2026 Honda Pilot First Test: Everything You Need, and Some of What You Want

Need a minivan’s utility but want an SUV’s looks and profile? Honda still has your number in the 2026 Honda Pilot, which continues a long and successful three-row SUV tradition and adds some meaningful improvements this model year.

Our subject for this review is the 2026 Honda Pilot Elite, the model’s ostensible luxury trim and the second most expensive in the model lineup, behind the rigidly equipped Black Edition package. At an as-tested price of $55,190, the Elite costs over $10,000 more than the entry-level Pilot. Is it worth the extra expense? Let’s get into it.

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How Much Power Does a Big SUV Need?

We might as well address the Pilot’s biggest problem right away: As one of our test drivers put it, the 4,660-pound SUV borders on underpowered. Its 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque don’t seem so bad on paper, and at our testing facility we were able to achieve a 7.1-second 0–60 time, which is about average for the class. Real-world performance is a different story, though.

We found that our Pilot’s 10-speed automatic wouldn’t allow the 3.5-liter V-6 to spin fast enough to get anywhere near peak power without flooring the gas or flapping the paddle for a downshift or two. These measures do prompt quicker acceleration but also loud protest from under the hood, and all those extra inputs, along with the Pilot Elite’s standard AWD system, impact efficiency—our Pilot barely cleared 21 mpg in average fuel economy in our time with it.

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All of this makes us wonder why a hybrid drivetrain still hasn’t found its way into the lineup. There are reports that a new class-appropriate hybrid V-6 is in the works, but for now Pilot buyers will have to settle for a powerplant that’s adequate at best. That might be OK if you’re determined to buy a gas-only three-row, but we suspect more refined, powerful, efficient, and similarly priced options like the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid may lure more than a few buyers away.

Better Inside

Still, engine notwithstanding, the Pilot remains a nice driver, with decent brake feel, handling dynamics that inspire confidence, and a smooth, comfortable ride. Legroom is about average for the class, with the expected snugness for taller passengers in the third row. Cargo room is also average but still capacious at 87.0 cubic feet with both rear rows folded flat.

Honda has clearly gone to some trouble to quiet down the Pilot’s engine bay and cabin for 2026, too. Acoustically treated glass and increased sound insulation, including in the fenders for our Elite model (Touring too), add up to a noticeable improvement over previous versions, for which road and wind noise were perennial issues. This alone is a good reason to look more closely at the Pilot’s top trims.

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Elites get power-heated and ventilated front seats with driver memory, a heated second row with one-touch power folding, Bose premium audio, and cabin dress-up in the form of simulated wood trim on the door panels and center console, quilted suede accents on the seat backs, and contrast stitching and piping throughout. Although the interior of our test vehicle was somewhat dark, monochromatic, and plasticky, the materials felt high-quality, and the bigger, better-looking 12.3-inch touchscreen helped make things feel at least a little more modern. Apart from that, you won’t find much to engage your senses, but we could see how the SUV’s comfortable, almost retro familiarity could be compelling; if you’re put off by increasingly flashy, feature-laden three-rows, the Pilot will certainly stand out.

It doesn’t get much in the way of exterior upgrades this year, however. The 2026 Pilot Elite sports new 20-inch wheels, as well as the roof rails and power liftgate that are now standard across the Pilot lineup. An updated grille and front-end accents are applied, but most will be hard-pressed to spot a difference between last year’s models and the 2026 offerings. A more extensive refresh may be coming soon, but for now the Pilot remains much as it was on the outside, with most of Honda’s effort focused on careful improvements to interior comfort and tech.

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Gently Enhanced Tech

A big part of the big SUV’s character is its restrained approach to tech, something we appreciate. The star of the show is the new, bigger infotainment screen. We found it straightforward to operate, if basic, and in our use the system ran Apple CarPlay and Google Built-In functions flawlessly. It’s big enough to mirror phones and display navigation effectively and more customizable than in the past, with the ability to toggle between favorite functions without navigating home, all welcome upgrades. A wireless charging pad is placed conveniently at the driver’s right knee, and steering-wheel buttons now control the audio system, adaptive cruise, and voice assistant. USB ports are located in all three rows.

The driver display has grown, as well, to 10.2 inches for 2026. It looks better than it did, and it too can be customized with a variety of information and views. We mostly left the center display on adaptive cruise mode, as we used the Honda’s adaptive cruise system extensively in our testing. In both the dashboard driver display and the head-up display, it made visualizing the function of the system easy, a boon in heavy traffic with lots of eager lane-swappers around.

The Pilot is a safe SUV, with a five-star rating from NHTSA, the highest it awards. This is due in no small part to the excellent Honda Sensing suite of active safety features, which include front automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring, automatic high-beams, and a new post-collision braking system that’s standard across all Pilots this year. Front and rear parking sensors with automatic low-speed braking are added on higher trims, as well, a useful feature and another good reason to consider stepping up to the Elite trim.

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Worth the Upgrade?

All told, we found the Pilot Elite to be a very pleasant way to get around. It hasn’t changed much from last year, but what changes it did receive are meaningful, and we think the extra comfort and convenience offered at the Elite level will make it well worth the upgrade for many buyers. If you need to tote a lot of passengers, cargo, or both, and you want a three-row SUV with standard AWD, familiar dynamics and layout, a carefully chosen suite of useful tech and luxury appointments, and a gas engine, you may find the 2026 Honda Pilot Elite at the top of a very short list.