Honda Pilot XXL: Bigger Three-Row SUV Could Arrive in 2032

Honda is reportedly planning a larger three-row SUV above the Pilot, with a hybrid powertrain and more third-row space for U.S. buyers as early as 2032.

Honda could make the Pilot much bigger

Honda may be preparing a new flagship SUV for the United States.

According to a report citing a Honda planning document, the automaker is considering a vehicle known internally as the “Pilot XXL.” The proposed three-row SUV would sit above the current Pilot and could enter production in early 2032.

The current Pilot is Honda’s only three-row SUV and would provide the foundation for the reported larger flagship.

The reported vehicle would be about eight inches longer than today’s Pilot.

That would create additional room for passengers and cargo. It would also move the new Honda into a larger part of the three-row SUV segment.

The current Pilot measures 200.1 inches long in most configurations. Adding roughly eight inches would put the proposed SUV near the size of much larger three-row vehicles.

The third row is the main target

Honda already offers a spacious three-row Pilot.

The current model provides seating for up to eight passengers and offers as much as 113.7 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats configured appropriately.

However, competitors have moved further into the large-SUV segment.

The reported Pilot XXL would target vehicles such as the Toyota Grand Highlander and Ford Explorer, while adding more space than the current Pilot. The extra length could be used primarily to improve third-row legroom and cargo capacity.

That would give Honda a new model between its current Pilot and the largest SUVs sold in the U.S.

The Pilot TrailSport shows the rugged direction Honda has already taken with its current three-row SUV.

The current Pilot is already positioned as a family-oriented SUV with strong towing capability.

Honda rates the 2026 model for up to 5,000 pounds of towing when properly equipped. The available i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system also provides additional traction.

The larger model could therefore keep those priorities while adding more passenger space.

A hybrid V6 could power the larger SUV

The powertrain may be one of the most important parts of the project.

Honda is preparing a new generation of hybrid technology for larger vehicles in North America. The company says it will launch D-segment and larger hybrid models in 2029 as part of its next-generation hybrid rollout.

Honda also says its next-generation hybrid system should improve fuel economy by more than 10% compared with the current system. The company is targeting a cost reduction of more than 30% for the hybrid system introduced in 2023.

The reported Pilot XXL could use this next-generation architecture.

According to the current report, the large SUV is expected to combine a V6 engine with multiple electric motors. An electric motor at the rear axle could also provide electronic all-wheel drive.

Honda has not confirmed those details.

The Pilot XXL could share a platform with Acura

The reported Honda would not be developed alone.

The same architecture is expected to underpin a new large three-row Acura SUV, reportedly called the Acura XL. That model is expected to enter production before the Honda, potentially in 2029.

The two vehicles would serve different parts of the market.

The Acura would target higher-end competitors such as the Lexus TX and Buick Enclave. The Honda could focus on the broader family-SUV market.

Honda’s current Pilot already offers three rows, while the reported XXL would add additional length and passenger space.

Production would also likely take place in North America.

Honda currently operates multiple plants across the region. The company is also evaluating how to expand its North American manufacturing footprint as it prepares for more hybrid production.

The reported annual production target for the Pilot XXL is more than 40,000 units. However, Honda has not confirmed a production plant or final volume.

Honda is shifting toward larger hybrids

The timing fits Honda’s wider product strategy.

Honda announced in May that it plans to launch 15 next-generation hybrid models globally by the end of fiscal 2029, with North America a primary region. The company is also making its North American plants capable of producing hybrid vehicles.

For large vehicles, Honda specifically says North America will receive D-segment and larger hybrid models from 2029.

That creates a clear technological path for a future flagship SUV, even though Honda has not officially connected that plan to the reported Pilot XXL.

Pricing and production remain unknown

Honda has not announced a price for the rumored SUV.

The current 2026 Pilot starts at $42,395 in the U.S. A future larger hybrid model would likely sit above it, but any specific price estimate remains speculative.

The production target is also still several years away.

The reported 2032 launch means Honda has plenty of time to finalize the design, powertrain, manufacturing location and positioning of the new SUV.

For now, the Honda Pilot XXL remains an unconfirmed program, but the reported plan would give Honda a much larger three-row SUV with more third-row space and a next-generation hybrid powertrain.

If the project reaches production in 2032, it would expand Honda’s U.S. lineup into a segment currently dominated by larger three-row SUVs such as the Grand Highlander and Explorer.