street” Pilots.
Style. We like the look of the Pilot. It hits a sweet spot between looking capable and rugged, and looking juvenile and garish. The Trailsport ups the off-road look, if that’s your jam. The trapezoidal rear side window is even reminiscent of the OG Pathfinder. Our Trailsport tester came in a beautiful and unusual shade of blue that bystanders admired. It’s kind of a medium fjord blue that Honda calls Diffused Sky Pearl.

Cons
Terrible mileage. While EPA tests say we should have gotten 20, we got a measly 15 mpg in our weeklong test. Granted, much of our driving was urban and suburban, with a little highway driving, but still, that’s, what’s the word? Lousy.
Handling feel. As we say above, handling is pretty good overall, and certainly competent. We wish the steering was a little heavier, and you could feel the road a skosh more. The lightness of the steering makes the Pilot’s handling feel less agile than it actually is.
Trailsport drawbacks. Should you get the Trailsport? Unless you honestly intend to do off-roading, we would issue this advisory: If you care most about how your Pilot looks, get the Trailsport. If you care most about how it drives, get an EX-L, or one of the other street-oriented versions. We love the rugged styling of the Trailsport, but the louder tires and increased ride height don’t do anything to enhance day to day comfort.