Honda released a new image of its upcoming Pilot in its rugged TrailSport trim. Photographed driving along a rocky cliff, the upcoming Pilot TrailSport is described as “the most rugged and capable Honda SUV ever”. Still covered in quite a bit of camouflage, it’s clear that the new generation of the Honda Pilot will get more upright proportions and a squared-off countenance. As seen previously in spy photos, it looks as though the 2023 model will borrow some design cues from the updated Ridgeline.
Those photos revealed a big, chunky
grille, a flatter hood, and a flatter front fascia. All the signs point out
that the Pilot will transform into a modern boxy SUV with a much more rugged
appearance. Many questions about the 2023 Honda Pilot remain, but the new model
is expected to be based on the same platform as the 2022 Acura MDX. That
platform is stiffer than the Pilot’s current underpinnings and could mean the
addition of double-wishbone front suspension for improved road handling.
The new model will also be the latest
addition to the TrailSport lineup, which was specifically designed to appeal to
weekend warriors with a taste for off-roading. Featuring orange trim elements,
skid plates, and durable plastic cladding along the sides, other models in the
Honda range have certainly been made to look more rugged as a result of the
trim treatment.
TrailSport models also come standard with
Honda’s torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, to make them more capable on
roads less traveled. Unique suspension setups are also promised to improve
ground clearance, while meatier tires also help. The trim level has already
been added to the 2022 Honda Passport.
When the 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport will
be revealed remains unclear, but the automaker said today that it is “coming
soon to round out the year of the SUV.”
