2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport - Review by Mark Fulmer

This Pilot can Take the Family On and Off Road

Mark Fulmer
Executive Producer, Editor
THE AUTO CHANNEL

The Honda Pilot family sized SUV has expanded its capabilities to go beyond "let's get out of town" into "let's REALLY get out of town!" As in off-road capable? Yes, indeed.

Starting with a double-overhead cam 3.5L V-6 puts its 285 horsepower and 285 lb.ft. of torque to its new 10-speed automatic transmission, power then goes to either the front or all four wheels, depending on your thoughts or needs.

As a city car the Pilot has all it needs - enough power to provide acceleration and maneuvering through crowded cities and languid suburbs - centering securely on the freeway, shock absorbing our pot-holed city streets like a quiet cat-like suspension.

Such sweet brakes the Pilot has. My father's car driving advice was to "pretend there is an egg between the sole of your shoes and the pedals. So one of my brake-testing techniques is to attempt the "perfect stop." This happens when you apply pressure to the pedal so gently and gradually that no one feels the moment all forward movement completely stops. The coffee in all passengers cups stays still. Brake feathering, it's called. Seniors love it. Teenagers think you are a dottering old fool. Whatever.

The leatherette front seats both have multi-level heating. The 10 way power driver seat has adjustable lumbar support and two memorized seat settings and good roominess:
Front head room 39.1 in.
Front leg room 41 in.
Front shoulder room 61.9 in.
Front hip room 58.4 in.

The rear seats a bit of reclining and also have comfortable dimensions:
Rear head room 39.2 in.
Rear leg room 40.8 in.
Rear shoulder room 61.7 in.
Rear hip room 57.4 in.

Leaving the pavement is made easier and safer by a one-inch suspension lift for more ground clearance, off-road suspension tuning, a four-camera system called Trailwatch, off-road drivetrain tuning, and two steel skid plates.a

Safety systems are numerous and include:
Blind spot and lane departure warnings accident avoidance system
Lane keep assist
Rear cross traffic alert
Driver attention alert
Pre-collision safety system
Post-collision safety system
Stability control
Traction control
4-wheel ABS
Emergency braking assist
Front fog/driving lights
Remote anti-theft alarm system
Engine immobilizer

So if you are a car shopper with a family that flat out loves the outdoors, this could very well be your preferred shuttle.