New & Used 2026 Honda Pilot for Sale nearSanta Cruz, CA

Compare 2026 Honda Pilot Trims

The 2026 Honda Pilot offers a range of trims from budget-friendly options to fully loaded models, all featuring versatile AWD and FWD choices.

• Starting at $44,732
• Best MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 27 hwy
• Most Popular: EX-L AWD

Trim Overview

Prices updated weekly from CarGurus listings.

Quick Compare Table

Listing prices sourced from CarGurus — updated weekly. OEM specs from manufacturer data.

Missing data displayed as "—".

Trim Deep Dives

Sport AWD — "Who It's For"

The Sport AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-equipped family SUV without breaking the bank.

• Avg. market price: $45,280 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 253 listings
• View Sport AWD listings

EX-L FWD — "Who It's For"

The EX-L FWD is the pick for shoppers who want a balance of features and affordability without the AWD premium.

• Avg. market price: $44,732 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 27 hwy
• Inventory: 953 listings
• View EX-L FWD listings

EX-L AWD — "Who It's For"

The EX-L AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a popular trim with luxury features and all-weather capability.

• Avg. market price: $46,380 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 2,049 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View EX-L AWD listings

TrailSport AWD — "Who It's For"

The TrailSport AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a sporty SUV with rugged features and AWD capability.

• Avg. market price: $53,768 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 18 city / 23 hwy
• Inventory: 814 listings
• View TrailSport AWD listings

Touring AWD — "Who It's For"

The Touring AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a well-rounded SUV with luxury features and AWD for family trips.

• Avg. market price: $51,784 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 1,424 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Touring AWD listings

Elite AWD — "Who It's For"

The Elite AWD is the pick for shoppers who want premium features and comfort without compromise.

• Avg. market price: $52,205 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 1,560 listings — widest selection in the lineup
• View Elite AWD listings

Black Edition AWD — "Who It's For"

The Black Edition AWD is the pick for shoppers who want a stylish, feature-rich SUV with a unique look.

• Avg. market price: $57,339 (updated weekly)
• MPG/MPGe: 19 city / 25 hwy
• Inventory: 412 listings
• View Black Edition AWD listings

Trim Recommendations

Most Popular — EX-L AWD

With 2,049 active listings, the EX-L AWD is the clear volume leader in the lineup.

Browse EX-L AWD listings

Best Budget Option — EX-L FWD

At $44,732 avg market price — below the lineup median of $51,784 — it's the most accessible entry point.

Browse EX-L FWD listings

Best for Fuel Economy — EX-L FWD

The EX-L FWD offers the best fuel economy in the lineup at 19/27 MPG/MPGe.

Browse EX-L FWD listings

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 24, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.

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 that already worked well, while adding a brawnier, more truck-like look and a cabin that still prioritizes passenger and cargo space. It also brings a comfortable ride that fits family duty well, and the expert summary says clever features help it stand out from other three-row SUVs.

The trade-offs are clear, though. There’s no hybrid option, so you won’t find a more fuel-efficient version here, and the cost-effectiveness score is relatively modest compared with its strongest categories.

With 35.2% of listings priced as good or great deals, you have a moderate amount of market opportunity if you shop carefully.

Is the 2026 Honda Pilot reliable?

The 2026 Honda Pilot is presented as a familiar, carryover-style SUV, which is usually a good sign for long-term dependability when you’re shopping used. The overview emphasizes that it remains fundamentally the same as before, and the expert summary reinforces that Honda did not mess with the formula.

Its powertrain is straightforward: a 3.5-liter V6 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The performance notes describe acceleration as more than adequate, with confident highway merging and passing, and the drivetrain sounds more confident than a four-cylinder engine. The cost-effectiveness notes also point out that all Pilots use the same powertrain, which keeps the lineup simple.

Honda’s maintenance coverage is also a plus for ownership peace of mind, since the cost-effectiveness content notes that the first scheduled maintenance visit is on the house.

For used buyers, the main long-term ownership risk is that you’re still buying a large, gasoline-only three-row SUV, so fuel costs and family-hauling wear matter more than with a hybrid alternative.

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

Accident-free inventory is excellent at 91.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.

You should still run a history report and prioritize a pre-purchase inspection, especially if you’re comparing higher-mileage family haulers. Focus on overall condition, signs of heavy interior use, and whether the features you want are present on the specific trim you’re considering.

Key things to evaluate:

• Trim level: The base Sport trim gets the essentials, but it misses some lower-speed automatic braking and parking proximity sensors that appear on all but the base model. Higher trims add more comfort and convenience, and the EX-L is especially appealing if you want leather seats and a removable second-row seat.
• Powertrain: Every trim uses the same 3.5-liter V6 with a 10-speed automatic, so you’re choosing equipment rather than performance. Front-wheel drive is standard on the Sport and EX-L, while all-wheel drive is standard on the other trims.
• Safety package: Honda Sensing is standard and 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 standard 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, a 10.2-inch digital instrument panel, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the latest Honda software. You 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, 21 mpg combined with all-wheel drive, and about 1 mpg less for the TrailSport.

Which 2026 Honda Pilot trim should I buy?

The 2026 Honda Pilot is offered in 6 trim levels: Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, Touring, Elite, Black Edition.

Here's the short version:

• Sport: This is the entry point, and it gives you the Pilot’s core space, standard safety tech, and standard infotainment without paying for extras. It’s the trim to consider if you want the lowest starting price and don’t need luxury touches.
• EX-L: This is the best-value trim for most shoppers. It adds leather seats, a removable second-row seat, and a wireless phone charger, making it the sweet spot for families who want comfort and flexibility without jumping too far up the price ladder.
• TrailSport: Choose this if you want the Pilot’s off-road-leaning character. The cost-effectiveness notes call it an outlier for its decent off-road abilities, and it also carries the Pilot’s standard family-friendly strengths.
• Touring: This trim adds a panoramic sunroof, premium audio, and a hands-free power liftgate. It’s the right pick if you want more convenience and upscale features, though the price jump may be hard to justify for value-focused buyers.
• Elite: This is for shoppers who want a more premium Pilot experience and are willing to pay for it. It sits near the top of the lineup and builds on the Pilot’s already strong practicality.
• Black Edition: This is the top trim, and it brings the most upscale presentation in the lineup. It’s the one to choose if you want the most fully dressed Pilot.

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

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

This looks like a moderate, selective-buyer market, so you can shop with some leverage if you compare listings carefully.

• Deal availability: 35.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Inventory: There are 2,545 listings available.
• Clean inventory: 91.6% of listings are accident-free.

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 2025 Pilot received an overall five-star rating from NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick by IIHS.

It earns a 6/10 safety score from our experts.

All Pilot trims come with 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 model also get automatic braking at low speeds and parking proximity sensors.

One caveat from the expert notes is that the forward collision warning can be a bit too sensitive, and lane-departure warning can also be sensitive if you drift from the lane markings.

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:

• 35.2% of listings are priced as good or great deals.
• Accident-free inventory is excellent at 91.6% — clean inventory, standard diligence applies.
• Clever features help it stand out, and the cabin remains practical and spacious.

Consider the 2025 if:

• It keeps the Pilot formula simple with a single powertrain and flexible seating.

The bottom line: If you want the freshest version of the Pilot’s familiar strengths, the 2026 is the better default choice. If you’re mainly shopping on price and can find a well-kept 2025, that model’s simpler setup and likely lower asking prices make it a smart alternative for value-focused buyers.

These recommendations are based on CarGurus' proprietary market data from September 22, 2026, CarGurus experts' opinions, and generative AI.