2026 Honda Pilot Elite

2026 Honda Pilot Buyer’s Guide What’s New for 2026 Refreshed styling with larger grille, new scuff plates, new wheels and new colors. Standard 12.3-inch touchscreen, 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay, wireless Android Auto, Google built-in and 5G Wi-Fi. Quieter cabin with new sound-reducing glass and insulation. Retuned steering for better feel, precision and highway stability. Power tailgate and roof rails now standard on every trim. New Post-Collision Braking system. Touring adds 360-degree camera, upgraded trim, available brown leather and new 20-inch wheels. TrailSport adds heated second-row outboard seats and available brown leather with orange stitching. Elite/Black Edition add quilted Ultrasuede seat accents. Core Specs Engine: 3.5L DOHC V6 Output: 285 hp, 262 lb-ft Transmission: 10-speed automatic with paddle shifters Drive: FWD or AWD on Sport and EX-L; AWD standard on TrailSport, Touring, Elite and Black Edition. Towing: 3,500 lbs FWD, 5,000 lbs AWD with proper equipment. MPG: 19/27/22 FWD, 19/25/21 AWD, 18/23/20 TrailSport. Seating: 8 passengers, 7 on TrailSport. Cargo: up to 111.8 cu ft Sport, 112.4 EX-L/Touring, 113.7 TrailSport, 112.1 Elite/Black Edition. Ground clearance: 7.3 inches most trims, 8.3 inches TrailSport. Built in Lincoln, Alabama. Trim Walk Sport: Well-equipped base trim with V6, heated front seats, tri-zone climate, LED headlights/fog lights, 12.3-inch screen, Google built-in, 9-speaker audio, blind spot info, rear cross traffic monitor, roof rails, power tailgate and 20-inch Shark Gray wheels. EX-L: Best value family trim. Adds leather-trimmed seats with fabric accent, driver memory, wireless charger, 3rd-row USB ports, parking sensors, auto-dimming mirror, rear sunshades, conversation mirror, removable 2nd-row middle seat, 18-inch wheels and heated mirrors with turn signals. TrailSport: AWD adventure trim. Adds raised off-road suspension, 8.3 inches clearance, all-terrain tires, full-size spare, steel skid plates, standard hitch receiver with rear recovery point, Trail Torque Logic, TrailWatch, 360 camera, front camera washer, heated steering wheel, heated windshield, panoramic moonroof, power-folding mirrors, captain’s chairs, all-season mats and heated second row. Touring: Premium family sweet spot. AWD standard. Adds Bose 12-speaker audio, 360 camera, multi-zone audio, illuminated cupholders, courtesy door lights, panoramic moonroof, hands-free power tailgate, acoustic front side glass, all-door Smart Entry and new 20-inch machined wheels. Brown leather available. Elite: Luxury tech trim. Adds head-up display, ventilated front seats, heated steering wheel, heated second row, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming side mirrors, puddle lights, heated windshield, 115V outlet and perforated leather with quilted Ultrasuede accents. Black Edition: Top appearance trim. Builds from Elite with blacked-out styling, Berlina Black 20-inch wheels, gloss black mirrors, black exhaust finishers and Black Edition details. Pricing Sport 2WD: $42,195 / $43,690 with destination Sport AWD: $44,295 / $45,790 EX-L 2WD: $44,495 / $45,990 EX-L AWD: $46,595 / $48,090 TrailSport AWD: $50,395 / $51,890 Touring AWD: $51,095 / $52,590 Elite AWD: $53,495 / $54,990 Black Edition AWD: $54,995 / $56,490 Options and Packages AWD is the main factory choice on Sport and EX-L. Premium paint is available on select trims. Brown leather is available on Touring, Elite and TrailSport. Ash Green Metallic is TrailSport-exclusive. Towing requires accessory towing equipment. Honda keeps packaging simple, so most upgrades come by moving up trims rather than adding large option packages. Best Value Picks Best practical buy: EX-L. Best adventure pick: TrailSport. Best family tech pick: Touring. Best luxury pick: Elite, unless you specifically want the Black Edition look. Competitive Set Toyota Grand Highlander: more hybrid variety and big space. Kia Telluride: strong style/value rival. Hyundai Palisade: upscale cabin focus. Mazda CX-90: sportier, more premium feel, tighter packaging. Subaru Ascent: standard AWD value. Nissan Pathfinder: rugged/towing image. Ford Explorer: stronger engine variety. Chevrolet Traverse/GMC Acadia: big space and tech. Bottom Line The 2026 Pilot is a meaningful refresh, not a full redesign. The big wins are the larger screen, standard tech, quieter cabin, improved steering, standard power tailgate and stronger trim separation. EX-L is the sensible family value, TrailSport is the interesting one, Touring is the sweet spot, and Elite/Black Edition are for premium buyers. ai generated music As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.