- Honda updated its popular 3-row SUV with more standard features and more sound-deadening materials in the cabin
- Standard tech now includes a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch instrument cluster
- The 2026 Honda Pilot goes on sale in December
The 2026 Honda Pilot 3-row SUV rolls into the new year with more standard features, a more insulated cabin, and a broader grille, Honda announced Tuesday. The Pilot ranks second behind the Kia Telluride in our list of Best Midsize SUVs, and the midcycle refresh only improves a good thing. Pricing will be announced closer to its December on-sale date.
Changes to the exterior are limited to standard roof rails and a broader, more rectangular grille looming over a much more pronounced lower grille. It’s framed by a gray bracket, like a bruised lower lip, and it’s flanked by vertical air intakes. In total, the new front end appears wider and more vertical, resembling a truck, and the gray lip around the lower grille attempts to resemble a skid plate. In contrast, the 2025 Pilot had a body color span separating the upper and lower grille.
More significant changes happen both inside the cabin and under the sheet metal. Honda added semi-tempered door glass and lined the hood and doors with more insulation to reduce engine, road, and wind noise in the cabin. The top Touring and Elite trims have more sound-deadening materials.
Honda added more standard equipment to every 2026 Pilot. A power liftgate is now standard, as is a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. The previous Pilot had a 7-inch cluster as standard. Honda also upgraded the touchscreen in the refreshed Pilot, increasing it from a 7- or 9-inch display to a 12.3-inch touchscreen standard across the lineup. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard. Honda says its updated software, which runs Google built-in, features a simplified menu structure. Touring, Elite, and Black trims come standard with a surround camera system.
The powertrain carries over to the 2026 Pilot. The 3.5-liter V6 generates 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic transmission powers the front wheels on Sport and EX-L trims, but all-wheel drive (AWD) is also available. All-wheel drive is standard in the TrailSport, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition models. Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds — enough for a trailer with an ATV or a couple of dirt bikes.
Also carried over as standard is Honda Sensing, the brand’s catchall for its suite of advanced driver-assist systems, which includes automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. Expect the 2026 Pilot to continue receiving top safety ratings.
We expect pricing to increase from the 2025 Pilot’s starting price of $41,695, including the destination fee. Stay tuned in the next couple of weeks for that info.
