2026 Honda Pilot Trim Guide: Sport, EX-L, Touring, TrailSport, and More

With seating for up to eight, the 2026 Honda Pilot remains one of the strongest choices for families who need dependable transportation for after-school activities but have no interest in buying a minivan. The 2025 model was held back some by too much road noise and a driving experience that didn’t feel especially polished, but those issues have largely been addressed by the 2026 model of Honda’s popular midsize 3-row SUV, which we recently had a chance to drive and evaluate.

At this point, the only thing keeping the Pilot from being even better is its lack of a hybrid powertrain. If that isn’t a priority for you, though, the Pilot is now much easier for us to recommend. The bigger question is which of its seven trims makes the most sense. That’s what we’re here to answer through a comprehensive breakdown of the 2026 Pilot trim levels, including pricing and the version we’d buy right now.

2026 Honda Pilot Sport: Pros and Cons

Since the Pilot first arrived, Honda has kept it simple under the hood with a 3.5-liter V-6. That formula carries into 2026, with its V-6 now rated at 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Most shifting duties are handled through the center-console shifter, though paddle shifters behind the steering wheel come standard.

Fuel economy is decent but not a Pilot strong point, with front-drive models returning 19/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined, and all-wheel-drive versions slightly behind that at 19/25/21 mpg.

As before, the base Pilot Sport can be configured with either FWD or AWD, and that choice has a major effect on towing capability. Front-wheel-drive models are limited to 3,500 pounds, while all-wheel-drive versions can pull up to 5,000 pounds. Adding AWD raises the price by $2,100, which is a meaningful jump, but it also makes the Pilot a more useful SUV for buyers who plan to tow.

The Sport trim keeps things simple from a styling standpoint. Crystal Black Pearl and Solar Silver Metallic are the standard paint choices. Platinum White Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic II, and Sonic Gray Pearl are available for an extra $455. Honda also fits 20-inch wheels as standard, specifically an eight-spoke Shark Gray design. Buyers who want a different look can choose Machined Finish and Matte Black wheels for $2,000 or Machine Finished and Gloss Black wheels for $2,224.

Even in base form, the 2026 Pilot Sport doesn’t feel stripped down. The only interior option is black, but the standard equipment list is stronger for 2026. Buyers get a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 12.3-inch infotainment display, and Google built-in with 5G wireless data and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. Wireless Apple CarPlay is still included, so you aren’t locked into Google’s ecosystem. The most noticeable omissions are the third-row 3-amp USB-C charging ports and front Qi wireless charging. Even so, Honda includes a 10-way power driver’s seat and a four-way power front passenger seat as standard.

See All 14 Photos14

Honda also offers four factory-installed packages for the Sport, and they can be mixed and matched depending on your needs. The $750 Function package adds all-season floormats, cargo cover, door-sill protection film, and a rear bumper applique. The $750 Pet Protection package includes a cargo barrier, seat-back protectors, and a cargo tray. Buyers who want to make use of the Pilot’s towing capability can add the $895 Towing package, which includes a hitch, trailer light harness, ball mount, and black hitch panel. For those planning to lean into the Pilot’s all-wheel-drive capability, the $1,645 Adventure package adds a roof platform and tubular step running boards.

The biggest drawback here is price. The 2026 Honda Pilot Sport starts at $43,890 in front-wheel-drive form and $45,990 with all-wheel drive. That puts it uncomfortably close to rivals that offer more efficiency. For nearly the same money as a Pilot Sport AWD, you can get a 2026 Hyundai Palisade with a hybrid powertrain. Over time, that difference matters. The Hyundai could save owners about $600 a year in fuel costs, thanks to a much stronger efficiency advantage over the non-hybrid Pilot.

2026 Honda Pilot EX-L: Pros and Cons

Mechanically, the EX-L is unchanged from the Sport. The real differences show up in equipment, convenience features, and available finishes. Paint choices expand here, with Smoke Blue Pearl and Modern Steel Metallic joining the black and silver options as no-cost color options.

The standard wheel setup also changes. Instead of the Sport’s 20-inch wheels, the EX-L rolls on 18-inch five-spoke wheels finished in Machined Finish and Pewter Gray. Buyers can also opt for an all-black 18-inch multi-spoke design for $1,800 or choose the same optional 20-inch wheels offered on the Sport.

Inside, the EX-L still limits buyers to a black interior, but it adds several features that make it feel more complete. There’s an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a 12-volt cargo-area power outlet, leather-trimmed seats, two-position memory for the driver’s seat, a multifunction second-row bench with a removable middle seat, rear door sunshades, heated power side mirrors, a Qi wireless phone charger, and third-row USB-C ports. Honda also offers a Black Emblem package for $175, or $210 on AWD models because it includes the AWD badge. The EX-L starts at $46,190 with front-wheel drive and $48,290 with all-wheel drive.

See All 14 Photos14

2026 Honda Pilot TrailSport: Pros and Cons

The TrailSport is where the Pilot lineup starts to take on a more specialized role. It’s the first trim to come standard with all-wheel drive, and from this point on, AWD is included across the range. In the TrailSport’s case, that standard hardware makes sense because this is the off-road-focused version of the Pilot. The TrailSport’s added hardware comes with a slightly lower fuel efficiency trade-off, at 18/23/20 mpg city/highway/combined.

One of the most useful features for the TrailSport is Honda’s TrailWatch system, which uses the camera array to help drivers place the SUV more confidently on the trail. It’s the kind of feature that can save you from needing a spotter or leaning out the window to check your line. Honda also includes what it calls Trail Torque Logic, which is designed to send power to the wheel that still has grip—even if another wheel is off the ground.

The TrailSport also gets better approach and departure angles, along with an extra inch of ride height compared with the standard Pilot. It rides on 265/60R18 all-terrain tires mounted on 18-inch wheels. Split five-spoke Shark Gray wheels are standard, and multi-split-spoke black wheels are available for $1,800. Underbody skidplates are also standard, along with an integrated front recovery point and a trailer hitch receiver that can serve as a rear recovery point when not in use for towing.

Color choices are slightly different here. Solar Silver, Smoke Blue Pearl, and Crystal Black Pearl carry over, while Ash Green Metallic replaces Radiant Red Metallic II and serves as the TrailSport’s exclusive hero color. It still costs $455.

Inside, the TrailSport sticks with a black interior but adds leather upholstery with orange accents and stitching to set it apart from the rest of the lineup. TrailSport logos on the all-season floormats for all three rows reinforce the theme. The orange detailing is noticeable but not overdone. The trim also adds HomeLink, a heated leather steering wheel, and a 115-volt power outlet for the second row.

The TrailSport is limited to seven seats because the second-row bench is replaced by heated captain’s chairs, though they still fold flat when maximum cargo space is needed. A panoramic moonroof and power-folding heated side mirrors also come standard. Pricing starts at $52,090. The same packages offered on the Sport are available here, though the towing package drops to $350 because the TrailSport already includes a trailer hitch.

2026 Honda Pilot Touring: Pros and Cons

The Pilot Touring also comes standard with all-wheel drive and effectively builds on the EX-L AWD. It adds more comfort, more convenience, and a few extra styling touches. Standard wheels return to 20 inches, this time in Shark Gray with a machined finish. The same optional 20-inch wheels from the Sport and EX-L remain available. Exterior colors mirror the EX-L's, though the grille and rear roof spoiler sides are finished in gloss black.

Inside, the Touring uses gray leather upholstery to create a more upscale feel. It also adds a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, multi-zone audio, heated second-row outboard seats, illuminated front console cupholders, front-row courtesy door lights, and a hands-free power liftgate with walk-away closing. Honda also adds acoustic-laminated front side glass and enclosed fender liners, both of which help make the cabin quieter than lower trims.

What is surprising is what the Touring still leaves out. The heated steering wheel and 115-volt second-row power outlet remain exclusive to the TrailSport, Elite, and Black Edition. The Touring starts at $52,790.

2026 Honda Pilot Touring Blackout: Pros and Cons

The Touring Blackout is essentially a styling package turned into its own trim. It takes the Touring and adds blacked-out badges in place of the standard chrome pieces, while also making the previously optional 20-inch Machined Finish and Matte Black wheels standard. Buyers can still choose the machined finish and Gloss Black wheels for $2,224.

Because the black emblems are already included, the Black Emblem package is no longer offered here, though the rest of the optional packages remain available. Pricing rises by $1,200 to $53,990, but that still makes it $1,055 less expensive than a standard Touring equipped with the same wheels and Black Emblem package.

See All 14 Photos14

2026 Honda Pilot Elite: Pros and Cons

The Elite isn’t the top trim in the Pilot lineup, but it’s the point where the SUV starts to feel fully loaded. From the outside, it looks much like the Touring, with similar paint options and wheel choices. The bigger changes are inside.

Buyers can choose between black or brown perforated leather seats with Ultrasuede inserts and diamond stitching. That upgraded interior also brings heated and ventilated front seats, making the Elite a better fit for buyers who want comfort in all seasons. The driver also gets a heated steering wheel.

The Elite adds a head-up display, which allows key information such as speed and navigation directions to be viewed without looking too far away from the road. Rain-sensing windshield wipers are also standard, along with puddle lights, auto-dimming side mirrors, and power-folding mirrors.

See All 14 Photos14

2026 Honda Pilot Elite interior

Like the Touring, the Elite seats eight, but it adds a 115-volt power outlet for the second row. It also includes floormats for all three rows, whereas the Touring only covers the first and second rows. Pricing starts at $55,190.

2026 Honda Pilot Black Edition: Pros and Cons

At the top of the range sits the 2026 Pilot Black Edition, though in practice it’s best understood as an Elite with a darker, more exclusive look. Black exterior trim, black interior details, and standard Berlina Black 20-inch wheels give it a more aggressive appearance.

Standard paint choices are limited to Crystal Black Pearl and Solar Silver Metallic, with the latter doing the best job of highlighting the black trim. Platinum White Pearl, Radiant Red Metallic II, and Sonic Gray Pearl remain available for $455. Buyers can also choose the same 20-inch machined finish wheels offered on the Elite and Touring.

Because the Black Edition already includes black rear emblems, the list of available option packages is trimmed down to the Towing package, Pet Protection package, Function package, and Adventure package. Pricing starts at $56,690. The extra $1,500 over the Elite is largely explained by the standard black emblem treatment and the exclusive Berlina Black wheels.

Which 2026 Honda Pilot Trim Is Best?

So, which trim makes the most sense? Looking at the lineup as a whole, the 2026 Honda Pilot EX-L AWD still stands out as the best value. It gives buyers a strong list of standard features without pushing the price too far into premium territory. Yes, it misses the TrailSport’s off-road hardware and the Touring’s extra sound insulation, but at $48,290, it lands in the sweet spot for the average three-row SUV buyer. The Sport still has its appeal as the least expensive way into the lineup, but the EX-L adds enough useful equipment to justify the extra cost and ultimately comes out ahead.

2026 Honda Pilot Prices

• Sport: $43,890*
• EX-L: $46,190*
• TrailSport: $52,090**
• Touring: $52,790**
• Touring Blackout: $53,990**
• Elite: $55,190**
• Black Edition: $56,690**
  *Add $2,100 for AWD. **AWD Standard