The Honda Pilot is entering the 2022 model year and the automaker has prepared some changes in the lineup. Generally speaking, the SUV’s range has been simplified and there’s a new entry-level grade. A new report from CarsGuide shines more light on the 2022 Pilot family, based on data derived from a recent order guide.

According to the online publication, the new base model will be the Pilot Sport which effectively means the starting price of the 2022 Pilot will be significantly higher than the 2021 Pilot. The 2022 Pilot Sport has an MSRP of $38,055 for the front-wheel-drive model and $40,055 with all-wheel drive (both with destination included). In comparison, the 2021 Pilot LX had a starting price of $33,775 with FWD, which makes the 2022 model $4,280 more expensive.

However, the higher price will come with a lot more standard equipment. The 2022 Pilot Sport will be delivered nicely opted with 20-inch Pewter Gray Alloy wheels, leather seats, and an eight-inch display for the infotainment system. Power will be provided by the same V6 engine that is available to all other trim levels. As a side note, the EX trim level has also been discontinued for the new model year.

Meanwhile, CarsDirect also reports the 2022 Pilot TrailSport will start at almost $45,000 or, more precisely, $44,785 after a destination charge of $1,225. Expected to go on sale later this year, the off-road-themed model will be equipped from the factory with 18-inch wheels with 245/60 R18 105H AS tires, and a leather interior. Again, power will be provided by a 3.6-liter V6 mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox. All-wheel drive will be standard.

The largest and most powerful SUV in Honda history, the all-new 2023 Honda Pilot is the ultimate family SUV with rugged new styling, more passenger and cargo space, and a class-leading combination of off-road capability and sporty on-road dynamics. The new Pilot TrailSport is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever, engineered to get weekend adventurers even further off the beaten path with special off-road features including a raised off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, steel skid plates and expanded all-wheel drive system capabilities. This fourth-generation Pilot goes on sale next month in five trim levels: Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring and Elite.

"The Honda Pilot has been a family favorite for two decades, and now we've made it even better with more space and refinement inside, cool new rugged styling outside, and substantially increased off-road performance to back it up," said Mamadou Diallo, vice president of Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Topping it off, the new Pilot TrailSport is an authentic, off-road-capable SUV for true weekend adventures, without sacrificing comfort and on-road dynamics for daily driving."

Honda Pilot now belongs on the trail with all-new rugged styling that complements its trail-ready capability. The tough and aspirational design features a large upright grille and a powerful stance accentuated by flared fenders, wider tracks and larger tires. Under its new longer hood is Honda's most powerful V6 ever, an all-new dual overhead cam (DOHC) 3.5-liter engine producing 285 horsepower.

Inside, Pilot's all-new interior makes it the new flexible king of the carpool lane with unmatched comfort, versatile seating with an available removable 2nd row seat that can be conveniently stowed under the rear cargo floor. Complementing the interior flexibilty is the most passenger and cargo space in Pilot history, including a more comfortable third row, and Pilot boasts best-in-class overall passenger space and top-class cargo volume behind the third-row seats. The new modern interior is also more comfortable with new front Body Stabilizing Seats that help reduce fatigue on long drives. Sophisticated materials, premium touches and must-have tech features create the most upscale Pilot ever.

Standard class-leading safety features include a new and improved suite of Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive technologies, a next-generation front passenger airbag, improved front side airbags and new driver and front-passenger knee airbags.

New Pilot Features:

• Rugged exterior design
• All-new 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine is more powerful
• New available second-generation i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system improves off-road capability
• More modern and comfortable interior
• Class-leading overall passenger space
• First-in-class multi-function removable second-row middle seat provides three discrete seating options (Touring, Elite)
• Increased cargo volume
• Standard digital instrumentation
• 10.2-inch digital instrument display (Elite)
• 9-inch HD touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility (EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite)
• Standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility (Sport)
• 7 available drive modes, including new Sport, Tow, and Trail modes
• Standard Honda Sensing® system with new wide-view camera and radar
• Standard Hill Descent Control
• Next-gen front passenger airbag designed to reduce potential for traumatic brain and neck injuries
• Standard driver and front-passenger knee airbags
• Trail torque logic optimizes off-road performance of i-VTM4 torque vectoring all-wheel drive system (TrailSport)
• TrailWatch camera system to help drivers navigate obstacles (TrailSport, Elite)

Under its new longer hood is Honda's most powerful V6 ever, an all-new dual overhead cam (DOHC) 3.5-liter engine producing 285 horsepower.

Since 2006, Honda has produced more than 2 million Pilots in the U.S.

Hot on the heels of the 2023 Honda Pilot's introduction, the three-row SUV now has pricing. And although it's massively updated across the board, it's only a little more expensive than the old model. The new base price for the front-wheel-drive Sport is $40,445 including the $1,245 destination charge. That's an increase of $1,070, and it offers significantly updated styling, a fresh interior and a much improved infotainment system among other things. For trims on which all-wheel drive is an option, it's an extra $2,100. Pricing for the whole lineup is below.

• Sport: $40,445
• EX-L: $43,245
• Touring: $47,745
• TrailSport (AWD only): $49,645
• Elite (AWD only): $53,325

The Sport model comes standard with LED headlights, 20-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, three-zone automatic climate control and heated front seats. The EX-L adds leather, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 9-inch infotainment screen and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging and a power tailgate. The Touring adds the eight-passenger layout as standard along with a panoramic sunroof, 12-speaker Bose sound system and navigation. The Elite comes with ventilated front seats covered in perforated leather, a digital instrument cluster, head-up display and surround-view camera.

The TrailSport slots between Touring and Elite, and it features a bunch of off-road features such as retuned suspension, an extra inch of ground clearance, skid plates, trail cameras and an upgraded all-wheel-drive system. It also gets some styling tweaks and orange contrast stitching and logos in the seat backs. It does result in a hit in fuel economy. Regular Pilots have the same fuel economy as before, with 19 mpg in the city, 27 on the highway and 22 combined with front drive. All-wheel-drive drops those numbers to 19 city, 25 highway and 21 combined. The TrailSport dips to 18 city, 23 highway and 20 combined.

One other add-on newly available to the Pilot is the HPD Package. For $2,950, any Pilot can get a set of fender flares, bronze or black wheels and flashy side graphics.

The Pilot hits dealers next month.

Honda introduces a base LX trim (Elite grade pictured above) to the 2023 Pilot lineup. For a front-wheel-drive model, it has a starting price of $37,295 after the $1,345 destination fee. Getting all-wheel drive takes the figure to $39,395. For comparison, the Sport grade is the next step higher in the range and is $40,495 or $42,595 for front- or all-wheel drive, respectively.

The LX shares a powertrain with the rest of the 2023 Pilot lineup. A 3.5-liter V6 makes 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. A 10-speed automatic routes the power to either the front wheels or both axles.

Buyers get a bit less equipment than the Sport trim for the LX's discounted price. It lacks LED fog lights and chrome exhaust tips. Inside, the model doesn't have a leather-wrapped steering wheel, heated front seats, and storage pockets on the seatbacks.


In addition, the driver's seat has six-way manual adjustment, and the passenger chair packs four-way manual changes. On the Sport, there are power adjustments for both front seats.

The LX trim rides on 18-inch silver wheels in what Honda calls a Blade design. Meanwhile, the Sport grade gets a 20-inch size in the color shark gray and with black lug nuts.

The LX grade does not get the blind spot information system or cross-traffic monitor. However, it still has most of Honda's other driver assistance tech, including collision-mitigating braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and traffic jam assist.

Honda also recently brought the LX trim back to the Civic and CR-V to give them new entry-level grades. In both cases, buyers save money by giving up amenities like losing heated seats

As of February 2023, Honda sales are up 5.9 percent over the first two months of 2022. The company has delivered 14,221 units of the Pilot so far this year – a 6.2 percent drop from the same period last year.

The largest and most powerful SUV in Honda history, the all-new 2023 Honda Pilot is the ultimate family SUV with rugged new styling, more passenger and cargo space, and a class-leading combination of off-road capability and sporty on-road dynamics. The new Pilot TrailSport is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever, engineered to get weekend adventurers even further off the beaten path with special off-road features including a raised off-road tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, steel skid plates and expanded all-wheel drive system capabilities. This fourth-generation Pilot goes on sale next month in five trim levels: Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring and Elite.

"The Honda Pilot has been a family favorite for two decades, and now we've made it even better with more space and refinement inside, cool new rugged styling outside, and substantially increased off-road performance to back it up," said Mamadou Diallo, vice president of Auto Sales, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "Topping it off, the new Pilot TrailSport is an authentic, off-road-capable SUV for true weekend adventures, without sacrificing comfort and on-road dynamics for daily driving."

Honda Pilot now belongs on the trail with all-new rugged styling that complements its trail-ready capability. The tough and aspirational design features a large upright grille and a powerful stance accentuated by flared fenders, wider tracks and larger tires. Under its new longer hood is Honda's most powerful V6 ever, an all-new dual overhead cam (DOHC) 3.5-liter engine producing 285 horsepower.

Inside, Pilot's all-new interior makes it the new flexible king of the carpool lane with unmatched comfort, versatile seating with an available removable 2nd row seat that can be conveniently stowed under the rear cargo floor. Complementing the interior flexibilty is the most passenger and cargo space in Pilot history, including a more comfortable third row, and Pilot boasts best-in-class overall passenger space and top-class cargo volume behind the third-row seats. The new modern interior is also more comfortable with new front Body Stabilizing Seats that help reduce fatigue on long drives. Sophisticated materials, premium touches and must-have tech features create the most upscale Pilot ever.

Standard class-leading safety features include a new and improved suite of Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive technologies, a next-generation front passenger airbag, improved front side airbags and new driver and front-passenger knee airbags.

New Pilot Features:

• Rugged exterior design
• All-new 3.5-liter DOHC V6 engine is more powerful
• New available second-generation i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system improves off-road capability
• More modern and comfortable interior
• Class-leading overall passenger space
• First-in-class multi-function removable second-row middle seat provides three discrete seating options (Touring, Elite)
• Increased cargo volume
• Standard digital instrumentation
• 10.2-inch digital instrument display (Elite)
• 9-inch HD touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility (EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite)
• Standard 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay® & Android Auto™ compatibility (Sport)
• 7 available drive modes, including new Sport, Tow, and Trail modes
• Standard Honda Sensing® system with new wide-view camera and radar
• Standard Hill Descent Control
• Next-gen front passenger airbag designed to reduce potential for traumatic brain and neck injuries
• Standard driver and front-passenger knee airbags
• Trail torque logic optimizes off-road performance of i-VTM4 torque vectoring all-wheel drive system (TrailSport)
• TrailWatch camera system to help drivers navigate obstacles (TrailSport, Elite)

Tough-looking New Exterior

Designed in California, developed in Ohio and built in Alabama, the all-new fourth-generation Honda Pilot further advances the new rugged design direction of Honda light trucks with a tough new look and powerful stance. Complementing its off-road capabilities, Pilot's all-new styling is tough, aspirational and adventure-ready with a large, upright grille, a strong horizontal beltline and aggressively flared fenders. Pulled back A-pillars and long hood create a longer dash-to-axle ratio for a sportier profile.

A strong horizontal beltline highlights its increased overall length (3.4 inches longer), while a longer wheelbase and wider tracks give it a stronger, more aggressive presence. A sleek body-color roof spoiler and new LED taillights make the fourth-generation Pilot instantly recognizable from the rear.

Sport features gloss black trim and grille bar, a chrome exhaust garnish, standard black roof rails, front fog lights and Shark Gray 7-spoke, 20-inch wheels. EX-L adds flash with chrome trim and grille bar, and machined 5-spoke, 18-inch alloy wheels.

Pilot Touring and top-of-the-line Elite feature an even more upscale design with premium exterior finishes, including a gloss black grille mesh and B-pillar, dual chrome exhaust garnishes and distinct 7-spoke, 20-inch alloy wheels with a machined finish.

For the first time, Honda Pilot will be available with a new line of four post-production option packages, including a new HPD Package for those looking to take Pilot's rugged new styling even further. Created in collaboration with Honda Performance Development (HPD), Honda's U.S.-based racing company, it includes bronze-colored aluminum wheels, fender flares and HPD decals.

Modern, Spacious Interior

With clean surfacing, sophisticated materials and premium touches, Pilot's all-new modern interior builds on the Honda design direction to create the most upscale Honda SUV ever. A clean, uncluttered instrument panel top reduces windshield reflections and improves outward visibility.

Honda Pilot is also more comfortable and spacious, with class-leading passenger space and notably more rear seat legroom in the second and third rows. New Body Stabilizing front seats reduce fatigue over long drives. Second-row legroom is up a generous 2.4 inches and the second-row seats feature up to 10 degrees of recline angle (+4 degrees) for increased comfort. Additional forward tilt range improves entry and exit to the more comfortable third row, which gains 0.6 inches of legroom..

On-demand 8-occupant flexibility gives Pilot Touring and Elite an extra level of versatility. In the second row, a first-in-class multi-function removable middle seat can be conveniently stored underneath the rear cargo floor instead of being left at home in the garage. Families then have the seat available if they need it later in their journey, providing owners three distinct seating options at any time:

• A traditional second row bench for 3-across seating and 8-occupant total capacity (middle seat up)
• A captain's chair-style wide center armrest with additional drink holders (middle seat down)
• Wide pass-through for access to the third row (middle seat removed), particularly useful when child seats are installed in the outboard second-row seats.

Pilot is also the only vehicle in its class with 8-person seating and an opening panoramic sunroof, which is standard on Touring and Elite. Heated seats are standard across the lineup. TrailSport and Elite also feature a heated steering wheel. EX-L and Touring have soft leather upholstery and the top-of-the-range Elite gets exclusive perforated leather inserts and ventilated front seats.

The 2023 Pilot has the most cargo room in the model's history, with up to 113.67 cu.-ft. behind the first row, and up to 22.42 cu.-ft. behind the third row. Expanded cabin storage includes a massive console bin that can swallow a full-size tablet, the return of Pilot's clever passenger-side instrument panel shelf, and 14 large-volume cupholders throughout the cabin, including eight that will fit wide 32 oz water bottles.

More Power and Refinement

Honda Pilot is one of the smoothest and most powerful SUVs in its class, and both the vehicle and the all-new 24-valve DOHC 3.5-liter V6 engine that powers it are made at the company's auto plant in Lincoln, Alabama. This is Honda's most powerful V6 ever, producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque (both SAE net).

The all-aluminum V6 features a unique block and low-profile cylinder heads with high-tumble ports and a narrow 35-degree valve angle for better combustion. The low-profile design of the new DOHC cylinder heads also allowed a more compact rocker arm and hydraulic lash adjuster design. Honda engineers also did away with separate cam bearing caps and instead incorporated them directly into the valve cover itself. The result is a 30 mm reduction in overall cylinder head height. The new design also reduces the number of parts. Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM™) improves fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.

Performance is further enhanced by a refined and responsive 10-speed automatic transmission that has been tuned exclusively for Pilot. Paddle shifters are standard for manual control, making Pilot more fun-to-drive.

Pilot also introduces the second generation of Honda's award-winning torque vectoring i-VTM4™ all-wheel drive system. Standard on TrailSport and Elite, the new and more capable i-VTM4 system features a stronger rear differential that can handle 40% more torque and provides 30% faster response, optimizing available traction in all driving scenarios, especially slick conditions and off-road. Up to 70% of the engine's torque can be sent to the rear axle, and 100% of that torque can be distributed to either the left or right rear wheel.

Five standard selectable drive modes optimize the driving experience for various conditions: Normal, Econ, Snow, plus new Sport and Tow modes. TrailSport, EX-L (with all-wheel drive), Touring (with all-wheel drive) and Elite also feature an updated Sand mode and a new Trail mode that optimize Pilot's capabilities off-road.

Pilot can tow as much as 5,000 pounds, which is more than enough for most boats, campers or "toy" trailers that serve as the key to adventure for many customers.

All-New Pilot TrailSport

With even more rugged design and exclusive off-road hardware, including a new trail torque logic off-road system and a new TrailWatch camera system, the all-new Pilot TrailSport is an authentic, off-road capable SUV that has been tested on challenging terrain all over the United States--from the red rocks of Moab, Utah and the deep sands of Glamis, California to the challenging muddy trails in the hills of Kentucky and North Carolina.

Exclusive to TrailSport, an available new Diffused Sky Blue paint color highlights its rugged design and adventurous spirit. In the cabin, TrailSport stands out with rugged details including exclusive orange contrast stitching and head restraints embroidered with the TrailSport logo. Standard all-season floor mats with an exclusive TrailSport design add function and durability protecting the carpet from snow, mud and debris. A new sliding panoramic sunroof is standard.

The new Honda Pilot TrailSport backs up its rugged design with top class off-road performance. TrailSport is the only Pilot with an off-road tuned suspension (which includes a one-inch lift for additional ground clearance and increased approach, departure, and break-over angles). Unique stabilizer bars are optimized for articulation and off-road ride comfort; spring rates and damper valve tuning are also exclusive to TrailSport.

Pilot Trailsport is also the first Honda SUV with all-terrain tires for improved off-road traction and robust skid plates to protect its underbody from damage on the trail. TrailSport's standard Continental TerrainContact AT (265/60R18) tires are extremely capable in sand, mud, rocky terrain and snow, but still quiet and comfortable on the road. Unique 18-inch wheels with a rugged look are carefully designed with inset spokes to protect them from trail damage and the TrailSport logo cast in the thick, outer flange.

Designed in collaboration with Honda Powersports engineers, the thick steel skid plates protecting Pilot TrailSport's oil pan, transmission and gas tank can support the entire weight of the vehicle crashing down on a rock. Stout recovery points rated at twice Pilot TrailSport's Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) are cleverly integrated into the front skid plate and the tow hitch situated behind TrailSport's full-size spare tire.

In Trail mode, TrailSport's exclusive trail torque logic off-road system manages the i-VTM4 torque vectoring all-wheel drive system's distribution of the engine torque based on available traction while simultaneously utilizing the front brakes individually to apply brake vectoring - reducing wheelspin and maintaining traction.

Trail torque logic also controls the amount of power going to the rear axle in certain situations, like climbing a tough off-road trail with V-ditches that can cause a tire to lose contact to the ground temporarily, as much as 75% of available power is routed to the individual tire with the most traction. For greater traction management and smoother progress up the trail, the remaining 25% torque potential is sent to the non-tractive wheel to allow immediate transfer of drive force once its tire contacts the ground.

Trail torque logic - how it works:

• One side of rear axle loses ground contact
• Trail torque logic control detects condition
• Rear axle torque increased
• Drive force transfers to the wheel with the most traction
• Low traction wheel maintains torque potential to allow immediate transfer of drive force once ground contact is made

A new TrailWatch camera system uses four exterior cameras and four camera views to help drivers navigate obstacles outside their natural line of sight by slope or proximity such as blind crests, deep ruts and the trail's edge. When driving In Trail mode at speeds below 15 mph, the forward view camera automatically turns on and then deactivates when spees rise above 15 mph. For additional driver support, and unlike other similar trail camera systems, TrailWatch automatically reactivates if the vehicle speed dips below 12 mph.

To quantify target metrics and off-road performance, Honda engineers also developed a new proprietary off-road capability rating system in cooperation with the Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC), a pioneer in off-road testing.