Honda Pilot: Top Alternatives for 2023
Aaron Turpen is an automotive writer and reviewer living in Wyoming, USA. A life-long off-road and mechanical enthusiast, Aaron has had a varied career in vehicles. Aaron grew up with home mechanics and maintenance on tractors, trucks, and cars as well as small engines and devices. At any one time, he’s worked as an automotive disassembler (aka “junk yard parts puller”), shade tree mechanic, over-the-road truck driver, and more. Aaron’s interests include family-oriented vehicles, off-roading, and anything fun involving tires and steering. With most of his life having been in rural America, Aaron understands pickup trucks and SUVs, winter weather hazards, and what life is like where phrases like “Just down the road” mean “within 100 miles.” Aaron’s automotive writing career has included outlets such as Carfax, CarTalk, NewAtlas.com, and many others. He’s appeared on NPR’s All Things Considered, on various YouTube channels, and on several podcasts.
The Honda Pilot is a popular three-row SUV known for its robust nature and thoughtful interior. It resides in a segment that is full of top-shelf rivals with excellent merits of their own.
Yet it continues to sell well against newer rivals. Its roomy interior, versatile nature, and good fuel economy are all high points.
Table of Contents
Honda Pilot Weaknesses
The primary weakness of the Honda Pilot is its relatively high price compared to most of its rivals.
Honda has dropped the two lowest trim levels, making its cost of entry higher by comparison. The Pilot is also an older design, comparatively, making it feel a bit dated in looks and appeal.
Honda Pilot vs. Competitors
| Model | Cost Range | Fuel Economy (Combined) | Passenger Volume | Warranties |
| Honda Pilot | ||||
| Kia Telluride | ||||
| Toyota Highlander Hybrid | ||||
| Volkswagen Atlas |
1. Kia Telluride
The Kia Telluride is the newest model on our list, having been introduced as an all-new offering from Kia in the 2020 model year. The Telluride has quickly become a top seller in the segment thanks to its long list of standard features, spacious interior, and powerful styling.
The Telluride is considerably larger than the Pilot and has the best warranty in the segment as well.
There are a few downsides to the well-done Telluride and it’s been a favorite among journalists and buyers since its introduction. The Telluride sports a host of active safety technologies, a huge and well-considered infotainment touchscreen, and a strong list of reasons to buy.
Current Kia Telluride Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Kia | Telluride |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Kia deals and average prices paid.
2. Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Of the models on our list here, the Highlander is the only one that comes as a hybrid. We very much recommend the Highlander Hybrid model, which will increase the price paid by about $2,000 versus the base model, but which will return the excellent fuel economy numbers listed here.
Introduced in 2020, the Highlander is a well-considered family crossover SUV with a kid-friendly third row, ample storage and cargo, and a very comfortable seating arrangement in the front and second rows.
Long considered the chief rival to the Honda Pilot, the Highlander Hybrid now sets a new bar for Honda to meet.
Current Toyota Highlander Hybrid Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Toyota | Highlander Hybrid |
You may qualify for additional deals and incentives, check out this month's Toyota deals and average prices paid.
3. Volkswagen Atlas
The Atlas is relatively new to Volkswagen but is almost as old as the Pilot, having been introduced in its current generation in 2018. VW no longer offers the base S trim level but has added some standard features across the board to go with the VW’s huge interior space and comfortable drive quality.
The Volkswagen Atlas is one of the larger choices of the group here in physical presence and drive feel, but that gives it a feeling of confidence and stability as well.
The cabin is simple, but understandable and crafted from quality materials.
Current Volkswagen Atlas Deals & Incentives
| Year | Make | Model | Cash Incentives (up to) | Best Avail. APR | Lease Offers | Expiration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Volkswagen | Atlas | ||||
| 2023 | Volkswagen | Atlas | 4.90% | 7/5/23 |
You may qualify for deals and incentives, check out this month's Volkswagen deals and average prices paid.
