This is the key to identifying the camo-covered prototype.
The current Honda Pilot is getting old. The Honda Pilot was first introduced in 2016, and apart from the 2019 model year facelift, little else has changed. Although we haven’t heard much yet about the next-gen SUV model, this prototype is heavily camouflaged and suggests that big changes will be coming soon.
TFLnow is to be credited for this spy video. The Ohio resident who captured the test vehicle at a gas station gave them images and a video. This is important because Honda’s operations are located in Ohio, and the prototype also has an Ohio license plate. This adds authenticity to the next-gen pilot, rather than an SUV from another manufacturer.
This new Honda Pilot is also supported visually. It is very similar to the current model in its overall shape, especially the way that the roof slopes towards the back. The camouflaged front clip almost reveals a bold Honda logo at the center of the larger grille. There are narrow headlights flanking the logo. The vertical lines running down the fascia’s corners suggest that the Pilot will use vents and driving lights similar to the Passport. This model has just been updated for 2022.
It is difficult to see details at the rear or sides due to heavy camo. The design is very similar to the Acura MDX. The new Pilot will be sharing a platform with its Acura sibling. It entered its fourth generation in the 2022 model year. It’s possible that at least one Pilot’s engine options will include a 3.5-liter V6 which is also used in the MDX’s 290 horsepower. Acura will probably continue to have the turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that makes 355 horsepower for the MDX. A hybrid model is expected to arrive soon.
Honda has done an excellent job keeping the new Pilot secret, both literally and metaphorically. We suspect that a reveal will be delayed due to the amount of camouflage we have seen. It would be a 2023 model year vehicle if it was revealed sooner. However, it is possible that it will be revealed later in 2024.