There are indications that Honda is looking to put some more heft behind its three-row SUVs. An Automotive News report suggests the automaker is mulling over a larger vehicle to sit above the present-day Pilot, one they have in mind as the “Honda Pilot XXL.”
Such an SUV would be a way for Honda to put up a better fight against the likes of the Toyota Grand Highlander and other oversized SUVs, with room to spare for both passengers and cargo. But don’t go to your Honda dealer expecting to see it on the lot any time soon. The same report has production not starting until early 2032, at the earliest, should the Pilot XXL be approved. And since Honda has yet to confirm anything, the name remains just a rumor for the moment.
The existing Pilot is no slouch, but the word is the XXL would take the formula in a new direction. Automotive News puts the new model at some eight inches longer than what is currently on sale. That is a good deal of extra space to work with for third-row comfort and cargo capacity, which are becoming ever more important as the segment evolves.
One could make the case that this is a proven approach. Toyota did much the same by introducing the Grand Highlander to its stable instead of merely inflating the regular Highlander; it gave families a roomier option without having to step up to a body-on-frame full-size. A Pilot XXL would let Honda do the same while leaving the current Pilot where it is.
The Honda is not the only thing in the works. The report says the XXL will share a platform with a forthcoming larger three-row from Acura, slated for 2029. Duly referred to as the Acura XL, it would be placed above the MDX with an eye toward luxury buyers who might otherwise look at a Lexus TX.
What will be under the hood is anyone’s guess at this remove from production, though a hybrid powertrain is the likely answer for both. We are told it may pair a V6 with a couple of electric motors for the kind of electrified output befitting the size and weight of these machines.
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