Pros and Cons: 2026 Honda Pilot

Testing a three-row family SUV on a long-distance road trip with a full load of passengers and gear quickly reveals its true strengths and weaknesses. The updated 2026 Honda Pilot Elite AWD tackled our annual week-long family getaway—a journey packed with long highway stretches, tight beach-town traffic, and even torrential rainstorms.

While it might lack an emotional "X-factor" to thrill driving purists, the Pilot excels at practical, stress-free family transportation. Here are the pros and cons of the 2026 Honda Pilot Elite AWD:

The Pros: 2026 Honda Pilot

• Proven V6 Power and Smooth Transmission: All 2026 Pilot models come equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a responsive 10-speed automatic transmission. The powertrain effortlessly moves the 4,500-pound SUV, providing confident left-lane passing power on the highway while yielding up to 26 MPG on long-distance cruising stints.
• Impressive All-Weather Stability: During our road test through severe monsoon-like rainstorms and high winds, the Pilot’s AWD system proved exceptionally sure-footed, offering outstanding confidence and traction through flooded roadways and harsh conditions.

• Ingenious Interior Packaging: True to Honda form, the cabin features clever storage solutions throughout. Standout details include multiple door cupholders and a multi-use second-row middle seat that functions as a seat, folds down into an armrest, or can be removed entirely and stowed away to create captain’s chairs.
• Upgraded Standard Cabin Tech: For 2026, a 12.3-inch central touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster are standard across the lineup. The infotainment setup runs Google built-in software, features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and is intuitive and easy to operate while driving.
• Serene Long-Distance Comfort: Enhanced insulation for noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) keeps the interior quiet. Upfront, ventilated and heated leather seats, a head-up display, and supportive ergonomics ensure drivers can handle six-hour stints behind the wheel without fatigue.

The Cons: 2026 Honda Pilot

• Slightly Unrefined Ride Motions: While comfortable overall, the Pilot's suspension tuning leaves room for improvement. The chassis exhibits unwanted body motion and float when hitting larger road swells and bumps, lacking the planted composure found in higher-tier luxury alternatives.
• No Native SiriusXM Satellite Radio: Bizarrely, Honda omitted native SiriusXM capability from the infotainment system. Listening to the service requires streaming through a smartphone via Bluetooth or Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, which means music cuts out entirely when driving through rural areas with no cell coverage.

• Tight Third Row and Cargo Constraints: Measuring 200 inches long, the Pilot is spacious for daily errands, but it is not a full-size SUV. Packing for an extended family vacation requires creative "Tetris-style" loading, and the third-row seats remain tight for adult passengers on longer trips.
• Unintuitive Electronic Shifter: Honda continues to use its push-button/pull-switch gear selector array on the center console, which remains clunky and less intuitive to operate quickly during tight parking maneuvers compared to a traditional lever or rotary dial.
• No Hybrid Option Available: Unlike key competitors such as the Toyota Grand Highlander, the 2026 Pilot is strictly available with a conventional V6 engine, leaving buyers who want a fuel-sipping hybrid powertrain out in the cold.

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