2026 Honda Pilot

Pilot is Honda's three-row volume play for buyers who want eight-passenger flexibility without a minivan silhouette. Trade-offs versus Telluride/Explorer: powertrain map (V6), TrailSport hardware cost in mpg, and cabin packaging preferences.

What's confirmed

EPA (2026):

• Pilot FWD: 22 mpg combined (19/27)
• Pilot AWD: 21 mpg combined (19/25)
• Pilot AWD TrailSport: 20 mpg combined (18/23)

Honda automobiles / Honda News specs list the same city/hwy/combined bands and a 285 hp V6 with starting MSRP from about $42,395 on Sport (OEM site; excludes destination — verify on current Honda US pages).

Practical notes

TrailSport is the capability trim and the efficiency tax. Touring/Elite add feature density, not a different engine class in the EPA table above.

Safety (IIHS)

IIHS 2026 Pilot page: ratings apply across 2023–26 (with 2025+ belt changes noted for updated moderate-overlap). Updated moderate-overlap overall listed Acceptable on the tested configuration; small-overlap and side programs are covered on the same page. Cite the IIHS page for full matrix — DriveRevu Safety axis Score pending.

Method

See [How we score](/method).