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Honda’s Engineers Explain What Makes The 2023 Pilot TrailSport Tick Off-Road

Honda introduced the 2023 Pilot TrailSport last month and now the company has followed up with a video highlighting its development and off-road capability.

Based on the fourth-generation Pilot, the new TrailSport variant was designed to be great on- and off-road. In order to achieve this, the crossover was tested in numerous locations including Breckenridge, Colorado, Moab, Utah and Sedona, Arizona.

This resulted in the development of a new Trail mode as some of the terrain engineers were experiencing didn’t match the modes being offered. Besides optimizing off-road traction, Trail mode automatically activates the new TrailWatch camera system, which provides drivers with four camera views to help see hidden obstacles.

Also: The 2023 Honda Pilot Is A Big, Rugged, And Powerful SUV With Some Tricks Up Its Sleeve

To deal with v-ditches, which are v-shaped ditches carved out by water, engineers developed an exclusive Trail Torque Logic. It sends up to 75% of available power to the individual wheel with the most traction.

The upgrades don’t end there as the TrailSport features skid plates that not only provide protection, but also factor in aerodynamics and serviceability. They’re joined by front and rear recovery points that are rated at twice the crossover’s gross vehicle weight rating.

While not mentioned in the video, the TrailSport comes standard with all-wheel drive and an off-road focused suspension that features a 1 inch (25 mm) lift, unique stabilizer bars, different spring rates, and special damper tuning. Last but not least, the crossover rides on exclusive 18-inch wheels that are wrapped in standard Continental TerrainContact AT tires.

The 2023 Honda Pilot will begin arriving a U.S. dealers shortly and pricing starts at $39,150. However, the TrailSport will set you back $48,350.