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In 2026the Honda Pilot received a mid cycle refresh featuring a bolder, more upright front grille, a redesigned front fascia, and new wheel designs. Key updates include a standard 12.3-inch infotainment screen, 10.2-inch digital cluster, wireless smartphone integration, and improved cabin insulation
- Removable Second-Row Middle Seat: Easily removes to create DIY captain’s chairs. Stores inside the trunk — no garage clogging. Perfect for families who need flexible seating configurations.
- Massive, Functional Interior Space: Class-leading passenger space with plenty of room in every row.
- Exceptional Second-Row Car-Seat Compatibility: Lower anchors + top tethers on every second-row seat
The Exterior
The 2026 Pilot keeps the strong design that debuted with the 2023 redesign, but Honda made a few subtle tweaks to modernize the look.
The biggest change is the wider, more aggressive front grille, which helps the Pilot feel a little more competitive next to other midsize SUVs like the Telluride, Palisade, and Grand Highlander. The overall shape still feels rugged and family-friendly, but the refreshed grille gives it a slightly more commanding presence on the road.
The model I toured was the Black Edition, which comes in around $57,000 MSRP and adds dark trim accents and contrast stitching throughout the interior.
First Row
Driver’s Seat & Front Row
Inside the cabin, Honda made one of the biggest improvements families were hoping for: a larger infotainment screen.
The 2026 Pilot now comes with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, replacing the smaller 9-inch screen from the 2023 launch. This brings the Pilot more in line with competitors in the midsize SUV segment.
Other front-seat highlights include:
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Heated steering wheel (Black Edition)
- Wireless phone charger
- Two large cupholders
- Wide center console with plenty of storage
- Memory seats and contrast interior stitching
One feature I loved—and something Honda does really well—is thoughtful storage. The door cubbies are large enough to fit a 40 oz Stanley, which may seem small but is a big deal for busy parents on the go.
Second Row
The Real Star: The Second Row
Honda calls the Pilot the “King of the Carpool Lane,” and once you see the second row, it’s easy to understand why.
Families will appreciate the thoughtful features here, including:
- Built-in sunshades
- Double cupholders on the doors
- Heated second-row seats (higher trims)
- USB-C charging ports
- Panoramic sunroof
One thing Honda still hasn’t added: ceiling vents. The Pilot uses vents at the back of the center console instead. It works, but ceiling vents would make rear passengers more comfortable—especially for kids in rear-facing car seats.
The Pilot’s Best Trick: The Removable Middle Seat
Remove the middle seat and the second row transforms into captain’s chairs with a wide aisle to the third row.
This is where the Pilot becomes incredibly versatile for families. You can switch between:
- Three-across bench seating
- Captain’s chairs with easy third-row access
Few SUVs offer this level of flexibility.
The removable middle seat even has a dedicated storage spot under the trunk floor, so you don’t have to keep it in your garage.
The Car Seat Set-Up:
The bench comes standard, though the removable center seat is only available standard on the Touring and Elite trims and available on the EX-L. If you want the flexibility of removing the middle seat, be sure to select the higher trims.
With or without the removable middle seat, the car seat set-up is amazing. Honda gave each seating position better dedicated lower anchors, so the weird overlap between the driver and center position's lower anchors is gone. The center seat's lower anchors also are centered for use with a (narrow) booster.
With a narrow car seat in the center you can also access the third row by tilting and sliding the outboard seat. If a wide car seat is installed here there won't be enough space for the seat to tilt without hitting that center car seat.
With nearly 58" of second row bench space you can really fit so many different car seats next to each other. Each second row head restraint is also removable for excellent car seat install flexibility.
Third Row
Third Row Seating
While the second row is excellent, the third row is the Pilot’s weakest area.
Technically, it’s a three-seat bench—but the middle seat is extremely narrow. In reality, the third row works much better as a two-passenger space.
Other things to note:
- Seats sit low to the ground, which may reduce knee support for kids
- You may need to keep children in boosters longer because of the seat height
- Legroom is adequate but not class-leading
Amenities back here include:
- Side air vents
- Two cupholders on each side
- Charging ports
- One set of lower anchors (passenger side)
- Tether anchors for all three seats
For most families, the third row will work well for kids, but it’s not ideal for adults on long trips.
The Car Seat Set-Up:
There is one set of lower anchors behind the passenger seat and top tethers in every position. The center head restraint is removable, but the outboard head restraint is not. It is very flush and does not typically cause any car or booster seat installation issues.
The bench sits very low which can give a poor lap-belt fit for many kids. Plan on using a booster seat in this position for a long time! But the knee clearance and overall space can't be beat.
Trunk
Cargo space in the Pilot is usable but not the largest in the segment.
With the third row up, I was able to fit a UPPAbaby Vista stroller, which is always a good real-world test for families.
You also get excellent underfloor storage, which can be used for:
- Storing the removable middle seat
- Travel potty
- Blankets
- Emergency clothes
- Sports gear
Fold the third row flat and you get a huge cargo area, making the Pilot very road-trip friendly.
Safety
The 2026 Honda Pilot has not yet been rated, but the 2025 model year is an IIHS Top Safety Pick!
The Honda Pilot also received a 5-Star Safety rating from NHTSA in 2025 and is expected to win the same in 2026, though it has not yet been tested.
The 2026 Pilot includes updated Honda Sensing as standard, with:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-keep assist
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Traffic-jam assist
- Rear seat reminder (to help prevent children being left behind)
The upgraded backup camera offers a 90-degree field of view with 120-degree radar coverage, making parking and tight spaces much easier.
Car Seat Compatibility & Third-Row Access
The Pilot offers a wide second-row bench, making it a strong contender for families with multiple car seats. You’ll find lower anchors in every second-row seating position and top tether anchors in every seat throughout the vehicle, which is a huge win for flexibility. There’s also one set of lower anchors in the third row (passenger side).
All second-row head restraints are removable, which helps significantly with car seat installation.
One important note for the second-row center seat: the lower anchors are offset from the seat belt, meaning a booster cannot use LATCH in this position. Additionally, the center and driver-side lower anchor bars overlap slightly, making it easy to confuse which anchors belong to which seat. You’ll want to pay close attention when installing with LATCH in these positions.
Fitting Multiple Car Seats
If you plan to keep the third row folded down for cargo space, you can comfortably fit up to three car seats across the second row with the right configuration.
However, if you need regular third-row access, things get trickier. The center car seat must be narrow to allow enough room for an outboard seat to tilt and slide forward.
And that leads to one of the Pilot’s biggest drawbacks…
Third-Row Access
Access to the third row is limited to the tilt-and-slide function of the outboard seats, which can become a challenge when car seats are installed. If you’re running multiple car seats across the second row, getting back there can be difficult—sometimes leaving kids to climb in from the trunk, which is far from ideal.
If you don’t need frequent third-row access, this may not be a dealbreaker. But for larger families, it’s definitely something to consider.
Real-Life Comfort
Here’s where the Pilot really shines: I was able to sit comfortably between two rear-facing car seats in the second row—fully buckled—with solid knee and headroom. That’s a big deal when you’re managing a newborn or helping toddlers on the go.
Third-Row Fit for Kids
The third-row bench sits quite low, which can lead to a less-than-ideal lap belt fit for many kids. Because of this, you should plan on using a booster seat in the third row for longer than you might expect.
The good news? There’s still excellent overall space and knee room back there.
The outboard head restraints in the third row are not removable, but they sit very flush and rarely interfere with car seat or booster installations.
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