It’s safe to say that 2023 is the year of the SUV at Honda. After the arrival of the HR-V and CR-V, the Japanese automaker is preparing the arrival of another tall vehicle: the 2023 Honda Pilot.
For now, North American strategists have only revealed a handful of photos showing some of the new model’s features. We also got to see what the new TrailSport livery would look like, as Honda, like many other brands, is looking to add a dose of adventure to its SUV lineup. The TrailSport package already exists on the Passport and the new Pilot will also have it, even if it’s more of a family vehicle.
2023 Honda Pilot teaser | photo: Honda
The photos show that the front fascia is strongly inspired by the one on the new CR-V, with a much more aggressive grille and redesigned headlights. At the base of the front fascia, there is a contrasting colour skid plate. Behind it, the new position lights are reminiscent of those on a certain Subaru Ascent, with a more “robust” design. The rear section also gets a central stripe with the letters “P-I-L-O-T” prominently displayed, while a TrailSport badge is affixed to the base of the tailgate.
Honda also confirmed that the adventure version will be equipped with off-road tires, a must these days to convince the skeptics. In any case, to overcome slight obstacles on a steep road, better tires make all the difference.
2023 Honda Pilot teaser | photo: Honda
As for the rest of the 2023 Honda Pilot lineup, the wait shouldn’t be too long, as the manufacturer has scheduled an unveiling for this fall, with the first deliveries expected later next year. Mechanically, the naturally-aspirated V6 should be back, but it’s safe to assume that the new model will migrate to the new platform already used under the Acura MDX. An all-wheel-drive system should also be included.
We’ll know more in the coming weeks.
2023 Honda Pilot teaser | photo: Honda
