2023 Honda Pilot Review

Name: 2023 Honda Pilot
Brand: Honda

Price Range: $30,000 - $50,495

Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV Exterior Shown

The latest 2023 Honda Pilot is comfortable and plenty spacious for its front and middle-row passengers. But it lags behind class leaders in third-row room and cargo space, and its tech is a half-step behind the curve. In terms of overall appeal, some competitors deliver more bang for your buck.

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$34,817 avg. price

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2023 Honda Pilot Review

Pros

Roomy first- and second-row seating
Lots of cargo space and interior storage spots
Easy-to-use controls

Cons

Standard touchscreen interface is too small
Third-row seating is cramped for adults
Lackluster acceleration and braking performance

What's new

Fully redesigned for 2023
More cargo space and rear passenger room
New TrailSport model adds off-road capability
2023 model kicks off the fourth Pilot generation

Overview

Written by automotive expert Clint Simone

5/10/2023

With its exceptional levels of road and seat comfort, upscale cabin design, and useful storage areas, the third-generation Honda Pilot immediately became our favorite three-row crossover SUV when it debuted in 2016. But the years hence have seen the Kia Telluride (and its mechanical twin, the Hyundai Palisade) usurped the Honda to claim the crown as their own. So what's a deposed ruler to do? Rally the troops and get better, and that's what we see in the fully redesigned 2023 Honda Pilot.

Continue reading Edmunds Expert Rating below

For sale near San Antonio, TX

1,577 listings

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2023 Honda Pilot
LX 4dr SUV
$25,999
good price
- 83,254 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, corporate fleet vehicle
- 8 Seats, 19 City / 27 Hwy MPG
- Honda Leander (90 mi away)
- Back-up camera
- Bluetooth
- Keyless Entry/Start
- Third-row seating
- Upgraded Headlights
Close
Located in Leander, TX
Gray 2023 19/27 City/Highway MPG Honda CARFAX One-Owner. Pilot LX FWD 10-Speed Automatic 3.5L V6 DOHC 24V19/27 City/Highway MPG
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: No
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
22 Combined MPG (19 City/27 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5FNYG2H21PB004666
Stock: LB004666
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-07-2025
2023 Honda Pilot
Elite 4dr SUV
$42,795
fair price
- 22,682 miles
- No accidents, 1 owner, personal use only
- 7 Seats, 19 City / 25 Hwy MPG
- North Park Lexus of San Antonio (6 mi away)
- Five Star Dealer
- AWD/4WD
- Bluetooth
- Navigation
- Leather Seats
- Sunroof/Moonroof
Close
Located in San Antonio, TX
Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Blind Spot Information (BSI) System warning, Bose Premium Sound System, Heads-Up Display, Heated & Ventilated Front Bucket...
AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary
Accident Free Vehicle: Yes
Personal Use Only: Yes
History Provider: AutoCheck
Title Details: Clean Title
Salvage Vehicle: No
Frame Damage: No
Theft History: No
Lemon Status: No
Free History Report: No
Features and Specs:
21 Combined MPG (19 City/25 Highway)
Listing Information:
VIN: 5FNYG1H83PB036324
Stock: UB036324
Certified Pre-Owned: No
Listed since: 08-14-2025

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Many of the Pilot's updates occur to attributes that we thought the old Pilot needed to make improvements to. Honda stretched out the wheelbase (the space between the front and rear wheels) and overall length to open up more passenger room, particularly in the second and third rows to make them more accommodating for adults and bulky child safety seats. New styling inside and out helps to modernize the Pilot and make it feel more rugged and less curvy. And in an effort to inject some excitement into what was a very competent (but also slightly boring lineup), there's a new Pilot TrailSport that dials in some real off-road upgrades.

Overall, we think the 2023 Pilot is a worthwhile choice for a three-row crossover SUV. But it also has some drawbacks that might make the Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Mazda CX-90 or Volkswagen Atlas a better choice. Check out our test team's Expert Rating below to learn more.

Edmunds Expert Rating

edmunds TESTED

Driven, tested, rated by automotive expert Will Kaufman

Good

7.9

out of 10

We drove the 2023 Honda Pilot on our test track and on real roads. Our Edmunds team conducts rigorous independent vehicle testing, driving 500,000 miles a year.

Performance

7.5/10

How does the Pilot drive? Driving the Pilot is a mixed bag. The V6 sounds snarly when you step on the gas, but actual acceleration is only average. At the Edmunds test track, our Pilot TrailSport test vehicle managed the 0-60 mph run in 7.8 seconds. The transmission is overly busy, especially around town. That can also make the Pilot feel overly eager and sensitive to gas pedal inputs when accelerating from a stop. Braking is smooth, but the pedal is soft and numb, and we found the Pilot's emergency stopping distances to be longer than average.

For adventurous families, the Pilot TrailSport is one of the more capable three-row crossovers for light off-road duty thanks to its extra ground clearance. The all-wheel-drive system is another upside. In addition to the expected boost in traction for icy or snowy roads, it can also redistribute the V6's power to make the Pilot considerably more nimble around turns. However, the steering is light and lacks feel, and it provides no real sense of what's going on with the road.

Comfort

8/10

How comfortable is the Pilot? The front seats and optional second-row captain's chairs are pleasantly soft without giving up support. The front seats lack the level of adjustability some competitors offer, so not everybody will get the most comfort out of them. The Pilot's suspension smooths out most bumps with ease, but certain types of uneven pavement can still feel sharp and a bit loud in the cabin.

On the whole, wind, road and engine noise is low but the cabin isn't quite as quiet as top-rated competitors like the Kia Telluride. The climate system is simple to adjust and powerful enough for the large cabin. All three rows get vents, but vent placement for the second and third rows isn't optimal. Third-row vents in particular are placed by the armrests, so adults will get airflow to their hands.

Interior

8.5/10

How’s the interior? The Pilot's interior is roomy and practical for the first two rows, with lots of storage space and slightly above-average visibility for a vehicle of this class. The latest Pilot's dashboard keeps buttons to a minimum, but we like how Honda managed to make the most commonly used controls accessible rather than burying them in a touchscreen menu, which can be the case on other SUVs.

Getting in and out is easy, with buttons to release the second-row seats that even children can activate. There's enough seat travel that third-row access won't be a squeeze for most adults. Front passengers are spoiled for space in the Pilot, and the second row is wide and accommodating with lots of legroom. Competitors like the Kia Telluride and Volkswagen Atlas, however, have better third rows. Adults will start to feel cramped as the high floor and almost nonexistent toe room under the second-row seats will push their knees up.

Technology

7.5/10

How’s the tech? The Pilot offers plenty of usable tech features, but on the whole it's a half-step behind the curve. The infotainment, with wireless phone connectivity, works quickly and is easy to navigate, but the 9-inch screen feels dwarfed by the large cabin. It's unfortunate the new Accord's 12.3-inch screen isn't available here. There are plenty of places to charge, including a wireless charging pad. There's only one USB-C port available, however. The rest are the less powerful USB-A type, which limits options for phones, tablets and laptops that support fast charging.

Honda does equip the Pilot with plenty of standard driver assist features. Lane keeping assistance keeps the car centered nicely even at very low speeds. But while the adaptive cruise control follows smoothly at freeway speeds, it's less confidence-inspiring in heavier traffic. In our testing, we found it too slow to react to suddenly braking traffic, prompting the driver to intervene. It also requires prompting via a steering wheel button or accelerator pedal to restart after even the briefest stop, so it doesn't save you much effort.

Storage

8.5/10

How’s the storage? Competitors like the Buick Enclave, Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade offer more cargo space, but the Pilot has enough flexible cargo features and small-item storage to make it a helpful family hauler. The 50/50-split third-row seats are easy to release (which is good because there's no power-folding third row available), and they open up a large, if not class-leading, space. Loading and unloading is easy with the floor in its highest position so bulky items can slide in and out.

When it comes to small-item storage, the Pilot is one of the best. Front passengers get an extra-large center console tray and box, along with a few extra cubbies for smaller items. Both the front and rear doors offer a bunch of trays, pockets and even cupholders for every seat that will fit a 40-ounce water bottle.

Our test Pilot TrailSport had the second-row bench seat that comes with a removable center seat that can be stored under the cargo floor in the trunk. It's a neat feature that makes it easy to reconfigure the seating based on your day's needs. Notably, the Pilot is one of the few SUVs to have LATCH anchors for all three second-row seats.

Fuel Economy

7/10

How’s the fuel economy? Depending on its equipment, the Pilot has an EPA estimate of anywhere from 20 mpg combined (18 city/23 highway) for the all-wheel-drive TrailSport to 22 mpg combined for a front-wheel-drive model. On Edmunds' real-world test route, our Pilot TrailSport test vehicle averaged 22 mpg, which means drivers should be able to match EPA estimates. This result is on par with top V6 competitors but still well off the segment's efficiency leader, the turbo four-cylinder Toyota Highlander — and without offering any quicker acceleration.

Value

7/10

Is the Pilot a good value? The Pilot provides plenty of utility and comfort, and its interior is sturdily built, with hefty, solid plastics all around. Competitors spread more soft-touch materials around, especially in higher trims, but the Pilot feels built to endure family life. It's an ideal interior for cleaning up with whatever wipes you have on hand.

But in terms of bang for your buck, most competitors offer more features per dollar. You'll spend more than some top competitors to get a top-trim level, and even then you'll have fewer features than on competitors like the Telluride. Kia and Hyundai also offer significantly longer warranties.

Wildcard

8/10

The Pilot is pretty easy to live with, and the TrailSport's added off-road ability will broaden its appeal. That said, it comes across to us as the victim of an identity crisis. Honda has tried to make it a sporty, tough-and-rugged and family-friendly SUV, all in one. But this jack-of-all-trades approach means it's a master of none. The Pilot is ultimately good on average but with few standout traits to recommend it.

2023 Honda Pilot trim level differences

The 2023 Honda Pilot is a three-row SUV that seats up to eight passengers. It's available in six trim levels: LX, Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring and Elite. All are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine (285 horsepower, 262 lb-ft) mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is optional — except on the TrailSport and Elite trims, which get all-wheel drive as standard. Highlighted features include:

Which Pilot trim does Edmunds recommend?

We think the EX-L is the right trim level for most buyers. For not much more money than the base Sport trim, the EX-L offers quite a bit more in the way of practical features such as wireless smartphone integration, a 9-inch touchscreen, leather trimmed seating and a power liftgate. If you live a slightly more adventurous life, the new TrailSport trim looks like an interesting option thanks to its increased ground clearance, standard all-wheel drive and a few handy features.

Compare 2023 Honda Pilot trim levels

Helpful trims summary and side-by-side comparison chart

Cost to Drive

Monthly estimates based on costs in Texas

$152/mo

$202/mo

Avg. Large SUV

Calculate my fuel costs

See Edmunds pricing data

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Model

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Reliability

The 2023 Honda Pilot has a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic warranty and 5 recalls. RepairPal gives it a reliability rating of 3.5 out of 5, ranks it #15 out of 32 among Midsize SUVs. Below you’ll find our owner reviews.

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

3.5 out of 5 stars3.5/5Above Average

#15 out of 32 among Midsize SUVs

RepairPal Reliability Ratings are based on the actual cost, frequency, and severity of unscheduled repairs and maintenance on make/model data for select 2008-2022 vehicles. The reliability of a specific vehicle may vary depending on its maintenance and driving history, model year, trim, and features.

Cost

$465/yr

vs. $485/yr
for Average Midsize SUV

Frequency

1.11x/yr

vs. 1.18x/yr
for Average Midsize SUV

Severity

15.3%

vs. 13.5%
for Average Midsize SUV

Recalls

5 recalls found

Checking if a car has a recall is simple. Just type the car's VIN number into the NHTSA website (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). If there's an unrepaired recall, you'll see it there.

If a recall shows up, just call your local car dealer. They'll know about the recall and will work with the car maker to fix it for free (if the recall happened within 10 years of the car being first sold).

Recall Number:: 25V391000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: FLX, XLY
Manufactured from:: 2022-12-16 to 2024-11-06
Number of vehicles affected:: 259033
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Acura TLX, 2023-2025 Acura MDX, and 2023-2025 Honda Pilot vehicles. The brake pedal pivot pin was not secured properly, which can cause the pedal to shift out of position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment" and 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Defect Consequence:: A brake pedal that shifts out of position can prevent the driver from applying the brakes as intended, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and replace the brake pedal assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed July 28, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are FLX and XLY.

Recall Number:: 25V031000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: EL1, AL0
Number of vehicles affected:: 294612
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Acura MDX Type-S, 2023-2025 Honda Pilot, and 2021-2025 Acura TLX Type-S vehicles. A software error in the fuel injection electronic control unit (FI-ECU) may cause an engine stall or a loss of power.
Defect Consequence:: An engine stall or loss of power can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will reprogram the FI-ECU software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 17, 2025. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are EL1 and AL0.

Recall Number:: 24V900000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: OKM
Manufactured from:: 2023-02-14 to 2024-05-08
Number of vehicles affected:: 205760
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Passport and 2023-2025 Pilot vehicles. The fuel filler neck tube and fuel filler pipe may separate, allowing fuel to leak.
Defect Consequence:: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel filler neck tube and pipe as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is OKM.

Recall Number:: 24V859000
Manufactured from:: 2023-11-09 to 2023-11-09
Number of vehicles affected:: 121
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."
Defect Consequence:: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the driver's seat cushion frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Recall Number:: 23V735000
Manufacturer Recall Number:: FFX
Number of vehicles affected:: 519
Defect Description:: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Pilot vehicles. Due to a manufacturing error, the gear box assembly may contain a loose ball bearing, which can result in a loss of steering control or steering lock-up.
Defect Consequence:: A loss of steering control or steering lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:: Dealers will replace the electric power steering rack, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is FFX.

Warranty

3 years / 36,000 miles Basic Warranty

Basic Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Drivetrain Warranty: 5 years / 60,000 miles
Rust Warranty: 5 years / unlimited miles
Roadside assistance Warranty: 3 years / 36,000 miles
Free maintenance Warranty: 2 years / 24,000 miles

Honda Pilot Owner Reviews

4.1

50 reviews

5(64%)

4(6%)

3(14%)

2(4%)

1(12%)

See all 50 reviews Write a vehicle review

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

What a great SUV!! Finally a brand that gets it

Family car enthusiast, 03/10/2023

2023 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 10A)

6 months of comparing, test driving and analyzing SUVs and this just checked all the boxes in the most optimal way. We needed a family car that can go both to daily city commutes to adventures for real; towing, getting to where mountain bike trails are, etc. We are 6 but occasionally need room for 8. We need ed decent towing power and payload capacity for when we need to tow and bring …

The Smoothest Powerful 3 Row SUV in 2023

Ali S., 03/31/2023

2023 Honda Pilot Touring 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 10A)

I have driven several 3 Row SUVs to pick the best value one. After test driving Grand Jeep Cherokee, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, Toyota Highlander, Cadillac XT6 and a couple of other ones, I test drove Honda Pilot. Pilot was second to none. It was smooth, elegant, and smart from my point of view without any extra bells and whistles. The design is unique and everybody can enjoy its …

Checked all the boxes

WHITSIMPS , 02/19/2023

2023 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 10A)

We bought the 2023 Honda Pilot Elite after shopping for a 3 row SUV for a few weeks. It has all of the features we were looking for along with the Honda quality we wanted. So far, the Pilot has met all of our expectations from the comfort to the drive to the technology and safety features, we are very satisfied with our purchase.

Update - Honda Reliability Slipping

Ks Swede, 04/02/2023

2023 Honda Pilot Elite 4dr SUV AWD (3.5L 6cyl 10A)

Ordered our 2023 Pilot and got it in 3 weeks. Last car was a Pallisade, but it had half dozen features we did not like. So far after a month we love our Honda. Very quiet, very smooth ride as good as our Mercedes GLS 450 at half of the cost and the Pilot uses regular unlead gas! Only a few inches shorter behind the 3rd row compared to our last Chevy Tahoe and only Toyota has better …

See all 50 reviews of the Honda Pilot

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2023 Honda Pilot videos

2023 Honda Pilot First Drive | Bigger, Tougher, Better? | TrailSport, Interior, Tech & More!

The 2023 Honda Pilot is all-new and has dreams of knocking down the Kia Telluride from its throne atop the three-row midsize SUV segment. The new Pilot boasts a tougher look, a fresher interior and some nifty packaging, plus a brand-new TrailSport off-road model that seems like more than just an appearance package. So, does the 2023 Pilot have what it takes to steal the…

2023 Pilot Highlights

Trim:

Base MSRP Excludes Destination Fee	$35,950
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	22 MPG
Cost to Drive	$152/month
Seating	8 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	18.6 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles

See all features & specs

Safety

Our experts like the Pilot models:

Blind Spot Information System: Alerts you if a vehicle is lurking in your blind spot and beeps if the turn signal is activated in that direction.
Honda Sensing: Includes items such as forward collision mitigation with auto braking and road departure intervention. Standard on all trim levels.
Parking Sensors: Indicate how close the vehicle is to objects with visual and audible alerts.

NHTSA Overall Rating

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.

Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
Overall4 / 5
Driver4 / 5
Passenger4 / 5
Side Crash Rating
Overall5 / 5
Side Barrier Rating
Overall5 / 5
Driver5 / 5
Passenger5 / 5
Combined Side Barrier & Pole Ratings
Front Seat5 / 5
Back Seat5 / 5
Rollover
Rollover4 / 5
Dynamic Test ResultNo Tip
Risk Of Rollover15.5%

IIHS Rating

The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.

Small Overlap Front Driver-Side Test
Good
Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side Test
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Original
Good
Moderate Overlap Front Test – Updated
Marginal
Side Impact Test – Original
Not Tested
Side Impact Test – Updated
Not Tested
Roof Strength Test
Not Tested
Rear Crash Protection / Head Restraint
Not Tested

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2023 Honda Pilot Review

Price & Payment

2023 Honda Pilot Review

Pros

Cons

What's new

Overview

For sale near San Antonio, TX

2023 Honda PilotLX 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

2023 Honda PilotElite 4dr SUV

AutoCheck Vehicle History Summary

Edmunds Expert Rating

Performance

Comfort

Interior

Technology

Storage

Fuel Economy

Value

Wildcard

2023 Honda Pilot trim level differences

Which Pilot trim does Edmunds recommend?

Cost to Drive

Reliability

Reliability Rating by RepairPal

Cost

Frequency

Severity

Recalls

Warranty

Honda Pilot Owner Reviews

Most Helpful Owner Reviews

What a great SUV!! Finally a brand that gets it

The Smoothest Powerful 3 Row SUV in 2023

Checked all the boxes

Update - Honda Reliability Slipping

2023 Honda Pilot videos

2023 Honda Pilot First Drive | Bigger, Tougher, Better? | TrailSport, Interior, Tech & More!

2023 Pilot Highlights

Safety

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