Honda Wants To Take On The Tahoe With An Even Bigger SUV. Here's What We Know

Honda is considering a flagship SUV above the Pilot, but it may not enter production until 2032.

Honda Pilot XXL Rendering By Motor1

Photo by: Theophilus Chin | Motor1

Anthony Alaniz

By: Anthony Alaniz

Oct 21, at 12:00pm ET

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It’s hard to imagine what might happen tomorrow, let alone several years from now. But Honda is thinking about the future. The Japanese automaker is considering a new SUV that is bigger than the current Pilot, but it might not enter production until 2032.

Internally, the three-row SUV is allegedly known as the “Pilot XXL.” It will supposedly measure about 8.0 inches longer than the current Pilot, share a new platform with an Acura equivalent, and will likely feature Honda’s new V6 hybrid powertrain.

Details are scarce right now, and Honda has not yet approved the model for production, but we can piece together the rumors to build a picture of what customers should expect. Here’s what we know so far about Honda’s new Pilot XXL.

What Will Honda Call It?

Honda hasn't announced a name for its new three-row SUV, but it's reportedly been called the Pilot XXL internally. Honda could stick with alliteration, adding another P-named model to the Pilot and Passport. Pioneer? Pinnacle? Peak? Your guess is as good as ours.

What Will It Look Like?

Honda Pilot XXL Rendering By Motor1

Honda Pilot XXL Rendering By Motor1

Photo by: Theophilus Chin | Motor1

Our rendering depicts the Pilot XXL with styling from the revamped Passport, which is wildly popular in its TrailSport trim. The new SUV has a boxy, upright design, with a rectangular front fascia, a rugged bumper with red tow hooks, and simple LED taillights out back.

Though it may not look massive, our rendering attempts to predict the roughly 8.0 inches of additional length over the current Pilot. Much of that added length comes on the rear end, with a bit of extra overhang.

We don’t showcase the interior, but we don’t expect anything radical. The SUV should have a large driver display, a prominent infotainment screen on the dashboard, and physical controls for the HVAC, audio, and more.

Honda Pilot XXL Rendering By Motor1

Photos by: Theophilus Chin | Motor1

Honda Pilot XXL Rendering By Motor1

Photos by: Theophilus Chin | Motor1

What Platform Will It Ride On?

The new Honda Pilot XXL will ride on a new platform shared with Acura. The resulting SUV will be about 8.0 inches longer than the current Pilot, which measures about 200.1 inches long in its TrailSport trim.

The extra 8.0 inches would put Honda’s new SUV in the same league as behemoths like the Chevrolet Tahoe (211.3 inches), Ford Expedition (209.9 inches), and Nissan Armada (209.6 inches).

What Will Power It?

Honda is developing a new V6 hybrid powertrain, which we expect will propel its new SUV. The automaker has provided no details about the engine, only saying it will deliver "powerful driving performance and high towing capacity."

Honda's current 3.5-liter V6 generates 285 horsepower and can tow up to 5,000 pounds. The new engine may not produce as much power, as the automaker aims for its new hybrid-electric vehicles to achieve 30 percent better fuel economy. Honda also hopes to improve full-throttle acceleration performance by more than 10 percent.

When Will it Debut?

Honda has not confirmed it will produce a new three-row SUV, but it is considering it. If the automaker approves the project, production is not expected to start until early 2032, six years from now.

If Honda sticks to that timeline, we might not see a concept until the next decade, with a reveal likely happening in 2031, which feels like a lifetime away. The Acura variant is rumored to enter production as soon as 2029, which should provide some details about the Honda model.

How Much Will It Cost?

The entry-level Honda Pilot Sport starts at $43,990, including the $1,595 destination charge. The Honda Pilot XXL will cost more, but how much more remains unclear.

What do you think?

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The bigger three-row offering will be similar in size to competitors like the Ford Expedition and Chevrolet Tahoe. Both start at over $60,000. The Toyota Sequoia also starts at over $60,000.

The Pilot lineup tops out with the Black Edition at $56,790. We wouldn’t be surprised if the model above the Pilot starts in the mid-$50,000 range, if not more.

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