[Advance2022]

Anyone else tempted to switch from the MDX to the new Pilot? I’m really impressed by what Honda has done. Almost every one of the features I really like from the MDX(the removable middle seat, the panoramic sunroof, 360 camera, heads up display, the Advance’s rear hatch that automatically closes as you walk away is on it and it has a substantially better third row (vents, an extra place, more leg room, and a 60/40 split) with a much bigger cargo area. All on the same platform with the same transmission as the MDX plus a newer version of the V6 that make almost as much power. I don’t think I’d have bought an MDX were this generation Pilot released. Especially now that I’m using the third row a lot more than we ever expected. No doubt the Bose system in the Elite is a downgrade from the ELS Studio 3D, the styling isn’t quite as nice, going from the larger screen to the smaller one would be a downgrade, and the materials in the MDX are nicer but its looking to me that the benefits for our family would outweigh what we’d lose and almost every feature we love would stay. Cachet means little to me though my local Honda dealer isn't as good as the local Acura dealer so that would be a downgrade.

 

[Someonemdx]

Nope. We love the MDX and hope to have it for years to come.

Now for a 2nd car, a hybrid crv may be in our future. Hoping the next gen RDX has a hybrid option.

 

[wrxdev]

The ELS stereo and the double wishbone suspension setup in MDX are hard to ignore, though I am intrigued by the new 3.5 V6 that is DOHC in this new 2023 Pilot.
All the J series so far have been SOHC expect the turbo charged ones in the Type S and NSX.

 

[mrgold35]

There is a good chance the 2024 MDX will get the same engine with a slight bump in power in the 295-300 hp range.

 

[Rafale]

nope, love my Type S...9 inch screen, reflector LED headlights, partial digital cluster, 2 way lumbar, and the list goes on of all the "downgrades" on the 23 Pilot

 

[Hogan773]

Anyone else tempted to switch from the MDX to the new Pilot? I’m really impressed by what Honda has done. Almost every one of the features I really like from the MDX(the removable middle seat, the panoramic sunroof, 360 camera, heads up display, the Advance’s rear hatch that automatically closes as you walk away is on it and it has a substantially better third row (vents, an extra place, more leg room, and a 60/40 split) with a much bigger cargo area. All on the same platform with the same transmission as the MDX plus a newer version of the V6 that make almost as much power. I don’t think I’d have bought an MDX were this generation Pilot released. Especially now that I’m using the third row a lot more than we ever expected. No doubt the Bose system in the Elite is a downgrade from the ELS Studio 3D, the styling isn’t quite as nice, going from the larger screen to the smaller one would be a downgrade, and the materials in the MDX are nicer but its looking to me that the benefits for our family would outweigh what we’d lose and almost every feature we love would stay. Cachet means little to me though my local Honda dealer isn't as good as the local Acura dealer so that would be a downgrade.

I was mentally locking in on an MDX around this time last year, then the greedy dealers/crappy market had me not in a rush, and then other life things got in the way. For the past 3-4 months I have then decided to wait to see the new Pilot. As of this morning I am now heavily leaning Pilot. I do want to see pricing and the real size differences, but for me 1) Larger Interior, 2) Cleaner Dash (just a touchscreen and no trackpad thingy, and NO STUPID GIANT DRIVE MODE DIAL WITH NEON LIGHTS ALL OVER IT RIGHT IN THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING hahaha) and 3) presumably lower price has me quite interested. I still like the MDX exterior look better, but Honda has gotten the Pilot to a point where I like that look too and would be excited to own that car and drive it for 8-10 years.

 

[Hogan773]

nope, love my Type S...9 inch screen, reflector LED headlights, partial digital cluster, 2 way lumbar, and the list goes on of all the "downgrades" on the 23 Pilot

What do the Acura Jewel Eyes offer vs a Honda LED headlight? The Acura is a number of small LEDs each with their own projector lens? What is the Honda LED design then and how does it differ? Thanks in advance

 

[Advance2022]

Nope. We love the MDX and hope to have it for years to come.

Now for a 2nd car, a hybrid crv may be in our future. Hoping the next gen RDX has a hybrid option.

now our needs have changed

nope, love my Type S...9 inch screen, reflector LED headlights, partial digital cluster, 2 way lumbar, and the list goes on of all the "downgrades" on the 23 Pilot

No doubt the downgrades are meaningful but so are the advantages too. With our family needs unexpectedly having shifted in the year and half since buying the MDX things like the larger back seat (with actual vents) and better cargo space matter more to me than a slightly smaller screen and different headlights. Were it primarily to be used as a two row vehicle, which is what we was expecting when buying the car, the MDX would be at less of a disadvantage in those regards. I do think though that the MDX is about to lose out on a lot of sales from loyal Honda/Acura fans. I don't mind the touchpad interface but a lot of buyers don't like it and the Pilot now has a lot of features that previously were reserved for the MDX (like the removable middle seat and 360 camera) while being noticeably more practical.

 

[Advance2022]

Cleaner Dash (just a touchscreen and no trackpad thingy

I will say that I prefer the touchpad over a touchscreen. I like having it and the volume dial right where my hand naturally rests and it doesn't get covered in finger prints. Sadly the same can't be said about Acura's choice of using piano black plastic everywhere. That quickly gets covered in finger prints, dust, and even scratches.

And overall I do love the MDX. It has been a great car. This new Pilot just looks like an incredibly compelling package. Much more so than a Telluride or Highlander.

 

[Hogan773]

I will say that I prefer the touchpad over a touchscreen. I like having it and the volume dial right where my hand naturally rests and it doesn't get covered in finger prints. Sadly the same can't be said about Acura's choice of using piano black plastic everywhere. That quickly gets covered in finger prints, dust, and even scratches.

And overall I do love the MDX. It has been a great car. This new Pilot just looks like an incredibly compelling package. Much more so than a Telluride or Highlander.

Yes I agree. I was thinking there was going to be some major "hitch" in the new Pilot package that would cause me to hem and haw and want to spend more to get the smaller MDX, but at this point I don't see it. More details to come of course so I am still optimistic but need to learn more.

I agree with your statement bolded above and unfortunately it makes me scared for Honda dealers asking for $10K market adjustments and other crap like I heard with Telluride and Palisade.....I am not going to play that BS game though. Good news is the Acura guys have been texting me for at least 6-8 weeks talking about "no market adjustment" so at least the air has been deflated from the MDX side it seems. Some high interest rates and maybe some economic slowdown should hopefully keep these Honda salesmen in check, I hope!

 

[Advance2022]

Yes I agree. I was thinking there was going to be some major "hitch" in the new Pilot package that would cause me to hem and haw and want to spend more to get the smaller MDX, but at this point I don't see it. More details to come of course so I am still optimistic but need to learn more.

I agree with your statement bolded above and unfortunately it makes me scared for Honda dealers asking for $10K market adjustments and other crap like I heard with Telluride and Palisade.....I am not going to play that BS game though. Good news is the Acura guys have been texting me for at least 6-8 weeks talking about "no market adjustment" so at least the air has been deflated from the MDX side it seems. Some high interest rates and maybe some economic slowdown should hopefully keep these Honda salesmen in check, I hope!

The MDX now seems to be in good supply. I'd imagine the Honda will initially have a big markup. I don't mind waiting a year or even two if it is the right car. My MDX works perfectly.

 

[Advance2022]

Yes I agree. I was thinking there was going to be some major "hitch" in the new Pilot package that would cause me to hem and haw and want to spend more to get the smaller MDX, but at this point I don't see it. More details to come of course so I am still optimistic but need to learn more.

I agree with your statement bolded above and unfortunately it makes me scared for Honda dealers asking for $10K market adjustments and other crap like I heard with Telluride and Palisade.....I am not going to play that BS game though. Good news is the Acura guys have been texting me for at least 6-8 weeks talking about "no market adjustment" so at least the air has been deflated from the MDX side it seems. Some high interest rates and maybe some economic slowdown should hopefully keep these Honda salesmen in check, I hope!

One thing I think Honda and Acura have been very smart about is not doing the stupid mandatory captains chair thing in upper trims. Losing the middle seat matters for me and I don't like that many cars require that of anything above base trims (for instance in a Telluride or Sienna). I also really like the removable middle seat. Nobody else does that in SUVS and it makes a huge positive difference in how I use the MDX. I really like the added flexibility.

 

[Maik]

In 2017, when my 2002 MDX was finally ready to be replaced after 340,000 miles, I looked at both the Pilot and the MDX...I had a hard time justifying the extra $10K for the MDX as the Pilot seemed to have many of the same features I was looking for. I ended up buying the Pilot Touring model. Although it was a great car in most respects as I had no issues with it at all, I will admit that I did have buyers remorse as it just was not as comfortable and enjoyable to drive as my MDX had been. A year ago I traded my Pilot for my current 2022 Advance MDX and could not be happier with the decision. The MDX is indeed a tad smaller, but simply not enough to make a difference for me.

 

[dndodd100]

No. Was hoping they would have the 3.0 turbo in the off-road version then maybe yes as a replacement for the 18 Odyssey. I think the New Pilot will have the same underpinnings as the 22 MDX including the front suspension. Spoke with an engineer they have experimented with Brembo's so maybe they will be offering a sportier model later.

 

[wrxdev]

No. Was hoping they would have the 3.0 turbo in the off-road version then maybe yes as a replacement for the 18 Odyssey. I think the New Pilot will have the same underpinnings as the 22 MDX including the front suspension. Spoke with an engineer they have experimented with Brembo's so maybe they will be offering a sportier model later.

The front suspension is different. The new Pilot is using a strut based setup compared to MDX’s more advanced double wishbone setup up front. That’s why the MDX will handle objectively better and more composed at speeds and turns.

 

[IanCH]

The copium is flowing hard in this thread.

"What if I can get the same car for $20k less money?"

I've got some land in Florida to sell you guys... Cheap!

 

[dndodd100]

The front suspension is different. The new Pilot is using a strut based setup compared to MDX’s more advanced double wishbone setup up front. That’s why the MDX will handle objectively better and more composed at speeds and turns.

I stand corrected you are right they are saying Macpherson but from what I was told the rest is very similar to the MDX. Living in Birmingham I do occasionally run into Honda Engineers.

 

[md2069]

Of course not………But I’m sure the usual “I hate the MDX touchpad and it needs to be a touchscreen” crowd will think that because of the touchscreen and a few minor changes the Pilot is now a better vehicle.

 

[louvnj]

Of course not………But I’m sure the usual “I hate the MDX touchpad and it needs to be a touchscreen” crowd will think that because of the touchscreen and a few minor changes the Pilot is now a better vehicle.

Yes, but the Pilot complaint is now “ but it’s only a 9” touchscreen, should be 12”.

 

[mrgold35]

It all comes down for me If I need the "S" or do you need more of the "U" in a SUV. Acura is always leans towards the "S" side of things with looks, features, and performance; which, I like that more. Even if Honda comes out with a Passport/Pilot hybrid, it wouldn't be as sporty as the 17-20 MDX Sport Hybrid.