Honda has built a reputation as one of the most reliable brands on the market, and the critics seem to agree. The Japanese automaker ranks as the second-best non-luxury brand in terms of predicted reliability, earning a stellar 70/100 rating from Consumer Reports. Honda has also earned some recognition for its performance-oriented offerings, with models like the Civic Si and Civic Type R introducing a little high-speed excitement into the mix. If there’s one area where the automaker has typically lagged behind, it would have to be the off-road segment. That all changed in the last few years as Honda started to roll out the burly TrailSport trim for several of its most popular models. 2024 sees Honda’s sole pickup offering in the midsize Ridgeline earn its first off-road-ready makeover in the form of the new TrailSport trim. Equipped with all-terrain tires, steel skid plates, and an off-road-tuned suspension, the Ridgeline joins the Trailsport team along with the Honda Passport and Pilot.
The Ridgeline might mark the newest addition to Honda’s stable of off-road trims, but the Passport and Pilot present a unique opportunity for drivers browsing the preowned market. Released in 2022 and 2023, respectively, those shopping for a used Honda Pilot for sale might get the opportunity to experience the TrailSport lifestyle at a fraction of the cost of the 2024 version. Like the Ridgeline, the Pilot Trailsport sees the model upgraded with a full suite of off-road equipment, from all-terrain tires and 18-inch alloy wheels to rugged black wheel cladding, an overhauled off-road suspension, Honda’s TrailWatch terrain camera system, and more.
Before we get too excited about this enticing new option, it’s worth asking ourselves: is a used Pilot TrailSport a competent off-road option? Slapping a set of all-terrain tires and some bright exterior accents to pass a truck or SUV off as an off-road model has become all the rage in today’s market, but it takes a little more than a sporty name and some surface-level enhancements to excel on challenging terrain. Let’s see what the Honda TrailSport is working with as we determine if the midsize SUV is worth a closer look for those weighing their off-road options.
Off-Road Suspension
A hardy suspension is the cornerstone of any off-road model, and this was clearly a priority when designing the Pilot TrailSport. The adventure-ready trims swap out the Pilot’s stock suspension for an enhanced setup featuring revised spring rates and damper valve tuning, as well as specialized stabilizer bars that were created with optimal articulation and off-road comfort in mind. The off-road trim also sits one inch higher than the standard Pilot and also boasts an improved approach and breakover angle when compared to the base model. With a 19.8-degree approach angle and 19.6-degree breakover angle, drivers can hit the trail with plenty of confidence, knowing that they’re less likely to bottom out or incur a dent when encountering steep grades and acute peaks. Add in a set of 18-inch Continental TerrainContact AT tires that are designed to conquer mud, sand, rocks, and snow, and it’s easy to see why the Pilot TrailSport is often referred to as the most off-road-capable Honda SUV ever produced.
Steel Skid Plates
Honda called in the big guns to outfit the Pilot TrailSport with a full complement of underbody protection. Honda Powersports engineers—the same team who are behind the brand’s iconic lineup of off-road motorcycles, ATVs, and side-by-sides—graced the TrailSport with three steel skid plates ranging in thickness from 2.8mm to 4 mm to protect the oil pan, transmission and fuel tank from incurring any costly damage. Designed with high-strength steel, these side plates are an essential feature for any driver who is looking to test the limits of the Pilot TrailSport.
Trail Mode
Custom drive modes allow modern cars, trucks, and SUVs to shift their shifting and throttle response to adapt to changing road conditions. The Honda Pilot is offered with four standard drive modes, but it’s the addition of the exclusive Trail and Sand modes that really mark the TrailSport as an off-road model. We’ll start with a quick overview of the four standard drive modes, which range from the self-explanatory Normal and ECON modes to the exhilarating Sport mode. The latter tweaks the Pilot’s steering feel, alters the throttle response, and increases the amount of time that the SUV holds its lower transmission gears to offer the sort of acceleration that’ll have you glued to the back of your seat. Tow mode uses the same tricks to achieve a different goal, upping the Pilot’s towing prowess and disabling the rear parking sensors to account for the presence of a trailer, camper, or whatever else you might have attached to the tow hitch.
Then there’s Trail mode. This bespoke off-road setting optimizes the Pilot’s throttle response for lower-speed driving, tweaks the shift mapping, and adjusts the AWD and brake systems to allow drivers a little more control when trying to avoid unexpected obstacles. Activating Trail mode also enables the SUV’s Trail Torque Logic feature, as well as the TrailWatch camera system. These features combine to create a less overwhelming off-road experience, allowing drivers to leverage the latest driving technology to find success no matter where the road might take them. Sand mode rounds out the Pilot’s suite of custom drive modes, altering the throttle response, braking, shifting, and AWD to adapt to loose, sandy surfaces.
Trail Torque Logic
Four-wheel drive is only the beginning when it comes to the Pilot TrailSport’s arsenal of off-road equipment. Honda’s Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD is already one of the Pilot’s standout features, but the TrailSport sees i-VTM4 upgraded with a new Trail Torque Logic system that allows the Pilot to excel on a wide variety of terrain. When the Pilot is switched into Trail mode, Trail Torque Logic modifies the traction control system and uses brake vectoring to up the SUV’s wheelspin threshold and improve overall traction. Trail Torque Logic also ensures that no wheel receives more than 75 percent of the available torque at any one time. This enables the Pilot to distribute the remaining 25 percent of available torque to the wheel with the least traction, allowing it to immediately translate this torque into forward momentum as soon as it makes contact with the road.
If that sounds a little confusing, allow us to paint a picture. You’re carving through your local off-road trail when one side of the rear axle loses traction. The Trail Torque Logic system detects this loss of traction and immediately increases the amount of torque being sent to the rear axle. That torque is directed to the wheel with the most traction, but the system holds 25 percent of the available torque in reserve for the lowest-traction wheel. When that low-traction wheel regains its footing, the reserved torque is called into action, allowing the wheel to immediately produce drive force for a consistent, safe off-road experience.
TrailWatch Terrain Camera System
Whether you’re trying to avoid obstacles underfoot, keep an eye on your trailer, or gauge the wiggle room on a particularly narrow section of the trail, visibility is key to a safe, successful off-roading experience. Honda has addressed this vital area of need with the addition of the TrailWatch feature for the Pilot’s Multi-View Camera System (MVCS). This network of four exterior cameras offers drivers a comprehensive look at their surroundings with a front wide view that is perfect for spotting obstacles and comes in handy when trying to gauge the pitch of an upcoming hill.
The side view simultaneously displays the area to the left and right of the Pilot, complementing the traditional POV provided by the rear-view mirrors to prevent the sort of scratches and dents that can come with off-road driving. The overhead view stitches together a number of camera feeds to deliver a 360-degree bird’s-eye view of your immediate surroundings, while the rear wide view offers a wide-angle look at obstacles that might be lurking at the back of the SUV.
The TrailWatch system is also designed with convenience in mind. When trying to navigate challenging off-road terrain, drivers don’t have time to be messing with non-essentials controls. Honda has engineered all the potential distractions out of the TrailWatch system with an automation feature that sees the system automatically activated when the Pilot is in Trail mode and is operating at less than 15 mph. TrailWatch switches off when the vehicle surpasses the 12-mph mark and will reactivate when the speed drops below 12 mph. It might seem like a minor feature, but it just shows how serious Honda is when it comes to creating a well-rounded off-road trim.
Performance
While it might not be the most compelling part of the Pilot’s off-road resume, you can never discount the importance of the powertrain itself. A 3.5-liter V6 engine lies at the heart of every Honda Pilot, including the off-road-focused TrailSport. With the ability to produce 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, the Pilot has the power you need to tackle some of the most challenging terrain you could encounter. The TrailSport is also swifter than your average Pilot, boasting a zero-to-60-mph time of 6.9 seconds compared to 7.2 seconds for the base model. The debut of the 2023 model saw Honda make some important improvements under the hood, swapping out the 9-speed automatic transmission for a new 10-speed version and squeezing five extra horsepower out of the V6. This allows the Pilot to deliver a crisper throttle response with the new 10-speed transmission providing smooth, reliable shifts that will never leave you hurting for power.
Speaking of power, the Pilot TrailSport has enough muscle to provide a 5,000-pound towing capacity. Opting for a trim with a front-wheel drive setup sees that number reduced to 3,500 lbs, but it’s still a strong showing for the midsize segment. The Pilot also holds its own in terms of fuel economy with an EPA-estimated 19 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. The non-TrailSport trims fare slightly better than the off-road version thanks to their less aggressive tires, but it’s a small trade-off for the sort of traction and confidence the Continental TerrainContact AT can provide.
The Honda Pilot TrailSport is Ready for Adventure, Are You?
While the features we’ve mentioned above certainly go a long way towards giving the already-capable Pilot a trail-ready makeover, they’re not the end of the story. The TrailSport is also packed with sturdy recovery points that are rated to accommodate twice the Pilot’s gross vehicle weight rating. This could come in handy if you ever find yourself mired in a particularly sticky stretch of trail, allowing a recovery vehicle to haul the TrailSport to safety and get your off-road adventure right back on course. The Honda Pilot TrailSport is miles away from the sort of “soft-roader” that’s crept onto the market in recent years. While those models feature some off-road-inspired styling while foregoing any substantial upgrades, the Pilot TrailSport is a different story altogether.
In fact, in developing the Pilot TrailSport, Honda engineers devised an entirely new proprietary off-road capability rating system with the help of the experts at the Nevada Automotive Test Center (NATC). The comprehensive system weighs everything from a model’s suspension and traction to its dimensions, powertrain, off-road versatility, and visibility to create a score that gives drivers a solid idea of just how hard they can send it when they’re exploring the road less traveled. Honda says the Pilot is well-equipped to tackle any off-road trail tagged with a moderate rating, which encompasses more than half of all the trails on US public lands. Jam-packed with a generous roster of off-road features and designed with the trail in mind, the Pilot TrailSport might just be the most off-road-capable Honda SUV ever produced.
