Why do you want a hybrid? To save the planet or to save money? I'm looking at a Toyota Grand Highlander, and hybrids are $5,000 more expensive. Simple math: a hybrid will probably get 10 mpg better than a non-hybrid, and only on certain trim levels. Let's take 100,000 miles and divide them by 10 mpg. We'll have 1,000 gallons of difference in fuel economy between the hybrid and non-hybrid versions. 1,000 gallons multiplied by the price of gas: 1,000 * 3 = $3,000. Now tell me, will you drive your car 100,000 miles? Another question: when you pay 5 grand more for a car upfront, you'll pay interest on that 5 grand while you're paying off your car loan. Just think about it. Hybrids are a scam.

 

That’s not even considering battery replacement costs at that point, either. So tack on another couple grand.

 

I think other than fuel economy, hybrid offers better NVH. It is smoother and quieter compared to a comparable gas engine. The big boxy Pilot can also benefit from the torque of the electric motor off the line. I would also assume that the future hybrid Pilot will not have a rough shifting gearbox (though I don't think the 10-speed is that bad).
Otherwise, I agree with you. Hybrid does not always save money, especially if you are paying too much premium upfront. That is why I chose Pilot against the Grand Highlander hybrid.

 

Probably Honda will do the same thing on the Pilot. Higher trims will be hybrid only.

I hope they'll give us a choice, like Toyota did, even at high trim levels. Not everyone wants to carry a battery under their kids' butts. I'd say if you're buying a car for driving to work alone, then a hybrid is a good option, since both the battery and electric motors are usually located on the rear axle. Yes, motors do emit electromagnetic radiation, especially under load, and it quickly diminishes exponentially over distance, but it's still there. As for the battery, it's a bit different: there's no radiation, but there is a potential, albeit small, risk of gas leakage, and of course, a fire.

 

I hope they'll give us a choice, like Toyota did, even at high trim levels. Not everyone wants to carry a battery under their kids' butts. I'd say if you're buying a car for driving to work alone, then a hybrid is a good option, since both the battery and electric motors are usually located on the rear axle. Yes, motors do emit electromagnetic radiation, especially under load, and it quickly diminishes exponentially over distance, but it's still there. As for the battery, it's a bit different: there's no radiation, but there is a potential, albeit small, risk of gas leakage, and of course, a fire.

Wow that's a new one for me. I guess there's always something else one can worry about.

Seems any such EMR is very small low frequency and thus not a true risk. And in my Accord the electric motor is most definitely in the engine bay and not under the rear axle. Not sure how they would do it on an AWD Pilot, maybe a two motor system?

I believe the batteries in these hybrid systems are lithium and those are sealed and don't off gas unless they are damaged

 

Statistics do show that hybrid cars are more likely to catch fire compared to gas or EV, there the EV is the least likely. This is mostly because hybrid has both flammable liquid and combustion engine and the battery. Fire risks of hybrid, EV and ICE cars - Pinfa
And not all hybrids are created equal. I’ve seen at least 2 Hyundai Kona plugin hybrids catching fire while charging in the parking lot of my work place. I’ve never seen any Toyota or Honda hybrid catching fire though.

 

Statistics do show that hybrid cars are more likely to catch fire compared to gas or EV, there the EV is the least likely. This is mostly because hybrid has both flammable liquid and combustion engine and the battery. Fire risks of hybrid, EV and ICE cars - Pinfa
And not all hybrids are created equal. I’ve seen at least 2 Hyundai Kona plugin hybrids catching fire while charging in the parking lot of my work place. I’ve never seen any Toyota or Honda hybrid catching fire though.

But if you're saying a plug in hybrid catches fire while charging, that would be the same as a pure EV. The ICE engine is not running while the hybrid is sitting at a charger station with plug in charging

 

Well its 10-1 and still no 2026 Pilot. All the other Honda products have been released for 2026. Anyone have access to someone with-in Honda that could give us the scoop on the delay?

 

I think it is close. Honda Canada released the spec of the 2026 Pilot accidentally a few weeks ago and took it down afterwards. The only change shown in the spec was the 12.3 inch touchscreen with Google build-in. Also the Canadian trailsport got the 360 camera.