2023 Honda Pilot is Just the Latest Honda With Jacked-up Prices

Published on December 1, 2022 in News by Guillaume Rivard

The new, fourth-generation 2023 Honda Pilot will go on sale on December 12, sure to disappoint potential customers that were still clinging to the hope of minor price bumps.

At this point no one should be surprised, though. We’ve seen it with the smaller HR-V and CR-V, both completely redesigned for 2023 and significantly more expensive than in the past. It’s the same thing with the Civic Type R, and a similar fate likely awaits the new Accord.

North of $50,000

The 2023 Honda Pilot will shock a few people with a base MSRP of $50,650 plus $1,950 for freight and PDI. As a reminder, the outgoing Pilot started at $46,920.

The base Sport model comes standard with a new multimedia system on a seven-inch display, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, partial digital instrumentation, tri-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, LED headlights, a power tailgate and Shark Grey 20-inch wheels. Let’s not forget the expanded Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance technologies.

Next, the Pilot EX-L ($54,450) adds leather seats, a nine-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Qi-compatible wireless smartphone charging and an upgraded nine-speaker audio system. The wheels get downsized to 18 inches, however.

New Pilot TrailSport

Slotting in the middle of the range is the new Pilot TrailSport ($57,450) designed with off-road driving in mind. Exclusive hardware includes an off-road tuned suspension with an additional 25mm of ground clearance, robust steel skid plates, all-terrain tires and more. Honda describes this Pilot as its most rugged and most capable SUV ever. We’re looking forward to taking it off the beaten path and comparing it to some of the competition.

A new available Diffused Sky Pearl blue paint colour is exclusive to the TrailSport, while the cabin features exclusive orange contrast stitching and headrests embroidered with the TrailSport logo. A sliding panoramic sunroof is also standard.

Return of the Touring and Black Edition

The more upscale Touring and Black Edition models are back for 2023, but each one now costs over $60,000. The former ($61,350) adds ventilated front seats, a configurable 10.2-inch digital instrument display, colour head-up display, navigation and 360-degree camera system. In the second row, a first-in-class multi-function removable middle seat can be conveniently stored underneath the rear cargo floor.

Finally, the Pilot Black Edition ($62,850) is the most generously equipped in the lineup. It also stands out with 20-inch wheels in a gloss black finish, perforated leather seats and headrests embroidered with the Black Edition logo.

All-New V6, Really?

No matter which Pilot you select, you’ll find what Honda claims to be an “all-new” 3.5-litre V6 under the hood, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. In reality, this is still a naturally aspirated engine, displacement is unchanged, output is barely increased (285 horsepower) and torque remains at 262 lb-ft. Max towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, same as always.

The 2023 Pilot does get new Hill Descent Control as standard, while the second generation of Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system features a stronger rear differential that can handle 40 percent more torque and provides 30 percent faster response.