The Honda Pilot TrailSport is an off-road tuned model. (Honda)
All Pilots are powered by a 285 hp V6 and have a 10-speed automatic transmission. Prices start at $37,296 for a front-wheel-drive LX and climb to $53,375 for an all-wheel-drive Elite, but the most interesting model is the TrailSport, which is equipped with gear that makes it Honda's most capable off-road SUV to date.
The $49,695 TrailSport comes with all-terrain tires and an off-road tuned independent suspension that gives it 8.3 inches of ground clearance; steel skid plates for the engine/transmission and fuel tank; a recovery point strong enough to carry twice the vehicle’s weight; and a full-size spare.
The 2023 Pilot has the largest interior in the model's history. (Honda)
The TrailSport’s standard all-wheel-drive system is also specially tuned to handle the kind of moderate off-roading it was meant to handle. There’s a Trail setting among the drive modes that’s programmed to send the majority of available torque to the wheel with the most grip. At speeds under 15 mph, it activates a front camera to offer a better view of what’s directly in front of the vehicle, which is helpful when navigating challenging paths and cresting hills.
The Pilot TrailSport has 8.3 inches of ground clearance and a 5,000-pound tow rating. (Fox News Digital)
On paved roads, the new Pilot feels a lot like the old one. It has a comfortable ride and nimbler handling than something this big should exhibit. Its turning circle is also reasonably tight, which comes in hand in the woods and parking lots.
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The TrailSport’s most direct competitor is the also new for 2023 Kia Telluride X-Pro, which gets basically the same type of upgrades, compared to the street-smart Tellurides.
The Kia Telluride X-Pro is the Pilot TrailSport's closest competitor. (Kia)
Having recently tested both, I can tell you they are the class of the field, and there’s not a lot between them. They differ in style, but they’re similarly priced and equally accommodating, and the way they ride and feel on any surface is uncannily similar.
The Telluride does beat the Pilot on fuel economy, however, at just 21 mpg to 20 mpg combined.
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Unlike the vehicles, neither rating is what anyone would call very big.
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2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport
Base Price: $49,695
As tested: $50,150
Type: 7-passenger, 4-door, all-wheel-drive SUV
Engine: 3.5-liter V6
Power: 285 hp, 262 lb-ft
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Fuel economy: 18 city, 23 hwy
Gary Gastelu is Fox News Digital's automotive editor.