The Honda Pilot has been on sale for more than two decades, but the 3-row family hauler has faced intense competition from larger SUVs in recent years. Honda could have a plan to solve the issue. According to industry publication Automotive News, the automaker is considering a “Pilot XXL” variant, and it could arrive early next decade.
Demand for larger 3-row SUVs is strong, and Honda has seen the success Toyota has had with its Grand Highlander, which joined the lineup a few years ago as a larger alternative to the standard Highlander. Honda will reportedly join the race by stretching the Pilot by 8 inches, and the new SUV is expected to share a platform with a related Acura model.
Automotive News’ sources said that Honda is planning an annual production volume of more than 40,000 units, and the Acura variant could reach around 30,000 units. Honda currently builds the Pilot at its Lincoln, Alabama, facility, but the automaker could expand its North American manufacturing footprint with new factory locations before the XXL model’s release date. A Honda spokesman declined to comment on the plans, according to the publication.
Analysts and dealers are positive about the reports, with one dealer telling Automotive News that the new model “would give customers an option when they feel the Pilot just isn’t big enough. Dealers would definitely like having that in the lineup.”
One analyst told the publication that Honda’s plan to shift more toward hybrid powertrains could make the Pilot XXL a big hit. A hybrid option could offer greater efficiency than many full-size SUVs, and the unibody design would deliver smoother ride quality and an easier driving experience than the more truck-like body-on-frame models.
Even with a cushier ride than models like the Chevrolet Tahoe, dealers say Honda can’t ignore buyers’ desire for a ruggedly styled SUV. Speaking about the current Pilot, one dealer told Automotive News that, “As soon as they made it look more rugged, it sold really well and at a decent profit.”
