2026 Honda Pilot Trim Guide: Sport, EX-L, Touring, TrailSport, and More
Key takeaways
- Prices, features, pros and cons, and our pick of the best Pilot model to buy.
- 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.
- At this point, the only thing keeping the Pilot from being even better is its lack of a hybrid powertrain.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
Prices, features, pros and cons, and our pick of the best Pilot model to buy.
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.