Is the 2026 Honda Pilot a good car?

The 2026 Honda Pilot earns a 7/10 expert rating. The standout strength is Form and function at 10/10.

That score lines up with the Pilot’s core appeal: it keeps the same practical formula while adding a more truck-like look, and it still gives you plenty of cargo space, plenty of passenger space, and a comfortable cabin. It’s also positioned as a family-focused three-row SUV that stays easy to live with rather than trying to be sporty.

The main trade-offs are that it has no hybrid option and its fuel efficiency trails some rivals. It also doesn’t bring a major mechanical change for the year, so if you were hoping for a bigger update under the skin, this isn’t that kind of redesign.

With 29.5% of listings priced as good or great deals, there’s a decent amount of market opportunity if you shop carefully.

Is the 2026 Honda Pilot reliable?

The 2026 Honda Pilot is presented as a familiar, structurally unchanged SUV, which supports the case for predictable ownership. Its powertrain carries over unchanged, and the driving character is described as confident and reasonably quick rather than finicky or overly complex.

The performance notes also point to a muted V6, adequate acceleration, and a setup that behaves like a sensible family SUV. On the cost side, Honda’s maintenance coverage is not highlighted as a major perk here, so your long-term ownership experience will depend more on routine upkeep than on any special ownership advantage.

For used buyers, the main long-term risk is that you’re still dealing with a gasoline-only three-row SUV, so fuel costs and regular maintenance matter more if you rack up a lot of miles.

What should I look for when buying a used 2026 Honda Pilot?

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 91.8% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re comparing multiple trims or looking at higher-mileage examples. Focus on overall condition, interior wear, and whether the features you want are actually present on the specific trim you’re considering.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Sport trim is the most stripped-down starting point, while higher trims add more comfort and convenience. The EX-L is the trim that should satisfy most shoppers, and the Touring adds more luxury-oriented equipment.
• Powertrain: Every Pilot uses the same 3.5-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Sport and EX-L come standard with front-wheel drive, while all other trims come standard with all-wheel drive.
• Safety package: All trims get Honda Sensing, which includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, a traffic sign reader, and automatic high-beam headlights. All but the base Sport also get automatic braking at low speeds and parking proximity sensors.
• Infotainment: Every trim gets a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument panel, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. You’ll need to move up to the EX-L for a wireless phone charger.
• Fuel efficiency: The Pilot is estimated at up to 22 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 21 mpg combined with all-wheel drive. The TrailSport drops by about another 1 mpg across the board.

Which 2026 Honda Pilot trim should I buy?

The 2026 Honda Pilot is offered in 5 trim levels: Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, and Black Edition.

Here’s the short version:

• Sport: This is the entry point, and it gives you the full Pilot powertrain and standard tech, but it’s also the trim where you give up some convenience features that show up higher in the lineup. It makes sense if you want the lowest starting price and don’t mind keeping things simple.
• EX-L: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers. It adds the kind of comfort and usability upgrades that matter in daily family use, and it’s the trim Honda itself points to as the one that should easily satisfy most buyers.
• TrailSport: Choose this if you want the Pilot’s more rugged character and its decent off-road abilities. It’s the outlier in the lineup, but it’s not the best choice if your driving is mostly pavement.
• Touring: This trim leans into luxury and convenience with a panoramic sunroof, premium audio, and a hands-free power liftgate. It’s appealing, but the price jump is harder to justify unless you really want those extras.
• Black Edition: This is the top-end choice if you want the most upscale presentation in the lineup, but it’s the least value-focused option.

All trims get Honda Sensing, but only the Sport misses out on automatic low-speed braking and parking proximity sensors.

Is now a good time to buy a used 2026 Honda Pilot?

This looks like a moderate, selective buyer’s market, so you can shop with some leverage if you’re patient.

• Deal availability: 29.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,352 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 91.8% of listings are accident-free.

If you find a listing below $47,739.88, that's toward the low end of the year-round range and worth acting on quickly.

Is the 2026 Honda Pilot safe?

The 2026 Honda Pilot had not yet been rated by NHTSA or IIHS at the time of writing, but the prior model was rated highly by both organizations. It earns a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

All Pilot trims come with the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, which includes forward-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-attention monitor, a traffic sign reader, and automatic high-beam headlights. All but the base Sport model also get automatic braking at low speeds and parking proximity sensors.

One caveat is that the forward collision warning can be a bit too sensitive, and lane-departure warning can also feel sensitive if you don’t track the lane markings closely.

Should I buy a 2026 Honda Pilot or consider a different year?

If you're weighing the 2026 against nearby model years, here's how to think about it:

• Choose the 2026 if: 29.5% of listings are priced as good or great deals.

• Choose the 2026 if: Accident-free inventory is excellent at 91.8% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

• Choose the 2026 if: It keeps the Pilot’s practical formula while adding a more truck-like look and larger standard screens.

• Consider the 2025 if: It offers a roomy, practical setup with a single powertrain and straightforward trim choices.

The bottom line: If you want the latest Pilot with updated styling and bigger standard tech, the 2026 is the cleaner pick. If you’re shopping mainly on price and want the same basic family-friendly formula, the 2025 is the smarter value play.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from August 28, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.