Breaking the Minivan Mold

With newfound refinement and off-road chops, the redesigned Pilot buries its minivan roots and becomes a more desirable mid-size SUV.

- ERIC STAFFORD

The 2023 Honda Pilot enters its fourth generation bigger, brawnier, and better at doing off-road stuff. Translation: No one will mistake the Pilot for a minivan anymore, even if it still donates its platform to the Odyssey.

The TrailSport model 49,695) is the poster child for the mid-size three-row SUV’s transformation. With all-terrain tires, steel skid plates, and a 1.0-inch lift for a total of 8.3 inches of ground clearance, it can go places previous Pilots couldn’t without breaking some molded plastic. The TrailSport features a trimspecific suspension with retuned dampers, unique spring rates, and a thinner front anti-roll bar that allows for a little more front-wheel articulation. It’s also the only model with a full-size spare tire.