2023 Honda Pilot

Tech & Driver Area: Solid, With One Big Miss

The Pilot Elite features a fully digital gauge cluster, including seatbelt-status indicators for all eight seating positions—an underrated but very useful safety feature, especially for families using seatbelt-installed car seats.

Other highlights:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated steering wheel
• Wireless Apple CarPlay & Android Auto
• Wireless charging pad
• Push-button shifter that doesn’t eat up space

The Miss:

The 9-inch center screen feels small and outdated for a $53K SUV. It’s not integrated into the dash and looks a bit like an afterthought. A larger screen—or a digital rearview mirror—would have gone a long way here, especially for a vehicle designed to haul kids in every row.

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Second Row: The True Star of the Show

This is where the Pilot starts earning its crown.

The Elite trim comes standard as an 8-passenger vehicle, and every second-row seating position has lower anchors and top tether anchors—a huge win for car-seat families.

The Genius Feature: Removable Middle Seat

The second-row middle seat is removable, allowing you to DIY captain’s chairs without losing seating flexibility.

And Honda nailed the execution:

• The seat stores inside the trunk, under the floor
• You don’t have to leave it in your garage
• You gain extra hidden storage when it’s removed

This is one of the most mom-friendly design choices I’ve seen.

Other second-row perks:

• Heated outboard seats
• Sunshades
• USB-C ports
• Climate controls
• Tons of door storage

The Big Miss:

No ceiling vents. For a vehicle claiming to be the carpool king? That’s a letdown.

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Cargo Space: Bigger and More Functional

The 2023 Pilot is now 199 inches long, putting it closer to larger midsize SUVs like the Chevrolet Traverse (205 inches).

With the third row up, cargo space is respectable. With seats folded flat, you get a wide, usable load floor.

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