6500 miles later! My thoughts on our 2023 Pilot Trailsport.
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- Опубликовано: 15 авг 2023
- In this video I'll share my thoughts on the great and not so great things I've found on our pilot trailsport after driving it 6500 miles.
Modifications,
-Thule Motion xt roof box
-No-Lo Designs prototype 1.5" Lift
-255/70R18 Toyo open country at3 tires
-No-Lo Designs prototype catalytic converter skid plate
-No-Lo Designs prototype carrier barrier skid plate
-No-Lo Designs prototype transmission heat sink
-No-Lo Designs prototype dash gear mount 
Авто/Мото
Thank you for explaining to everyone about transmission cooling with it in D while sitting. The more people know, the more they can save their trans.
And yet I still don’t get it. Does that mean place the car in drive while sitting and pushing the brake pedal?
I just got to the point in the video where you mentioned the scan gauge you are so thorough😊
My only gripe is that the Trail doesn’t come with Elite’s options. It is a missed opportunity to capture customers from other brands.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I've got mine a month ago and getting such in-depth tips is very useful. Thank you, brother!
Thanks, glad you found it helpful! This is an amazing platform.
Very helpful, thank you! I have been considering one of these, but I'm really waiting for the Ridgeline with this exact same package, hopefully with even a bit more off rode ability.
@@BillyBobTup we just run a few level 5 trails in our 21 Ridgeline. Personally stocked that be made it without issues from the AWD.
Thanks so much for the info it’s really good to know about the cooling and the ability to turn off those pesky sensors. We purchased a trailsport back in July and want to get more into overlanding/light off-roading. Looking forward to all your future mods and driving adventures.
Thanks so much for a thorough and honest review. I definitely dont plan on doing your level of offroading but your perspective is really helpful when shopping for owner feedback before pulling the trigger on a Trailsport
Glad I could help. It's a great vehicle and I don't drive it to that extreme 99% of the time. Glad to get the information either way!
Glad to see & hear your review on the hot buttons. Hopefully someone will share this with Honda.
Very informative. Thanks Ian.
Im at 11,800 miles on mine lol. As soon as I got it, we went traveling. You basically said it all. Love the vehicle and its extremely comfortable. Thanks for the review.
Thanks!
what gas mileage u get city and highway Thanks
@@mustafamayahi8577 I'm averaging around 20 mph city and highway. I think they have a city and highway mph. Didn't check that far.
@@Hondacbr600rrish you right I should check it out before I asked , but really appreciate your response ,
Awesome and informative video Ian! Thank you.
Thanks!
Useful information provided. Thank you.
It can get a little dry but I'm glad you found it helpful.
Thanks for the transmission tip! I read somewhere there is a pump in that trick diff, that only runs when the car is on, as well. We have an Elite. For camping, we load the car with gear, kids and tow a pop-up camper. So may use this tip on the road. Not sure I'll be able to convince my wife to leave it in D (and parking brake) while parked :D - but still good to know, if she hops out to get coffee or something, and the car's hot off the highway, I'll just sit and wait with it in drive instead of park. Cheers and happy trails!
Great information, fair and honest. The designers should listen to your experiences off-road.
Thanks! Next update I do, I'll add a little more "B" roll.
You need to send a link to Honda engineer. Holding first gear is a must for crawl or hill decent. Should be enabled in trail mode. Savage geese review list name of responsible Honda engineer. I think your concerns are very valid and good customer feedback.
You know anyone on the Honda development team?
Yer skeered (kidding)
Our 2020 Honda Passport (rare???Black Copper Pearl) elite AWD with Toyo Open Country ATIII 255/60R18 wrapped on some black 18x8 HPD Ridgeline Rims. Stock height, no skid plates but she is more than capable, while being my wifes daily.
This model has a (above average) 550w stereo system with heated & cooled front seats & a post possession OEM class III hitch & transmission cooler.
I test drove that exact rig you have as it was sitting on the lot while I was getting my oil changed. I know the salesman, so we took a good test drive. It was a nice ride and absolutely a must buy if you needed something like that BUT we have a very capable 2 row rig that packs all of the Pilot in a smaller package, for us.
She does Pismo sand dunes ☑, Big Sur forest roads ☑, gets 25mpg on hwy ☑, heavy ☑
From Lassen to Shasta to the Redwoods to O.C.
I'd buy another.
✌🏼
Good video 😯actually appreciate 👌 im guessing uphill 1st is crawl 2nd is launch, dwn hill use the button. An update to disable sensors in trail mode would be good it seems. 👍 ill tell my dealer that they have a bounty for good ideas here is one 😂
Agree on the steering being a little bit too light.
Lots of prototype stuff that I want to get my hands on lol.
Learned a few things watching this video. Your simple style is refreshing not every channel needs flashy edits. Thanks for posting.
Nice review thanks. I like the screen on the rear window. Where did you get that? 👍
I love my ELITE!
Preach! I hope someone at Honda watches this video.
That's the goal!
Appreciate the insight, thanks for putting this experience and summation together. What scanner did you go with?
Scan gauge 2
@@no-lodesigns thank you
I hate that data is hidden from us. Same thing with my '21 Ranger Tremor which is intended for off-road but no way to check trans temps without my Scan Gauge. Engine is just an unmarked temp gauge too. Carried over the Scan Gauge from our '16 Pilot. The Ranger likes to run warm like you mentioned with the '23 Pilot (emissions purposes maybe?). Just driving around town in the Vegas summer (108F) and a lot of stop and go and the trans will get to 210F. Towing in the summer I get 220-230F. Ford doesn't even have a range to tell me what is safe other than there will be a light that comes on. SUPPOSEDLY, from digging online the fluid should not break down till 260f so I guess they just engineer it this way. There was a time I passed a big rig towing uphill and the engine temp got to 230F yet the needle barely moved on the gauge (it was pulling good and got me to 80mph lol Utah/legal). Needless to say I want to upgrade the cooling even if this is all "Safe".
Hopefully a lot of these Honda issues can be resolved with software updates. I am SURPRISED to see Honda has these issues in the Trailsport though. We let go of our '16 Pilot AWD Touring for the new 2023 Touring AWD but will likely not lift it. Just get it on some good AT tires for when we hit snow and maintained dirt roads. My wife daily drives the new Pilot and loves it but my impression is that the '16, even lifted with 31" tires felt quicker and more nimble. The '23 is a nice Pilot and happy we got it. The MPG I feel is no better than our lifted '16 was and this is on a '23 Touring with lower stance and 20" street tires, guess that is what the more boxy design will do to mpg?
We wanted the Trailsport because out of the box it had what we wanted but the 2nd row captain was a deal breaker. The Touring with the removeable center for "captain" or bench seat was what we wanted. That was a miss for me on the Trailsport as a folded 2nd row bench made for a great sleeping area in our '16 Pilot. Thus, we got the Touring AWD instead.
The full aize spare tire was what really finally sold me. You wont believe how many time you would want a full size tire at the worst time to get a flat
Full size spare also something I would not want to go without when towing our travel trailor in remote areas, since all manufacturers specify you should not be towing with temporary donut spare.
@@daniele.garneau2268 yeah definitely don't want that. We got a Ranger for towing our 19ft TT but the '16 Pilot did OKAY, not great. We are always dealing with winds. We love a lot about our '23 Touring but Honda took a step back with power/weight ratio and the back up camera quality is bad compared to the last gen.
I find the not holding first very frustrating too. I thought I just didn’t know how to program it. Was simply trying to go slow down hills on pavement. Was doing one of those drive through Christmas lights displays.
Can’t the programming be messed with? Surely its a simple matter of setting auto shift parameters? Bet this thinking risks voiding warranty though.
I had the same problem and rode the brakes the whole time. Felt bad for the guy behind me.
Why don't all manufacturers engineer some version of an easily removable front chin? Then you have max gas milage at highway speeds, but improved approach angle off road.
@@BillyBobTup great idea!
Fantastic video, I just got a 2025 Honda trail sport looks identical to yours. How do you monitor the temperatures but did you use or is that a feature in the gauges?
I'm running a scan gauge 2. I leave it in the top left corner of the dash.
Thanks so much for sharing! We need businessmen/engineers like you in the market for Honda. I just subscribed!!
I heard you installed the HRG 1.5-inch lift kit on your 2023 Pilot, which I am considering buying as well. Have you experienced any issues with it, such as weird noises or axle vibrations? Thanks.
No werid noises. It does have front and rear subframe spacers. So there isn't axle vibration and for alignment purposes.
Have you gone thru soft sand yet? Wanted to see how it holds up driving thru areas stating 4x4 for sand driving if pilot can drive thru.
I haven't had it in deep sand yet. Most of the time if you air down your tires and keep momentum your okay.
Hello
Watched your review. About to purchase one. This is critical info. Did you add a lift kit, or is there a lift kit available and with whom.
It's lifted with an HRG 1.5" F/R kit. I also have 255/70R18 Toyo open country at3 tires on it which are about 1.5" bigger over stock.
I test drove this trim even though my mind was made up to get a 4Runner but i liked the look of the Pilot a lot. It's a great suv, very roomy, drives nice. The Trailsport is more capable off-road than most people think.
Great vehicle! We're still enjoying ours!
@@no-lodesigns trying to convince my wife to get one! 😂
@@555atU try reverse phycology? Lol
@@no-lodesigns ha! I got some time to mold her into it.
Highly considering the a new pilot for our family rig. Is the AWD system the same for other trims? I’m considering a touring or elite..would get a trailsport if they had a middle row bench
According to Honda the Trailsport is the only model with "trail torque logic". It actively trys to maintain forward movement using the abs and rear diff clutch pack. This trailsport pilot awd is better than the system offered in the pervious gene.
any plans on making more skid plates for the pilot like rear plate and differential plate?
Just ironing out the front subframe details between the trailsport and non trailsport before we begin the skid plate design!
@@no-lodesigns I love my trailsport I can't wait to beef up the bottom lol
Does the AC work well in this model?
Spent hours driving across Oklahoma in 100F heat and it seemed fine to me at 68-70F.
As much as i want my Pilot Trailsport to make the cabin feel like winter, i suppose making me feel comfy was the goal. It doesnt get too cold like other cars.
@@desi579I agree my 25 trailsport AC isn’t that cold where I have to turn it down
As a non trail rider looking at this car (I will definitely travel more once I get it) how’s OSS it for the general consumer? Just everyday commuting?
For everyday use I really like it. I think the steering it a little light as mentioned and that blind spot monitor may be a bit sensitive for some. Lots of room and hold the family well. I wish I had the option for a middle bench in the trailsport. It's been great so far.
We're hitting 17k on ours. Super comfy ride. Do you have a list of the parts you used for your lift?
No list of parts yet.
We are running the HRG 1.5" F/R kit.
So you took the SUV to its limits. Thank you. I assume that anyone buying this knows it’s not for trails at all. It’s for forest service roads with potholes and wash outs. Places where a normal car based SUV would have issues. I plan to drive to the camp site and hike to the trails anyway so it’s great.
I'd say so. If those are your plans for it, it will do great!
Old School is GOOD School
Have you had any transmission issues? I’ve noticed some people experiencing transmission issues.
No problems just the concerns from this video.
Hello boys and girls. Today I’m going to read you a little story “The very naughty Honda”
Dang I need that lift on my touring.
HRG uses steel and Jsport is aluminum. Not sure if anyone else has a kit out yet. I'm helping HRG prototype there kit.
How much of a bump is it ?
@@mikeustan494 1.5" on the trailsport.
What Honda Got Very Wrong Is That Gaudy Blue Color. GAK 😮
How is a transmission overheating going up a mild grade in a time of year it’s cold enough for there to be snow on the ground? This is my first choice for my next car and this transmission issue seems crazy. Also there is a heat exchanger that uses engine coolant to cool the transmission. This is what Nissan did in a design that ended up being a problem if the heat exchanger fails and mixes caused what they call the “strawberry milkshake of death”
This climb is basically traffic on steroids. It's 1000ft of elevation gain in about a half mile. The outside ambient temperature isn't going to change the amount of heat generated by the transmission. Honda's used to have a similar problem to what you discribed. The reason these heat exchangers exist is for efficiency and to ensure operating temperatures. Without them the transmission temps get out of control even quicker. They don't work well when both systems are being stressed.
@@no-lodesignsseems like a transmission cooler that does not use engine coolant would be a better design. Or a bunch of radiator fins like you see on the air cooled engines and some performance differentials. This pilot trailsport is still on my list but I might just lease it and toss after a few years.
does not having a bench seat bother you?
thats is one reason thats holding me back from getting one.
It's annoying and short sighted but I have learned to deal with it. I wanted the trail torque logic... I would love to have a second row bench. This would give me more room!
Bought the 2023 elite and 1200 miles later computer went haywire causing every feature to become disabled. Even worse, the engine malfunctioned. It was enough for me to get rid of it immediately. Deemed as a lemon.
That's not ideal! We've been good so far!
We’ve seen a bunch of them come into the dealer with issues. Major problems were transmission. Definitely software related and is problematic.
I personally hate the 10 speed. From all companies too.
Just bought another one, this time a 2024 Elite. Hoping that last vehicle had a glitch.
@@JoseTorres-st5ic how’s it been so far? I see it’s only been a month after your last comment but I’m looking into getting one.
So far so good. Love the SUV so much, but just not enough to deem it as a “Perfect” vehicle. Would have loved to see an improvement with certain things such as the wireless charging which doesn’t work with Apple iPhone 14 and up. After all, I purchased both the 2023 and then 2024…
Maybe someone will make an override switch to turn on the fans in extreme situations?
That wouldn't be a bad thing. The hardest part would be making it plug and play
Can you do a video, or do you already have one, on your lift?
What kind of information are you looking for? I can make a walk around video and point out a few things.
@@no-lodesigns Just an overview of what you lift you used and any additional add-ons to get your ride height and maybe some costs. The Pilot just popped up on my radar but their "lifted" TrailSport doesn't give that much clearance. I think my non wilderness stock outback has the same if not more. I think the Pilot would be a sweet daily driver with the ability to go most anywhere I'm wanting to go in Califorina and down in Baja.
Did you disable VCM?
No, I didn't.
Have you compared the Pilot to te Passport?
The Passport and Pilot have different drivetrains on different platforms. I will say that my Ridgeline is about 300lbs heavy than the Passport and this Pilot is about 300lbs heavy than the outgoing model. I don't notice a huge difference in how peppy it feels. No vtec is noticeable in the sound department.
I can't see the engine temp on my 24 pilot trail sport. 😢
I agree! It's sad we can't see these things. I run a scan gauge 2 in my pilot to see trans and coolant temps.
@@no-lodesigns has your pilot ever given a supplemental restraint system warning Or an emissions system problem? I had both come up on my screen and I'm only at 5300 miles 😩
@@petegonzalez9304 I've never seen that one. We're at 20k now with any issues on our 2023.
@@no-lodesigns dang ok just tryna see if you had any info. Thanks 🙏
You would turn the heat on, to cool the engine... not the ac. lol
Agreed, trying to get any auxiliary fan to run at that point.
Even a little bit of b-roll would have made this a far more interesting video.
Thanks for the feedback.
man i really thought you had a lock on your neck 🤣🤣🤣
Haha just trying to get reasonable audio.
He's married.
😂😂😂😂😂
Approach and Departure angles are less than adequate for trail use. That's a BIG design failure !
@@gordjohnson70 there not ideal for sure!
6500. It isn’t even broken in.
Still breaking it in! Just over 15k on it now.
@@no-lodesigns nice
I think you should've bought a bronco instead of a pilot lol
If I could fit 3 kids in a Bronco I'd consider. I do have access to a Bronco, any parts that need made?
While all the things you mention are valid this vehicle is not meant to be a 4x4 trail vehicle. It's a mom car with awd to get you around in bad weather or a very easy non paved road (trail). You want to do some serious off roading like you are talking about get a 4runner or a jeep. This thing is not that vehicle.
It's not a true 4x4, I'd agree with that. I also don't want to build a 4runner or another jeep. Had an YJ back in the day. If the factory is bolting stamped high strength steel skids to the bottom of this thing the rest of the systems should be able to keep up. Trying to split the difference.
@@no-lodesigns I understand, but you are asking this vehicle to do things it was never designed to do and then criticizing it for not being able to keep up. Not a fair review imho.
@@Angel283 It's a great vehicle and does a great job! I think I'm allowed to be a little critical if Honda in its press release is saying they ran Finns and things in moab during development.
Some good info presented, but please just make a point, then move on. Kicking out of first gear is an example.
Thanks for watching and giving feedback!
I have one as well . Love it but the breaking does suck sometimes . Might just be me but it doesn’t break as smooth as it should .
I feel like I get an odd shift every now and again. Breaking has been consistent.
@@no-lodesigns what do you think about the power ? Sometimes I don’t think it picks up as quick as it should . I have a 2024
@@adnanisovic1218 it's no rocket ship but it moves a long okay for what it is. A few more hps wouldn't hurt it.
@@no-lodesigns picking your brain here lol . Would you lift yours ?hopefully my wife doesn’t look at this lol
@@adnanisovic1218 it's been lifted for over 15k miles. We sell and 1.5" F/R kit and I'm really happy with it lifted. Not a ton of lift but makes a huge difference!