2026 Honda Pilot

Overview

The Honda Pilot is the automaker's venerable three-row SUV. Its familiar boxy proportions and spacious cabin have made it a favorite family hauler for the last two decades. The brand has stuck with a familiar formula, too. Power continues to come from a V6, and all-wheel drive has always been an option. The current Pilot is more of the same — and that's no bad thing — with its easy-to-use tech interface, plenty of capability and ample room for most passengers. The third row is a touch cramped, and the Pilot could use more zing from under the hood. That said, those drawbacks are minor and the Pilot is always worth considering for families and Honda fans alike. 

Edmunds spotlight: We’re hoping for a bigger screen

The current Pilot has been around since 2023. That isn’t very long when it comes to the lifespans of these three-row SUVs, but there's something it lacks that many rivals have embraced: a big, fancy touchscreen. The Pilot’s infotainment display measures a measly 9 inches, and in the enormous Pilot, it looks dinky and out of place. A bigger display is a quick fix, and Honda already has a 12.3-incher hanging around in the Accord and upcoming 2026 Passport. We think this screen is far more fitting for something Pilot-sized. Hopefully, Honda delivers on this ask because it would quickly remedy one of our biggest gripes with the Pilot.

Competitors to consider 

If you’re interested in the Honda, you should know the three-row SUV segment is packed to the gills with competition. The Kia Telluride offers more advanced tech and a wider array of trims, the Hyundai Palisade is a more luxurious experience with a hushed cabin and expensive-feeling materials, and the Toyota Grand Highlander offers multiple hybrid powertrain options; Honda doesn't offer any. The Ford Explorer was recently updated, and the Chevy Traverse and Mazda CX-90 are fairly new. Did you think Lamborghini and Ferrari were rivals? They’ve got nothing on the three-row SUV war that's currently on fire.