The 2026 Honda Pilot gets a welcome refresh this year. The Pilot has consistently been one of America’s most trusted family SUVs for decades, and this year’s updates keep it competitive with more modern rivals. Let’s take a closer look at what’s new with the Honda Pilot and how the new perks improve on an already excellent 3-row midsize SUV.
New Look
The styling of the 2026 Honda Pilot remains on the more conservative side of its class, but its facelift this year enhances its rugged, yet upscale aesthetic. The front end is redesigned with a bolder grille, plus, there are new paint options, wheel designs, and interior colors to add more visual variety to this SUV’s model range.
Improved Ride
Honda’s engineers made a good SUV even better by improving the steering feel and precision of the 2026 Honda Pilot. Steering feedback isn’t normally a strong suit of family SUVs, but this improvement makes the Pilot a little more engaging to drive while being more comfortable on the highway. The cabin in the 2026 Pilot is also a few decibels quieter than the previous model, further enhancing ride quality.
Bigger Screens
Bigger screens make a car feel more high-tech, and the 2026 Honda Pilot gets a 12.3-inch central infotainment display and a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster. Those are 37% and 43% bigger, respectively, than the screens in earlier model years of the Pilot. Those bigger screens also bring more standard tech features, like …
Standard Wireless Phone Connectivity
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were previously optional on the Honda Pilot, but now these handy smartphone connectivity features come standard on every trim. These features make it effortless to bring your maps, music, and more to the screens in your car without having to take your device out of your purse or pocket.
Post-Collision Braking System
The Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance features has come standard on the Pilot for a while, but the 2026 model adds post-collision braking to the list of standard safety features. This feature mitigates secondary impacts after an initial crash by applying the brakes automatically after an accident is detected, which is crucial if the driver is incapacitated.
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