Mainstream automakers these days are making efforts to improve the premium feel of their vehicles. Sometimes, however, it reaches a point where it exceeds the premium feel of equivalent luxury car brands. Case in point, the Honda that somewhat punches above Acura’s cabin feel in today’s article.
Acura is Honda’s premium brand, though compared to Lexus or the Germans, for example, their cars are slightly more affordable. For the most part, Acura’s vehicles do feel more luxurious compared to their Honda equivalents, but based on today’s main subject, there is one Honda model that exceeds the refined interior feel of a certain Acura model. Interestingly, they’re also at a similar price point.
Piloting Through Premium
The Honda in question that punches above a certain Acura’s premium interior is the newly-updated 2026 Pilot. Specifically, you’ll have to splurge for the range-topping Elite trim for you to have a Honda that somehow exceeds the premium interior of the 2026 Acura RDX.
A Well-Crafted Interior
I think we can agree that the current crop of Honda interiors is one of the best that the automaker has ever created. It is simple, understated, yet tastefully executed. It all began with the current generation Civic, whose honeycomb trim running across the dash, combined with soft-touch materials and clicky buttons, helped elevate the signature Honda interior. It also harks back to the original simple Honda interiors that were characterized by thin A-pillars and a low dash, which helps in outward visibility. All of these apply to the Pilot Elite, and more.
Honda spent a great deal of effort in separating the Pilot Elite from other trims, with its available brown leather interior, along with the quilted suede on the seats. There’s also contrast piping to match, while the faux wood trim’s matte textured finish does a good job of emulating real wood. In the case of the Acura RDX, its ace up its sleeve is its genuine materials. If you think it’s wood or aluminum, then it’s actually what it is. Where it falls short in 2026 is its older generation features, since the RDX is still the same vehicle from when it came out in 2019. Even the button feel isn’t from the new-generation Honda interiors, and that’s why the Pilot overall ends up having a more premium interior.
Coupled With Modern Tech
This is the major aspect where the Pilot starts to feel like the better product versus the Acura RDX. As a newer-generation vehicle, the Pilot comes with a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, along with Honda’s latest 12.3-inch main infotainment touch screen with Google Built In as standard. The Elite, being the fully-loaded model, also comes with a windshield-projected head-up display and a Bose sound system. A hands-free powered liftgate, rear sunshades, ventilated front seats, and a panoramic sunroof heighten the luxury feel.
The RDX, on the other hand, still uses previous-generation cabin technology, including the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) that has already been discontinued. TTI doesn’t use the screen for interaction, but rather, a touchpad. However, you don’t move around a cursor. Instead, where your finger is on the touchpad corresponds to what segment of the screen you want to interact with. Some don’t like it, while another set of customers appreciates its functionality. With that in mind, better try the system for yourself to gauge if TTI is user-friendly enough for you.
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Other Changes For 2026
But it wasn’t just the interior that Honda upgraded for 2026. In fact, the exterior changes are much more noticeable compared to what’s new inside.
More Rugged Design
The Honda Pilot has always been an inoffensive three-row large crossover SUV, but for 2026, the design has been enhanced to look more rugged. At the front, you will see a larger, more rectangular grille and a chunkier front bumper that’s coupled with a bigger faux skid plate design. Other changes center around the now-standard roof rails, enhanced rear bumper, and a couple of new 20-inch wheel designs. Overall, the changes make the Pilot look more rugged than sporty.
Truly suiting the rugged design of the Pilot is the TrailSport version, which, like the pre-facelift model, still rides on 18-inch wheels wrapped in all-terrain tires, whilst also featuring raised suspension. The new Ash Green paint is exclusive to the TrailSport version, so it would be a shame if you don’t opt for this interesting shade.
Small Changes To Improve The Drive
The 3.5-liter V-6 remains unchanged, as it still produces 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This is hooked up to a 10-speed automatic, driving all four wheels as standard on all but the Sport and EX-L trims, where all-wheel drive (AWD) is an optional extra for these two lower trims.
2026 Honda Pilot Specs
|
Engine |
3.5-liter V-6 |
|
Drivetrain |
FWD, AWD |
|
Horsepower |
285 hp |
|
Torque |
262 lb-ft |
|
Transmission |
10-speed A/T |
|
EPA Combined MPG |
22 MPG (FWD) 21 MPG (AWD) 20 MPG (TrailSport) |
What is new underneath the skin is a new electric power steering, which Honda says has been tuned for improved stability whilst offering smoother, more natural feedback. Additional sound insulation on the doors and hood, along with semi-tempered door glass and other noise-reducing measures, results in a quieter cabin—about two to three decibels less, according to Honda.
What The Pilot Is Like To Drive
If you’ve reached this deep into the article, then you’re probably at a point where you’re officially considering the 2026 Honda Pilot. Well, you’re in luck, as our friends from CarBuzz have comprehensively driven the Pilot—albeit in pre-facelift form. No worries, though, since the changes to the driving experience are so minimal anyway.
Balanced, Agreeable Drive
Honda makes vehicles that offer a good balance between handling and comfort, and the current generation Pilot is no exception. The suspension soaks up the bumps really well, yet it isn’t too soft to result in the Pilot feeling cumbersome to drive through corners. Opting for the TrailSport version introduces a few minor cons to the on-road driving experience, but they’re all expected. The all-terrain tires add a tad more road noise into the cabin, while the raised suspension means there is a tiny bit more lean through the corners. Overall, the Pilot’s on-road driving dynamics are balanced and agreeable.
The TrailSport version also proves its capabilities through an off-road course. The Trail Torque Logic System that’s unique to the TrailSport does a fine job of shifting torque around the four corners of the vehicle based on real-time road conditions. There are limitations on what kinds of trails you can tackle with the Pilot’s unibody construction, but for what its target demographic intends to do with the Pilot, the TrailSport is perfectly adept—all the while without compromising too much on its on-road dynamics.
A Proven V-6
Call Honda old school for still sticking to a 3.5-liter V-6, but in reality, it’s exactly why we might prefer it over some of its competitors. You see, the turbo four-cylinder engines of many competitors these days don’t sound particularly nice, nor do they significantly improve fuel economy. Turbo engines are also more complicated for not much benefit, but a big ‘ol 3.5-liter V-6’s simpler construction means it’s one heck of a reliable engine.
Of course, the creamy and smooth V-6, whose linear power delivery is why we’d prefer it over the turbo engines of some rivals, means that its combined 20 MPG figure sounds thirsty. Especially next to the new 2026 Hyundai Palisade’s 2.5-liter turbo hybrid system and its 329-horsepower and up to 34 MPG combined fuel economy, the Pilot starts to sound thirsty in this respect. Nevertheless, there’s an undeniable charm with Honda’s 3.5-liter V-6, and if you’re prioritizing reliability and simplicity, this is the engine you’ll prefer.