The 2026 Honda Pilot vs. the Competition

There was no 2026 Kia Telluride, but the 2027 model has made an early entrance to the market. The 2027 model introduces the second-generation Telluride, which boasts entirely new exterior and interior design along with a redesigned drivetrain. The previous 3.8-liter V6 engine is replaced by a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4, which offers slightly less power but improves fuel efficiency. This smaller engine pairs better with the available hybrid variant. The Telluride’s bold, squared front-end styling is distinctive, but may be polarizing.

Like the Pilot, the Telluride can seat 7 or eight, depending on whether there are bench or captain’s chairs in the second row. The Telluride is offered in LX, S, EX, SX, and SX Prestige trims, with an off-road-oriented X-Pro package available on SX and SX Prestige versions. 

• The Pilot’s 3.5-liter V-6 delivers more horsepower than the Telluride 2.5-liter inline-4 (285 vs. 274) and provides the smooth, relaxed, low-stress V-6 power expected of a family hauler.
• The Pilot’s 10-speed transmission has two more gearsthan the Telluride for reduced fuel consumption.
• With FWD, the two models have nearly the same EPA-estimated fuel economy, including the same combined mpg, while highway mpg advantages by a single mpg (19 / 27 / 22 vs. 20 / 26 / 22).**
• The AWD Pilot beats the AWD Telluride by 1 mpg across the board (19 / 25 / 21 vs. 18 / 24 / 20).***
• For 2026, the Pilot upgraded to offering a 12.3-inch center screen across the model line, matching the Telluride’s screen.
• The headroom for the first and second rows is fractions of an inch apart. For the third row, however, the Pilot offers almost two more inches.
• Cargo space is very close for both models, except when both the second- and third-row seats are folded, in which the Pilot offers 111.8–113.7 cubic feet (depending on trim) compared to 89.3 cubic feet for the Telluride.
• The Pilot offers side knee bags for both the front driver and passenger.  The Telluride does not offer a front-passenger-side knee airbag.
• The Pilot’s front smart airbag deployment will deploy with different levels of force depending on the level of impact.  The Telluride’s airbags always deploy at full force.
• The Pilot has a standard post-collision braking system that automatically applies brakes to prevent secondary crashes and injuries. The Telluride lacks this system; after airbags deploy, it doesn’t offer extra protection.
• The 2026 Pilot earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and an overall 5-star rating.  The Telluride has yet to be tested by either of these organizations.

Toyota has finally split the three-row variant of its long-running midsize Highlander crossover into a dedicated model line, appropriately named the Grand Highlander. Still in its first generation, the 2026 Grand Highlander adds an entry-level trim, with the Grand Highlander starting at $41,860. The model line is powered by a 2.4-liter inline-4 and a 2.5-liter non-turbo hybrid drivetrain. It is available in LE, XLE, Limited, Nightshade, and Platinum trim levels, with a hybrid version available for each.

• The Pilot’s 3.5-liter V-6 delivers more horsepower than the Grand Highlander 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder (285 vs. 265).
• Compared to the Grand Highlander’s turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, the Pilot’s V6 delivers smooth, relaxed, low-stress power that suits its family-hauler mission. 
• The Pilot has a more sophisticated AWD system with torque-vectoring capability.
• The Pilot’s 10-speed transmission has two more ratios than the non-hybrid Grand Highlander, while the hybrid model uses a CVT.
• The Pilot provides more passenger room, both with a sunroof (154.9 vs 149 cubic feet and without (158.4 vs. 153.3 cubic feet).
• The models trade legroom advantages with the Pilot providing over an inch more for the second row (40.8 vs. 39.5 inches) and the Grand Highlander offering an inch more in the third row (32.5 vs. 33.5 inches)
• The Pilot provides more maximum cargo space than the Grand Highlander (111.8 vs. 97.5 cubic feet).

The 2026 Volkswagen Atlas remains largely unchanged from the major update it received for the 2024 model year, which introduced numerous new features. That included change from its V-6 to a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 269 horsepower and 273 lb-ft of torque, which is paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Like the Pilot, the Atlas can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. 

The Atlas starts at $39,310, and buyers can choose between standard front-wheel drive and the well-respected 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system. There are five trim levels: SE, SE with Technology, Peak Edition, SEL, and SEL Premium R-Line.  

• The Pilot’s 3.5-liter V-6 delivers more horsepower than the Atlas 2.0-liter turbocharged  four-cylinder (285 vs. 269).
• Compared to the turbocharged 4-cylinder engine of the Atlas, Pilot’s engine has 9 lb-ft less peak torque, but delivers power in a smoother, more refined manner, perfect for a comfortable family hauler.
• The Pilot has a more sophisticated AWD system with torque-vectoring capability.
• The Pilot’s 10-speed transmission has two more gears than the Atlas 8-speed automatic.
• The Pilot can be ordered to seat eight passengers, while the Atlas has a maximum seating capacity of seven.
• The Pilot provides three more inches of legroom for second-row passengers (40.8 vs. 37.6 inches).
• The Pilot provides more cargo space behind the 2nd-row seats (59.5 vs. 55.5 cubic feet) and behind the 1st-row seats (111.8 vs. 96.6 cubic feet).

The Acadia first appeared for the 2007 model year as GMC’s largest SUV not built on a truck chassis. Today, it continues to share a platform and much of its mechanicals with the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave. It is powered by a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4 producing 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed transmission. The off-road-focused Acadia AT4 model has standard AWD, while the Elevation and Denali models offer either standard FWD or optional AWD.

• At $42,395, the Pilot has an almost $1,500 lower starting MSRP.*
• The Acadia has more power, but it lacks the smoothness and linear throttle response of the Pilot’s V6.
• The Pilot has a more sophisticated AWD torque-vectoring capability that uses power transfer rather than individual wheel braking so power isn’t lost while improving on-road stability and off-road capability. Only the more expensive Acadia AT4 offers a comparable all-wheel drive system.
• The Pilot and Acadia share the same combined mpg for FWD and AWD models. The Pilot has 1 more highway mpg and 1 less city mpg than the other.
• The Pilot and Acadia have about the same 3rd row legroom, but the Pilot has a little more headroom (39.3 vs. 38.23)
• The Pilot offers side knee bags for both the front driver and passenger. The Acadia does not offer knee airbags.
• The Pilot’s front smart airbags deploy with different levels of force depending on the level of impact. The Acadia’s airbags always deploy at full force.
• The Pilot has a standard post-collision braking system that automatically applies brakes to prevent secondary crashes and injuries. The Acadia lacks a post-collision braking system.
• The J.D. Power 2025 Initial Quality Study shows that Honda vehicles rate better in initial quality than GMC vehicles. Honda vehicles ranked above average, while GMC vehicles ranked below average.
• Likewise, Consumer Reports rated the Acadia much worse than the Honda in reliability and gave the model an overall score of 49 compared to 77 for the Pilot.