First Drive: 2026 Honda Pilot – Focusing on What Matters to Family Buyers

When Honda rolled out an all-new version of the Pilot a few years back it became the automaker’s largest and most powerful SUV ever. What is it doing for an encore as it rolls out a mid-cycle refresh with the 2026 Honda Pilot? Check out the Headlight.News review to find out.

The launch of the fourth-generation Pilot in 2023 marked a significant milestone for the Japanese automaker, the three-row model growing bigger, more powerful and adding a first-ever TrailSport package for those looking to do some serious off-roading.

As is the industry norm, it’s time for a mid-cycle update and while the 2026 Pilot doesn’t deliver any big surprises Honda’s done enough to merit out attention.

Exterior tweaks are minor, at most, but the automaker has put the focus on what family buyers are most interested in comfort, utility, tech and safety upgrades, as Headlight.News discovered during a trip to San Diego to take the new SUV out for a first drive.

What’s New

The three-row SUV segment has grown increasingly competitive over the last several years and Honda proved itself a serious contender when it rolled out the fourth-generation Pilot back in 2023. But a lot has changed since then, as demonstrated by the recent choice of the Hyundai Palisade as North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. Those manufacturers who aren’t working to keep things fresh are doomed to drop to the back of the pack.

For 2026, it turns out, Honda has a mid-cycle update in place. Iit won’t shock existing buyers – certainly not from a design standpoint, the new model getting a new front fascia, a larger grille and, on some trims, new 20-inch wheels. Still, there’s enough to make it worthwhile for family buyers and others seeking a solid three-row SUV to check out.

To start with, all trims now get larger digital displays – a 12.3-inch touchscreen and 10.2-inch gauge cluster. Add wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and switching to 5G cellular service means there’s a much more robust connection to the cloud. Meanwhile, TrailSport, Pilot’s off-road package now features standard rear seat heaters. As for top trims, they introduce new Ultrasuede accents with diamond-pattern stitching.

A 3-row family-hauler

When the gen-4 Pilot debuted it stretched out as much as 3 inches over the prior model, depending upon trim. That delivered near Business Class roominess in the first two rows – though the back remains a bit of a penalty box for full-size adults. There are plenty of storage nooks and crannies throughout the SUV and great cargo space in back – 21.8 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 111.8 cf with rows two and three folded over.

Along with a WiFi hotspot, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto there are other nice family features, including an in-car “PA system” that makes it easy for front row passengers to talk to those all the way in the back without shouting. Add a standard 7-speaker audio system and, for audiophiles, a 12-speaker Bose upgrade.

Once upon a time, went the industry mantra, “safety doesn’t sell.” That’s as far from the truth as you can get these days, especially with family vehicles, and Honda has an assortment of advanced driver assistance systems built into even base trim Pilots. These include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane keeping assist and active cruise control. Pilot has also earned a five-star crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the 2025 model was designated a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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Powertrain

If there’s one area where the 2026 Honda Pilot could have used a more notable upgrade it’s to be found under the hood. The 2023 model did offer more power and performance with the introduction of a 3.5-liter V-6 making 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. That’s reasonable, still, today, but competitors have leapfrogged the Japanese SUV. The twin-turbo 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6 in the Ford Explorer musters 400 hp, and the new hybrid in the Palisade manages 329 hp.

The Korean gas-electric drivetrain also makes 34 mpg in the EPA combined cycle. In that category, Pilot is mid-pack. Low-end trims come standard with front-wheel-drive and deliver 19 mpg City, 27 Highway, 22 Combined. All-wheel-drive is standard on mid and upper-trim packages (and optional all the way down to the base Pilot Sport. Here the EPA numbers are 19/25/21 – except on TrailSport, which is  rated 18/23/20.

All versions pair the V-6 to a 10-speed automatic.

Considering Honda’s increasing use of hybrid drivetrains it surprised some observers that the automaker didn’t bring one in, at least as an option. It would come as a shock if we don’t see Pilot get a hybrid later in the decade.

TrailSport

The number of Americans looking to go off-roading has been rising for years and saw a particular surge with COVID lockdowns. Pilot proved to have just the right response with the TrailSport trim. It tweaks the SUV in a number of useful ways, starting with a one-inch higher ride lift and trail torque logic for its all-wheel-drive system. There’s also the TrailWatch Camera system which lets a motorist see where they’re going with a variety of selectable camera angles.

TrailSport gets unique stabilizer bars, while its spring rates and damper settings have also been tuned for off-roading. Skid plates offered only TrailSport help reduce the risk of damage to the Pilot’s underbody and drivetrain.

Inside, the TrailSport gets distinctive orange stitching and proactive floor mats, while a sliding panoramic roof comes standard. And, for 2026, the off-road package now comes standard with second-row seat heaters.

Driving Experience

I spent the better part of a day flogging the 2026 Honda Pilot on a circuitous route from San Diego’s Oceanside neighborhood up into the Cuyamaca Mountains, with a brief stop at the legendary Julian Pie Company before heading back down. The drive gave me time doing pretty much anything a typical Pilot owner would experience, from freeway traffic to tight and twisty back roads, with a more than 3,000-foot elevation change along the way.

While Pilot’s V-6 is no longer a benchmark in the three-row segment, it’s more than enough for all but serious performance fans, with good throttle response, albeit a bit of noise under flat-out acceleration.

Honda engineers have done a good job retuning Pilot’s steering to make it more intuitive, with a decent amount of road feel. This is a big beast and that became obvious when handling some of the tighter S-curves I faced in the Cuyamaca foothills. But the ride was more than acceptable for what you expect in the segment and seating is comfortable and plush enough to absorb all but the harshest bumps while keeping you from bouncing around too much.

On the whole, the 2026 Honde Pilot remains one of the better drives among today’s three-row SUVs.

Pricing and Availability

If you’re looking for a three-row model, Pilot is clearly something that should be on your shopping list. TrailSport should prove particularly appealing to those who want off-road capabilities.

All trim packages are now available in U.S. dealer showrooms, according to Honda.

Pricing starts at $42,195 for the Pilot Sport with front-wheel-drive. The all-wheel-drive Black Edition bumps that up to $54,995 but comes loaded with desirable features. Add $1,495 to all trim prices for delivery fees.

As for pricing, that covers a wide gamut with a FWD version of the 2026 Honda Pilot Sport starting at $42,195, while the AWD Black Edition jumps to $54,995. Add $1,495 for delivery fees.