The 2026 Honda Pilot is a three-row midsize crossover SUV with a spacious cabin, rugged styling, easygoing manners, and performance that’s just about average. Competitors are numerous and include the Subaru Ascent, Toyota Grand Highlander, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Volkswagen Atlas.
2026 Honda Pilot Pricing, Specs, and Release Date
- What’s New for the 2026 Honda Pilot
- Design
- Powertrain
- Interior
- Technology
- Safety
- Pricing and Release Date
- Further Research
What’s New for the 2026 Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot is refreshed for the 2026 model year with tweaked styling, updated infotainment, retuned driving dynamics, and a better-insulated cabin. This midsize SUV seats up to eight across its three rows and was last fully redesigned for the 2023 model year. These changes help keep the Pilot in the mix in an increasingly competitive segment.
Design
The Pilot has a boxy, utilitarian exterior design that hints at off-road-readiness; in truth, only the TrailSport trim really lives up to the expectation. New details include standard roof rails across the lineup, redesigned front and rear scuff plates, a revised front fascia with a bigger grille, and trim level-specific grille and surround colours. The Pilot is now available in new Solar Silver and Ash Green, though the latter is offered only on the TrailSport model. Finally, top trims get new 20-inch wheel designs.
Powertrain
The Pilot’s powertrain carries over unchanged, though the steering has been retuned for a more natural feel and better stability. The Pilot makes 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque from its 3.5-litre V6 engine, and its 10-speed automatic transmission is generally smooth but occasionally sluggish. In Canada, all-wheel drive (AWD) is standard and comes with a torque management system to shift traction to where it’s most needed. Depending on trim, the Pilot comes with Normal, Econ, Snow, Tow, Sport, Trail, and Sand driving modes. Properly equipped, this Honda can tow up to 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds). It’s rated at 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres combined in its lowest two trims, 11.2 L/100 km combined in the Touring and Black Edition, and 11.8 L/100 km combined in the TrailSport trim. These figures are roughly average but not exceptional for the class, and some competitors offer more efficient hybrid powertrain options.
Interior
The three-row Pilot is available in seven- and eight-seat configurations. While the first and second rows are comfortable and spacious, the third row is appropriate mostly for kids, which is typical of SUVs this size. The Pilot can stow 635 litres of cargo behind the third row (or 618 litres in the TrailSport), and the seats fold down for a maximum of between 3,166 and 3,219 litres of cargo space depending on trim. For 2026, the Pilot gets new insulation and improved glass to reduce road and wind noise for a more relaxing experience.
Technology
For 2026, the Pilot gets updated infotainment in the form of a newly standard 10.2-inch digital information display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as well as a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot. The software has also been updated for quicker responses. Other standard features include a nine-speaker audio system and four USB ports. Wireless charging and a premium Bose audio system with 12 speakers are available.
Safety
Safety features largely carry over, though the Pilot now features standard post-collision braking. Honda includes a rearview camera, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, lane centring assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and a rear seat reminder system across the lineup. Available features include a 360-degree camera system, front and rear parking sensors, and a head-up display (HUD).
The 2026 Honda Pilot has not yet been crash-tested, but the similar 2025 model fared well. It earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Pricing and Release Date
The 2026 Honda Pilot is on sale now. The trim lineup in Canada includes Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Black Edition models. Pricing starts at $58,696 for the Sport trim and climbs to $69,546 for the Black Edition. These prices include Honda Canada’s $2,000 destination charge and other fees.
