The 2026 Honda Pilot is in its fourth generation, and it gets a welcome refresh for 2026. This model year brings updates that make the rugged yet family-friendly Pilot one of the standout midsize 3-row SUVs in its class.
Let’s look at some of our favorite features and technology on the 2026 Honda Pilot.
1. Cabin Enhancements:
The Pilot has never been a quieter ride, thanks to the standard acoustic glass windshield, improved door and hood insulation, along with other sound-absorbing technologies. The Touring and Elite trims feature additional acoustic front side glass and enclosed fender liners that further reduce road noise. Honda says the result is a reduction of two to three decibels in key frequencies.
Other cabin upgrades for the Touring and Elite trims feature high-contrast seating accents and door panel stitching. The Black Edition has diamond-quilted Ultra-Suede seat accents. The TrailSport trim has standard heated outboard second-row seats.
One more perk that we love: A power tailgate is now standard on all 2026 Pilot models.
2. Exterior Styling:
The fourth-generation Pilot certainly holds true to its original identity, but with enhancements for the new model year. Most noticeably, the 2026 Pilot features a larger, more aggressive, and upright, bold grille, as opposed to the previous softer, curved design. The revised front bumper gives the appearance of a more rugged look, and the slimmer LED headlights, along with the modernized tailgate lighting signature, sharpen the overall appearance.
3. Larger and Better Displays:
No smaller screen on the base model, that is something to celebrate. A standard 12.3-inch touchscreen controls the audio, maps, climate (don’t worry; there are also physical HVAC controls), and all the other usual infotainment functions. Honda also made the 10.2-inch digital driving cluster standard on all trims.
This generation of the Honda Pilot’s infotainment system features improved processing compared to previous models, resulting in reduced lag and smoother operation, as well as quicker boot-up time.
4. More Standard and Available Tech:
All 2026 Pilot models feature the brand’s exceptional Honda Sensing suite of active safety features that includes adaptive cruise control, lane keeping, automatic emergency braking, and more. Honda includes blind-spot monitoring with rear-cross traffic alerts, and a 360-degree surround-view camera comes in at the TrailSport trim. These features help drivers maintain safety on the highway and around town.
Other standard technologies include wireless phone charging and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. You also get 5G wi-fi hotspot capability and Google built-in. We also appreciate that USB-C ports are available in all three rows — and so will your passengers.
5. Refined Driving Experience:
Underneath the family‑friendly vibe, the Pilot hides some genuinely clever hardware. Honda’s i‑VTM4 all‑wheel‑drive (AWD) system, available on all trims, doesn’t just shuffle power front to back – it can actively push more torque to one rear wheel than the other. The result is better traction in bad weather in a big SUV that feels surprisingly composed when the road gets twisty. That’s paired with an enhanced electric power steering (EPS) system that improves steering feedback that is smooth and more natural across driving modes.
More Honda Pilot
Read our full review of the Honda Pilot, find this week’s Fair Purchase Price, or see Pilot models for sale near you.
