2/26/26 UPDATE: This review has been updated with instrumented test results.
While some three-row SUVs have made leaps and bounds in recent years with new platforms, hybrid powertrains and flashy designs, Honda has settled for keeping the Pilot in its tracks as a solid, reliable and downright boring choice in this segment. This strategy is working fine, but the company still saw a need to spruce things up for 2026. There are no significant mechanical changes to the current-generation model (which debuted for the 2023 model year), but the upgrades include retuned steering, more standard features, and visual tweaks to the exterior and interior.
The first changes you’ll notice are at the front, which now has a larger grille and a more prominent skid plate. Honda seems to be chasing the attractively angular and rugged look of the two-row Passport, which was redesigned for 2026, but the Pilot still looks more like a mall-crawler than a mud-fighter. There are new wheels for certain trim levels as well as newly available colors.
The interior felt a little nicer than before in the fully loaded Elite model we drove, as Honda has added some nicer materials, such as contrast stitching and diamond-patterned faux suede upholstery for the seats. It’s still not on the same level as the most luxurious versions of the Hyundai Palisade or Mazda CX-90, but the Pilot is certainly more focused on functionality, with plenty of space in all three rows, plenty of storage compartments and a rear seat that easily folds and slides at the touch of a button to provide access to the third row, or fold flat to expand the luggage space.
While only a proper back-to-back drive with the previous model would reveal the effects of the changes Honda had made under the skin, the 2026 Pilot was quiet at speed. Our noise meter also indicated that the extra sound-deadening and now standard laminated glass helped keep things quiet: the 2026 Pilot Elite we tested was 1 decibel quieter at 70 mph compared to the 2023 model. The new steering tuning didn’t result in a meaningful change in pilot handling, but it’s accurate and precise enough by segment standards.
Curiously, the updated Pilot also significantly improved braking performance over the previous model, despite wearing the same tires. The 2026 Pilot Elite stopped from 70 mph in 50 meters, compared to 55 meters for a 2023 Pilot Elite. Without a dramatic change to the braking hardware to help explain the shorter distance, we’re waiting with bated breath for Honda to email us back with an answer to this mystery.
The Pilot could have used an upgrade under the hood, but the naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 carries on without changes. With its 285 hp and 262 Nm of torque, there is a lot of work to be done to move this large family mover. It accelerates to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds, which makes it far from the fastest in this segment. It’s also almost a full second slower to 60 mph than the 2020 Pilot we tested, when this three-row powerplant used traditional VTEC.
The engine sounds good, and the 10-speed automatic downshifts quickly when asked, but you’ll have to wind down the V-6 to get any meaningful growl when passing or merging. Honda says it is working on a new hybrid setup for its larger vehicles; Electrification can’t come soon enough, as the Pilot’s EPA combined rating of 20 to 22 mpg lags behind some competitors.
Honda has added more features to the base Sport trim ($43,690) for 2026, including a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen and a power liftgate. But the Sport received a significant price increase, and the TrailSport and Touring models also get sticker bumps to go with their standard all-wheel drive and extra equipment. The Elite we tested, which also has standard all-wheel drive (lesser trims are front-wheel drive, with AWD a $2100 option), cost almost $55,000, and that’s without optional packages.
Considering the speed at which the three-row SUV segment is evolving, the Honda Pilot’s latest upgrades are simply the bare minimum needed for this model to maintain its current midpack status. If Honda wants to become the leader in its class, it will have to pull out all the stops for the next generation Pilot.
➡️ Skip Fate. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.
Shop new cars Shop used cars
Specifications
2026 Honda Pilot Elite
Vehicle type: front engine, four-wheel drive, 8 passengers, 4-door wagon
PRICE
Base/as tested: $54,990/$54,990
ENGINE
DOHC 24 valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, direct fuel injection
Displacement: 212 inches33471 cm3
Power: 285 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque: 262 lb-ft at 5000 rpm
TRANSFER
10-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension, front/rear: struts/multilink
Brakes, front/rear: 13.8-inch ventilated disc/13.0-inch disc
Tyres: Bridgestone Alenza Sport A/S
255/50R-20 105H M+S
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 113.8 inches
Length: 200.1 inches
Width: 78.5 inches
Height: 71.0 inches
Passenger volume, F/M/R: 57/57/40 ft3
Cargo volume, rear F/M/R: 87/49/19 ft3
Curb weight: 4694 pounds
CD TEST RESULTS
100 km/h: 7.1 sec
1/4 mile: 15.6 sec @ 90 mph
160 km/h: 20.5 sec
Results above omit a 1 foot rollout of 0.5 sec.
Rolling start, 5-100 km/h: 7.1 sec
Top gear, 50-80 km/h: 4.0 sec
Top gear, 80-110 km/h: 5.1 sec
Top speed (gov ltd): 180 km/h
Braking, 110–0 km/h: 50 meters
Interior noise
Idle: 38 dBA/2 sounds
Full throttle: 76 dBA
Cruising at 110 km/h: 67 dBA/22 sone
CD FUEL CONSUMPTION
Observed: 19 mpg
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/City/Highway: 19/21/25 mpg
CD TESTING EXPLAINED
Despite growing up on a steady diet of base-model Hondas and Toyotas (or perhaps because of them), Joey Capparella cultivated an obsession with the automotive industry while growing up in Nashville, Tennessee. He found a way to write about cars for the school newspaper during his college years at Rice University, which eventually led to him moving to Ann Arbor, Michigan, for his first professional car writing gig at Automobile magazine. He has been part of the Hearst Autos team since 2016 and now lives in New York City.
#Honda #Pilot #upgrades #stay #afloat #among #flood #threerow #SUVs