Where are you seeing the prototypes?

 

Just google 2026 Honda Pilot Redesign and you will get several posts including a couple of videos.
I don't think they are from Honda directly but wonder if some of them are people who have some insde knowledge and did a design based on that information . also look at that 2026 CRV refresh. It is also really sharp in my opinion.

I think one was something they saw at a Foreign auto show where Manufactuers sometime show a ultra redesign of a car which in their R &D stage. If that is the case the ultimate production version has similar look just refined more for mass production.

I would not be surprised a more radical mid term design change could be in the works for the pilot as so much new designs and competiton plus Toyota will release a total redesign in the next year or two on the Highlander.

 

I got ya. Yeah...I don't trust those YT vids or AI Google bots. Heck some of those are still putting up bogus 2026 Passport re-designs even after Honda released the official announcement!

 

Many of those prototypes are AI generated clickbait. There are multiple YouTube channels for example that do this.

 

There has been nothing released by Honda nor any leaks as far as any 2026 refresh info. They wouldn't want to do so and damage '25 sales either. If anything it isn't going to be much, while we're having fun with it I could see moving to a slightly larger screen which is insignificant to me as my '25 TS screen is perfectly sized IMHO.

 

Nothing official so far, but the new Passport is getting a LOT of excitement about the design. I would not be shocked to see the Pilot lean heavily on that for inspiration.

Honestly, if the Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline are all similar looking (and like the new Passport) they will crush it with sales.

 

Greetings. I could be wrong but I donot think you will see any honda pilot refresh this year. The passport did get a touch up though.
The accord next year most likely.

 

Greetings. I could be wrong but I donot think you will any honda pilot refresh this year. The passport did get a touch up though.
The accord next year most likely.

Not this year no since 2025's are already on the lots. 2026 should be a mid-cycle refresh compared to the Passport's complete re-design for 2026.

 

No refresh 2026.

Look at history. Honda pilot gens are 7-9 years apart with no mid cycle refreshes.

The 4th Gen just got released it feels like. It's barely entering its third year.

 

The '09-'15 had a refresh in 2012 and the '16-'22 had a refresh in 2019.

Honda doesn't go big with refreshes, but they have made visual changes, tech updates and some trim/feature shuffling as part of the refresh.

 

I think it would be very usual for Honda to let the Pilot go four Model years with no update. The Pilot has stiff competition, and the interior is the most basic of its competitors. Honda has even made statements that a Hybrid powertrain for the large platform vehicles is "in Development". They have been saying that for several years. Honda has been getting more life out of its large platform vehicles. The Odyssey and Ridgeline both have had two refreshes and are still going. We may see two refreshes to the Pilot also.

 

Yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised if it isn’t until 27 model year. That also gets the Passport and possibly Ridgeline time for their refreshed model to put some numbers up.

 

Over on the Reddit forums, there a guy who claims that the all-new Ridgeline will be out early next year. He said we will see teasers at the end of this year. I have no way to know if he has any creditability. The 2026 model year would be the fourth model year for the Pilot. 2023 was all new, 2024 and 2025 carryover. 2026 SHOULD be a refresh.

 

you can see what 2026 Honda Passport looks like (interior) then should be similar

 

26 Passport is taking its interior design from the current gen Pilot, not the other way around. The 12" infotainment screen is the biggest difference....from the Accord.

 

They really need to get a hybrid option in the Pilot, but sadly, I don't think that will be until the next generation Pilot. Crappy gas mileage is are our only complaint about the car.

 

I would love to see Honda offer a hybrid option.

 

As long as it's a V6 hybrid IMHO. I would hate for Pilot to gain a loud growling 4-banger.

 

The J35 really needs more torque to be competitive. You can't get more torque out of it, but adding an electric motor would help tremendously. If you look at the Ridgeline it has the weakest engine of all midsize trucks.

 

Just swap in the Acura J30! 😁😁

 

That engine is an Acura exclusive engine.

 

Myself I prefer fewer “refreshes” because longer model years means cheaper repairs (body work) and standardized parts. Insofar as mechanical parts I’m more in favor of continual quality or incremental improvements. ”New” doesn’t always mean better reliability.

 

There is no need for the Pilot to get any better MPG. I think us owners would prefer the "proven" old J35 V6. Yes, the J35Y8 is new, but it's still the same engine. Carrying the MPG flag would be Civic, Accord, CRV, HRV and Prelude, to reach the CAFE numbers. I don't imagine there will be hybrid Pilot, Odyssey, or Ridgeline. Oh, and Passport.

I would bet these other Honda (large) vehicles will get the J35Y8 at the next refreshing, rather than I4Turbo or hybrid. In the uncertain world of EV and the now back on Nissan merger, I would think they want to save resources, and see in the short term.

 

Well that is thinking out of the box. Interesting thoughts.

 

Maybe b/c it's NOT a real truck! LOL I know the Ridge owners, and Pilot for that matter think it is though.

hey, its always nice to have more power! That's why I too would go for a liter bike over a 600cc bike.

but i get what Honda is doing.

Well that is thinking out of the box. Interesting thoughts.

Maybe b/c it's NOT a real truck! LOL I know the Ridge owners, and Pilot for that matter think it is though.

Regardless of what anyone thinks regarding it being a real this or that, more power is always a good thing, although I know what Honda is doing as far as keeping this platform simple and not overly tuned. It does fine and is fun to use the V6 as designed, it likes to rev. But could use more power, but I wouldn't want mpg to be much worse than already is nor the curb weight higher. So it's all a compromise.

But again, I'd go for a liter bike over a 600cc as well.

 

If fuel economy is not important to buyers of Mid-sized SUV's then why would Hyundai and Toyota develop hybrid powertrains for their mid-size SUV.'s? Honda has even stated publicly that a Hybrid system for their large platform vehicles is "In development", and that the current Hybrid system from the Cr-V is designed to "Scale up". I would be very unusual for Honda to not refresh the Pilot every four years.

 

I spent the past two weeks driving a rental Volvo XC90 plug-in hybrid. It isn't quite as big as a Pilot but still a decent sized car. Uses a turbocharged 4 cylinder. Ran pretty good. I think the batt's, which I never bothered to recharge, were good for about 30 miles. Overall combined fuel economy is claimed to be about 27 mph. It was my first time in a larger hybrid vehicle. BTW, as much as I hate to admit it, I found the driver's seat incredibly more comfortable than the PIlot's.

Funny thing is when I rented it I didn't know it was a hybrid. I pushed the start button then asked the rental guy why the car wasn't starting. He said it was "operational" and I should just step on the pedal. That is when it hit me I was running on batteries.

 

Wasn't the 2025 Pilot already released by now last year?

 

I think Honda is very much seeing the lackluster sales of the more expensive 4-cylinder turbos on the Toyota side and realizing they (Honda) have got it right with the NA V6's and lower price points. Affordability is the winning formula during these economic times. That said, I would not mind a reliable, tried and true hybrid addition to the V6 for better fuel consumption, but I don't see that happening on this generation of Pilot. Not even on the refresh. The American market will be quite an interesting case study for Honda over the next few years.

 

The problem is that if they make a hybrid Pilot, they will likely also change to a 4 cylinder turbo. They giveth and then they take away. Keep the V6 and add electric motors and I would buy.

 

Toyota can't keep the Hybrid Grand Highlander in stock. The new Hyundai Palisade is also going to offer a Hybrid. The Hybrid CR-V and Accord are very well-designed systems, that get great fuel economy. The J35 can't compete with the hybrids in fuel economy.

 

The thread topic here is "2026" Pilot refresh. Honda may be late to the game compared to Toyota's long history. It's easy for Toyota to scale up, down, left and right. My guess would be that we won't see a hybrid (large vehicle) for Honda until 2030.

And I hope we don't see it any sooner because I would want this powertrain to be tried and true.

The J35Y8 is cheaper to build from what I read, and cleaner in terms of emissions. So I think the J35Y8 V6 will soldier on for a while.

 

The thread topic here is "2026" Pilot refresh. Honda may be late to the game compared to Toyota's long history. It's easy for Toyota to scale up, down, left and right. My guess would be that we won't see a hybrid (large vehicle) for Honda until 2030.

And I hope we don't see it any sooner because I would want this powertrain to be tried and true.

The J35Y8 is cheaper to build from what I read, and cleaner in terms of emissions. So I think the J35Y8 V6 will soldier on for a while.

Agreed. As much as I want to see a Hybrid Pilot, I don't think we will get it until the next gen Pilot. Honda is late to the game but at least they are trying to hybridize their line-up. Can't speak the same for Acura whose "fully EV model-line up" business model will be a failing proposition for them. I really don't want to see the turbo I4 be with hybrid. Would love to see Honda redevelop the sport hybrid they were using in Acura in the late 2010s and use the V6 with it. Honda/Acura used to be revolutionary decades ago. Be nice to see that than just be late to the game with the typical status quo.

 

I believe the MDX hybrid from several years ago was a V6 and was more tuned for performance than fuel economy. It got 27/27 which, I'll bet Honda could improve upon with different tuning.

 

For a long time Honda tried to bring hybrid tech in as a performance option, like the MDX Hybrid (Sport Hybrid I think they called it?) and the 7th gen Accord which paired the J30 with the hybrid system. Can't think of any examples that sold well, most people would rather their performance model have forced induction to get more power than a hybrid system.

 

yes, the expected long term reliability of the Honda V6 and watching the electric rear axle on the grand highlander max overheat on some basic offroad tests on youtube sealed the deal to go Pilot TS. $10k+ cheaper as well.