2023 Honda Pilot Gets Less Expensive LX Model

Honda is bringing back its least-expensive trim level. First, the 2023 Honda CR-V got a cheaper LX model. Now, the 2023 Honda Pilot is getting an LX model as well. Honda has revealed pricing for the new entry-level Pilot but not said when it will reach dealerships.

Trim Levels: How To Speak Honda

Honda loyalists are by now familiar with the company’s trim lexicon. In Honda’s system, LX is traditionally the base model. EX is a mid-level trim with the most commonly requested options. Higher-end models may be called Sport, Touring, or Elite, depending on their list of luxury goodies and whether they are tuned for performance or comfortable cruising.

In 2023, however, Honda seemed to be mixing things up. It has introduced an off-road-oriented TrailSport trim for some models. Initially, the company nixed the LX trim from many vehicles.

That approach made sense when the price of the average new car was on the rise and Americans were buying more luxury cars than normal. But eliminating the base trim made some Honda vehicles appear significantly more expensive than rivals. The price of a 2023 EX model might not be much higher than that of a 2022 EX model. But the disappearance of the LX made it the new base trim.

New car prices, however, have begun to decline. Manufacturers and dealers are once again offering incentives to lower the prices of many cars. And Honda is bringing back the LX. First the CR-V got its base trim back. Now, the Pilot LX has returned.

The New Pilot: Rugged Outside, Clever Inside

There’s an all-new Pilot for 2023. Redesigned with a handsome, rugged look, a standard 285-horsepower V6, and a clever (optional) hideaway middle seat for the second row, it’s been a critical hit.

The LX will use the same V6 engine and 10-speed automatic transmission as other trim levels. But it gets a smaller, 7-inch central touchscreen and two climate control zones instead of three. Cloth upholstery and manually-adjustable seats help lower the price, as does a very limited color palette – you can get the Pilot LX in silver, black, or white.

2023 Honda Pilot Pricing:

The reappearance of the Pilot LX brings the 2023 Pilot’s starting price down to $35,950, plus a $1,345 destination charge.