Forget Waldo. We had to look twice when this pic from Honda landed in TheDetroitBureau’s e-mailbox this morning. That little patch of silver negotiating what appears to be a mountainous trail in the U.S. Southwest is the first uncamouflaged image of the 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport we’ve seen.
The three-row Pilot goes through a complete makeover for the coming model year, one among an assortment of new and updated utility vehicles Honda is bringing out. The largest SUV Honda produces, it will echo the smaller Passport model by adding the new Passport trim package aimed at those who want to do some real off-roading.
“The most rugged and capable Honda SUV ever is coming soon to round out the year of the SUV,” Honda said in a terse statement accompanying this pic — which we’ve cropped and blown up to provide a bit closer look at the 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport.
A much-needed makeover
There’s little doubt the Pilot itself needed a major update. Since the third-generation model was launched for the 2016 model year, the segment has gotten increasingly crowded. The Japanese crossover now goes up against a field that includes two South Korean CUVs, the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride — the latter model earning honors as North American Utility Vehicle of the Year after its debut.
Details are scarce. Among other things, it’s unclear if the overall dimensions will change from today’s Pilot model, which starts with a 196.5-inch overall length. The outgoing model is 71.2 inches tall, with a 78.6-inch width and a wheelbase of 110.9 inches.
But what we do know is that the 2023 Honda Pilot will get an entire makeover, starting with what appears to be a more classic, squared-off SUV-style body. The interior also will get a makeover, the 2023 Pilot expected to be repositioned as a more luxurious offering than the current model.
That should mean the use of more upgraded materials, like leather and wood veneer, as well as plenty of high-line tech features. Expect to see a larger infotainment screen, for one thing, and it’s highly likely all versions will adopt a digital gauge cluster, according to those who track upcoming products. There’ll be the latest version of the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver assistance systems, as well.
Going off-road
But the big news is the new TrailSport package.
Over the decades, classically boxy, truck-based SUVs have morphed into more squishy, wagon-like vehicles that generally can’t handle anything rougher than a gravel road. But, during the last few years there’s been a big push in the market to deliver more serious off-road capabilities. One approach is to introduce a new, dedicated product line — the new Ford Bronco being the clear example.
The alternative is to add a unique trim package to an existing product. Toyota was an early proponent of this approach with its TRD and TRD Pro packages. We’re now seeing a variety of manufacturers, go this route with products like the Subaru Outback Wilderness and Ford Explorer Timberline.
2023 update should be more than cosmetic
Now, Honda is setting up a dedicated off-road line, as well. It started out with a version of the Passport was followed by an initial 2022 version of the Pilot TrailSport. They added more rugged features, including modified hoods, new wheels and revised front and rear bumpers yielding improved approach and departure angles.
The 2022 Pilot TrailSport did get a raised suspension. But, for the most part, the upgrade was more cosmetic than what serious off-roaders might have wanted. The question is whether Honda will go further with the 2023 Pilot TrailSport. Today’s teaser image certainly suggests the new crossover can handle a rough trail, but we’ll have to wait for more details.
Speculation centers around maintaining the outgoing model’s 3.5-liter V-6. It’s a solid powertrain currently making 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque — enough to handle a 5,000-pound trailer. In the current Pilot, the engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic and available in both front and all-wheel-drive.
Pricing
The current version of the Honda Pilot runs from $32,000 to around $60,000 — with the 2022 TrailSport starting at $44,785 before destination fees.
Look for the 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport to land in U.S. showrooms around December, though the ongoing semiconductor shortage could push the launch date into early next year.
When I pick up a gallon of milk at Kroger later, I’ll be reassured it could handle this mountain trail.