The 2026 Honda Pilot Was Upgraded and Polished, and Changed My Mind About 3 Row SUVs
Before now, I hadn’t driven the Honda Pilot. But the updated model has me looking at prices in my area.
Because I’m a parent, I’m incredibly skeptical and critical of 3 row SUVs. Especially after reviewing SUVs like the Subaru Ascent and the Toyota Highlander. The 3rd row seats in those models are almost punchline-worthy, since they’re really only comfortable for shorter passengers. A leprechaun would feel most comfortable there—maybe.
And yes, I know they’re more for “just-in-case” scenarios. But when a 3rd row hikes the price like they tend to, it feels like a pink tax. And that doesn’t sit right with me. Especially since they come with the promise of increased family usability. Any time I review a 3 row SUV, I find myself thinking, “Great, what other ways is this ‘family SUV’ going to disappoint me?”
Then I drove the redesigned 2026 Honda Pilot Elite, a 7 or 8 passenger SUV priced from $42,195, in Oceanside, California. And I’ll tell you: the Pilot had me calling my husband and telling him I needed one ASAP. It turned me into a believer within the first five minutes behind the wheel.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experienc, and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks. I was a guest of Honda’s, but all impressions and opinions are my own.
What’s New in the 2026 Honda Pilot? More Standard Features
The Honda Pilot has always kept things fairly simple, because that’s what busy families prefer. They don’t want to have to navigate through seemingly endless menus to adjust a simple setting. They want the basics standard so they don’t have to shop—and shop and shop— to find a model that has key features like wireless Apple CarPlay and a power liftgate. Parents want things to be intuitive and effortless. And the 2026 gets closer to that perfection with these changes over the 2025 model:
- Redesigned front face with a larger grille for a sleeker, modern look
- New exterior colors: Solar Silver Metallic and Smoke Blue Pearl (plus Ash Green on the TrailSport model)
- Quilted leather on the Elite trim, complete with premium-feeling faux wood accenting on the door panels, dashboard, and center console
- Roof rails are now standard on all trims
- A 12.3‑inch HD touchscreen is now standard on all trims (37% larger than before; bye-bye small 8-inch screen).
- 10.2‑inch fully digital instrument cluster on all trims
- Wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto is now standard on all trims
- Google Built‑In + 5G Wi‑Fi capability (again, on all trims)
- Simplified menus and user shortcuts
- Improved quietness, thanks to semi‑tempered door glass, new door insulators, and a new hood insulator
- Improved steering feel and precision
- Power tailgate is now standard across all trims
- The post‑collision braking system is now a standard safety feature; this continues to brake after a collision to keep your car from being pushed into the path of oncoming traffic
- Heated second row on higher-end trims
Other than that, what made the Pilot so wonderful before has remained the same: the balanced and torquey 3.5-liter V6 with a 9-speed automatic transmission is still there, along with the removable middle seat, large windows, and a panoramic sunroof. But more on that later.
She’s No Sports Car, But She Still Drives Nicely
Because it’s a full-sized 3 row SUV, body lean was very, very noticeable once the roads became a bit more windy. There’s a Sport driving mode, but it doesn’t change anything for the suspension—just the transmission’s shifting patterns and steering feel. When the roads were twisty, I noticed a lot of body lean and roll, but it wasn’t unbearable. It just forced me to slow down and anticipate the turns. It was just my drive partner and me, but I could imagine there would be a lot more lean and roll with it full of kids and gear.
Otherwise, it behaved quite nicely on the highway and through town. In these driving situations, I preferred to leave it in Eco mode, as it keeps the RPMs at their lowest and makes starting from a stop a bit smoother. Otherwise, I kept it normal, and the ride was plenty smooth. I averaged about 21 mpg combined, while my drive partner managed 19 mpg. So, with that V6, it all depends on your driving style. I enjoyed it, and it made me so glad there are still a few V6 SUVs out there. I’d trust its torque and towing rating (of 5,000 pounds) to haul the family over a four-cylinder any day.
The Interior Is Simple, Yet Elegant—And I Wanted More Of It
Granted, my tester was an Elite model, which is the second from the top (the top is the Black Edition), so the interior was incredibly posh. Mine had the creamy beige interior with quilted leather accenting under the headrest, and it made the new Honda Pilot feel so much more expensive than its $54,425 pricetag. The faux wood paneling only amplified that, and even though the exterior was silver—my least favorite color—the beige popped with it quite nicely. I normally don’t like touchscreens that stick out of the dashboard, but I loved how vibrant the display was. Honda said the menus and settings were simplified, and that was one of the first things I noticed about it.
I’m an Android user, and since I have a Google Pixel phone, everything felt natural to me. But even if I were an Apple user, everything was right where you’d think it’d be, and adjusting anything was delightfully easy. The new digital driver display was customizable, easy to interpret, and came with a ton of different display options depending on whether you were going off-road, towing something, or simply wanted to check on your engine oil’s viscosity and maintenance schedule.
My favorite, though, was the driver’s seat. It was one of the more comfortable seats I’ve sat in, with a bolster that kept me planted instead of sliding around—something I noticed is unfortunately common in larger SUVs. It made me feel like I was driving something that was more CR-V-sized, which was especially appreciated. The visibility is excellent, too. It was easy to see the corners of my hood, making it easier to park, take off-road, or tow. It felt comfortable and made me feel at ease. The optional Bose system was excellent, too. No wonder they call it a Pilot. Every control I wanted was within reach, almost like a plane’s cockpit (see what I did there?).
The Second Row is Clever, Comfy, and Spacious
This shouldn’t shock you, but sitting in the second row of the Honda Pilot makes you feel like royalty. The windows are large and tinted on the higher trims; there are built-in sunshades, easy-to-adjust climate control settings, a large sunroof, and plenty of legroom. On the higher trims, the second row seats can be heated, too. But my favorite feature was the removable middle seat. With most of the Pilot’s competitors, you have to choose between a bench seat or two Captain’s chairs. With the Pilot, you can have both.
If you want a bench seat, you just leave the seat installed. A car seat can be installed thanks to two lower anchors and an upper tether latch on the back of it. It can be folded down with a simple fabric strap that gives the two captain’s chairs their own cupholders, and a handy, textured storage space for phones, tablets, or other roadtrip goodies (though they have plenty of storage space in their doors, and another cupholder). However, if you want to make the 3rd row more accessible, that middle seat is easily removable. Underneath the seat is a textured piece of plastic that makes it easier to get into the 3rd row. Or, you can leave it in and fit a total of seven passengers. When you remove it, it can fold, too, so it’s even easier to store in a garage when it’s not being used.
No other 3 row SUV offers that. If you want a removable seat, you’d have to get a minivan. Parents know that their family’s demands are always shifting and changing, so being able to add or subtract another passenger makes life just a tad easier, knowing your SUV can do whatever you need to accommodate second or 3rd row passengers.
Speaking Of the 3rd Row, I Was Shocked—and Smitten
To reiterate, I am very critical of 3 row SUVs because of how absurdly small and uncomfortable most 3rd rows are. Some of the best-selling 3 row SUVs have the worst 3rd row seats. And I was very skeptical about the 3rd row on the Pilot because from the outside, I figured there’d be no way the Pilot would accommodate my 5’8” frame.
But it did. And quite well. My knees weren’t jammed into the back of the second row seat, my shoulders weren’t pressed up against the side of the car, and I didn’t feel like I was being stuffed into a tin can. I had my own window, my own A/C vent, speaker, and a USB-C charging port, as well as two cupholders. The other side had the same accommodations. I liked that the visibility from back there wasn’t limited, and the seat cushions were almost just as comfortable as the second row. They weren’t electronically adjustable, but it was easy to adjust from the trunk with a strap.
Behind the 3rd row is about 18.6 cubic feet of space, which is about the same amount of space as the most recent iteration of the Subaru Crosstrek. So, if you were using all three rows, you’d still be able to fit a decent amount of stuff back there. Now that all trims come with roof rails, you can easily expand that with a rooftop basket or cargo box, or even a hitch cargo carrier. The Honda Pilot is a versatile one, and I love her for it.
For the Price, You Get What You Pay For
The Honda Pilot has always been a decent bargain when the standard features and options are taken into consideration, with a fairly wide range, starting in the low $40,000s and going into the mid $50,000s. Here’s a simplified breakdown of the price.
- Sport: $42,195
- EX-L: $44,495
- TrailSport: $50,395
- Touring: $51,095
- Touring Black Edition: $52,295
- Elite: $53,495
- Black Edition: $54,995
The model I tested had an MSRP of $54,495, but that’s because it was fully-loaded with all the optional add-ons and packages for the Elite trim.
Here’s How it Changed My Mind About 3 Row SUVs
The 3 row SUV that I liked best before the Pilot was the Toyota Grand Highlander, since I feel like a 3rd row has to actually be usable if it’s worth the added cost. But it was way, way too close to the size of the Toyota Sienna for me to say I’d actually buy one. But the Pilot was a pleasant surprise. For the price, the comfort level, the interior layout and design, and intelligent 4WD capabilities, V6 engine, premium convenience and safety features, and 3rd row usability?
After spending the day with the Pilot, which is as much upgraded as it is unchanged, it’s easy to see why so many families have trusted their daily routes, carpools and road trips to this SUV for so many years, and why so many other carmakers have studied it to build their own SUVs. And, it was harder for me to rationalize my own pushbacks. I won’t lie, I was looking up prices of the new TrailSport trim as I left my test drive for the day. Mind= changed.
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