2023 Honda Pilot Redesign: What We Know and What We Expect

The current generation of Honda’s biggest SUV has been around for a while and even though it’s still competitive by many standards, it’s about to receive a complete overhaul. From what we know so far, the new generation will come already in the next year, as the 2023 Honda Pilot. At this point, we are still waiting for the details but we know very well that the Japanese manufacturer won’t change the proven recipe. The new generation should bring evolutionary changes only.

This means that the overall layout will remain the same. The 2023 Honda Pilot will continue with a typical three-row SUV layout and the only thing we expect to see are improvements. The new model will offer a higher level of comfort, better ride quality and more tech and safety features. Novelties under the hood are possible too, especially in terms of electrification.

We expect to see the redesigned model sometime in the second half of the next year.

2023 Honda Pilot Redesign

As we already mentioned, the 2023 Honda Pilot will bring mostly evolutionary changes. We don’t expect to see anything radical, though the new model will ride on a new platform. Of course, that’s the same one that underpins the new Acura MDX. The two models always had a lot of things in common and that should continue in the future as well. Therefore, the new model should feature slightly bigger dimensions, starting from a 2.8-inch longer wheelbase. The outgoing model measures 111.0 inches, while the new one should feature 113.8 inches between the wheels. Other dimensions should increase as well.

Of course, the new platform will bring a lot of new things, including a lot of mechanical improvements. This refers to general refinement, as well as to the new suspension setup. The Pilot has always been about a comfortable ride, so the new model should go in the same direction.

Exterior

Of course, the new generation will bring new exterior designs. We already mentioned that the new model could get slightly bigger but the overall shape won’t change. We expect to see similar proportions but are wrapped up with new aesthetics. At this point, it’s early to talk about details but we are pretty sure that the new model will bring have a lot of things in common with the smaller CR-V, especially at the front, but that model is also yet to come. So, more details should be known in the next few months.

Some sources also speculate about a performance version of the SUV. Allegedly, this model would come with a couple of off-road upgrades, including higher ground clearance and a few pieces of hardware, such as skid plates, standard AWD and even locking differential.

Interior

If you look at the current model, it’s hard to find any major drawback regarding interior design. The cabin is extremely spacious, with a cavernous cargo area, while the overall build quality is at a pretty high level. However, the cabin lacks fancy details and somehow looks less upscale compared to some rivals.

So, we expect that Honda enginers will put focus on the dashboard design in this case. We expect to see a more attractive shape, nicer materials and more tech features. As usual, the build quality should be very good.

Considering that the new 2023 Honda Pilot will feature a longer wheelbase, we might expect even more space. The improvement should particularly affect the third row of seats, which is currently typically tight for the segment and accommodates kids only. The cargo area could bring slight improvements as well, though we have to say that the current model is already impressive in this aspect, as it offers way over 100 cubic feet of the total volume.

2023 Honda Pilot Engines

When it comes to the powertrain, base models will most likely carry on in the same way. This means that you may count on a well-known, highly-refined 3.5-liter V6, which puts out around 290 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque. The engine will come in pair with a new 10-speed automatic transmission, which should make the ride smoother and also bring some improvements regarding efficiency.

Some sources also speculate about the hybrid version. At this point, we are pretty sure that such a version won’t be ready for the initial launch. Also, we don’t know the details but we presume that the new system would be based on a four-cylinder engine and that it would feature a plug-in hybrid setup. More details are expected in the future.

2023 Honda Pilot Release Date and Price

We expect that the 2023 Honda Pilot will hit the market sometime in the second half of 2022. The starting price should go around 35.000 dollars. When it comes to the competition, some of the models that come to mind are Chevy Traverse, VW Atlas, Hyundai Palisade etc.