The Honda Pilot is a three-row SUV with a spacious interior, eight-seater capability, and excellent ride quality. It’s an honest means of transportation that has only gotten better with age, and the Pilot soldiers on into the new year with the same makeover from 2023 and a new TrailSport trim.

Like Toyota’s TRD Pro and Volvo’s Cross Country trims, the Trailsport adds ruggedness and off-road ability to Honda’s largest SUV on sale. With it comes revised spring and damper rates, anti-roll bars, a beefed-up suspension, and a 1.0-inch lift kit. A hill-descent control system has been added, along with a new Trail driving mode. Honda further tweaked the all-wheel drive system for rear-biased torque delivery – keep this in mind as we get to our driving impressions. Steel skid plates are equipped, along with unique 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain rubber, and this exclusive Diffused Sky Blue paint colour.

Every Pilot is loaded with a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. Delivering an output of 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, it’s an engine that we’re plenty familiar with, and while it may not harbour any turbos or hybrid motors, it’s never short on thrust and we greatly appreciate the linearity and predictability of power delivery. That said, the V6 is not as acoustically quiet or as refined as the turbo-four found in the CR-V, and it thrashes noticeably under generous throttle application. Still, the 10-speed automatic shuffles behind the scenes without making a scene, and stays incognito for the most part.

The Pilot defaults to understeer when pushed at speed but the rear-biased AWD system now makes it incredibly playful, even responding to mid-corner throttle to get the rear rotated. It’s engaging and rewarding to drive quickly, and not something we expected to report about a heavy three-row SUV that doesn’t sport a BMW or AMG badge. The steering is light but full of feel too, and reminds me a bit of the Alfa Romeo Stelvio, adding to the Pilot’s perceivable agility and its eagerness to tiptoe on the fringes of tire grip. 

The Pilot remains composed on pockmarked roads and keeps vertical oscillations to a minimum. It rides smoothly and we didn’t notice any impact from the 18-inch wheels to road comfort or day-to-day drivability. The latest Mazda CX-90 and Nissan Pathfinder could learn a thing or two from this Honda. Admittedly, the ride is not as supple as the Toyota Grand Highlander but the Pilot finds a better flow with the road, and we prefer the way it hustles on a serpentine road over the smaller Honda Passport too. Notably, these observations are based solely on road conditions, as we didn’t have the opportunity to take the TrailSport off-road.

A new makeover and interior upgrades kept the Pilot relevant in 2023, but it’s beginning to appear dated on the inside. The cabin is undeniably functional and ergonomic, and it’s a decent upgrade over the current-generation Passport. However, the lack of visual drama and cabin aesthetics isn’t uncommon with Hondas. They prefer a cabin that’s simple and not overly flashy, and compared to the Mazda CX-90 or Jeep Grand Cherokee, it may seem out of style or unfashionable, but we appreciate its subtlety and focus on utility. 

We mourn a proper gear shifter, which would honestly take up the same amount of room as this push-button selector but we’ve gotten used to it, and it does allow for easier access to the cubbies and cupholders without a shifter in the way. The steering wheel is a good size, and the heating button is conveniently located in the center of the bottom spoke, the same location as last-gen BMWs. 

We were pleasantly surprised by the Pilot’s agile handling and excellent ride quality, and we genuinely had trouble finding faults with its on-road performance and interior ergonomics. There may be newer offerings with more visual theatrics and cabin pizzazz, but the Pilot stays true to its values and remains one of our most highly recommended three-row SUVs.

Specifications:
Model: 2024 Honda Pilot Trailsport
Paint Type: Sonic Gray Pearl
Base Price: $58,450
Price as Tested: $58,750
Wheelbase(mm): 2,891
Length/Width/Height (mm): 5,085 / 2,090 / 1,829
Weight: 2,130
Engine: 3.5-litre V6
Horsepower: 285 hp @ 6,100 rpm
Torque: 262 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Engine & Drive Configuration: Front engine, AWD
Observed Fuel Consumption (L/100km): 12.6
Tires: 265/60R18