2026 Honda Pilot Gets Luxury-Level Interior And Better Ride
by AutoExpert | 20 November, 2025
Honda is giving the 2026 Pilot a pretty thorough refresh, and honestly, it needed one. The carmaker clearly didn’t want the Pilot fading into the background, so it went in and updated just about everything that could use some attention.
On the outside, the Pilot finally has a bit more personality. The grille is larger, the front and rear scuff plates stand out more, and each trim level gets its own grille style. The off-road-leaning TrailSport keeps its gray finish, while the higher trims go glossy black.
All versions now get roof rails as standard, and there are three new paint colors, including a TrailSport-only shade called Ash Green Metallic. Touring, Elite, and Black Edition models also pick up new 20-inch wheels.
Inside, Honda focused on making the cabin quieter and nicer to sit in. There’s new insulated glass, more sound-deadening materials in the doors and hood, and fender liners on the upper trims to keep road noise down. The materials look and feel more upscale, too. Touring gets new stitching and brown leather, while Elite and Black Edition models add quilted Ultra Suede accents. Even the TrailSport can now be ordered with brown leather, which is a rare bit of customization from Honda.
The biggest leap forward is definitely the tech. Even the base 2026 Honda Pilot now comes loaded with a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, a crisp 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, built-in 5G Wi-Fi, a power tailgate, and post-collision braking. Basically, all the stuff that used to be “premium package only” is now baked in from the start. Besides, TrailSport now gets heated rear seats, and Touring finally adds a 360-degree camera system.
Honda also retuned the electric steering to feel more precise, which isn’t exactly something buyers usually ask for in a family SUV, but it’s a welcome upgrade. They say the steering now feels more stable on the highway and needs fewer corrections.
Under the hood, nothing changes. It’s still the 3.5-liter V6, producing 285 hp and 262 lb-ft, paired with the same 10-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive remains optional unless you’re in one of the higher trims, where it comes standard. And while many rivals now offer hybrid power, Honda’s own V6 hybrid isn’t arriving until 2027, so the Pilot will have to make do for now.
The new model is expected to reach dealerships next month, and pricing will be a key factor. As a reminder, the 2025 Honda Pilot already starts at just over $40,000, which puts it higher than several of its rivals.
