2026 Honda Pilot EX-L: O’Fallon Buyers Guide

Quick Answer: 2026 Pilot EX-L

The 2026 Pilot EX-L starts at $44,695 MSRP in front-wheel drive or $46,795 with all-wheel drive, plus a $1,495 destination charge, about $2,300 over the base Sport. The headline upgrade is leather-trimmed seating with fabric accents and driver’s seat and mirror memory, plus a stowable/removable second-row center seat that converts the Pilot between 7- and 8-passenger configurations. It also adds front and rear parking sensors, a Qi wireless phone charger, an in-car PA system, acoustic-glass windshield, and 18-inch alloy wheels, a step down in size from the Sport’s 20s, a trade-off rather than an upgrade. Like the Sport, the EX-L has no moonroof for 2026.

2026 Honda Pilot EX-L interior showing dark leather-trimmed seating and cabin trim
Leather-trimmed seating with fabric accents is the EX-L’s headline upgrade over the Sport. Photo: Honda.

The trim built around a seat that actually moves

The Sport’s second-row center seat is fixed in place. The EX-L’s isn’t, it stows and can be removed entirely, letting a family switch between hauling eight people and opening up a walk-through to the third row without leaving anyone behind at the curb. Combined with in-floor storage under that seat, it’s the kind of feature that matters more on a Tuesday grocery run than it ever does on a spec sheet, and it’s the clearest reason to look at the EX-L over the Sport if flexibility matters more than saving the $2,300.

The rest of the upgrade list leans toward comfort and convenience rather than technology, the screen, gauge cluster, and Honda Sensing suite are identical to the Sport’s, since those are now standard fleet-wide. What changes is what you touch and sit on: leather-trimmed seats, a wireless charging pad instead of hunting for a cable, front and rear parking sensors for tighter Auto Mall Drive parking lots, and acoustic glass on the windshield that quiets highway noise a notch further than the Sport already does.

What’s standard on the EX-L

  • Leather-trimmed seats with fabric accents; driver’s seat and mirror memory
  • Stowable/removable second-row center seat with in-floor storage (converts 8-passenger to 7)
  • Qi wireless phone charger, CabinTalk in-car PA, front & rear parking sensors, Low-Speed Braking Control
  • Acoustic-glass windshield, second-row sunshades, auto-dimming rearview mirror, third-row USB-C ports
  • 18-inch machine-finished alloy wheels
  • Everything standard on the Sport: 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, 10.2-inch digital cluster, power tailgate, full Honda Sensing

One thing the EX-L does not add: a moonroof. Some earlier Pilot model years gave the EX-L a one-touch moonroof, but for 2026 Honda reshuffled that feature up the ladder, it now starts at the TrailSport trim. If a moonroof matters to you, don’t assume the EX-L still has one, confirm current equipment before you commit to a specific trim.

FWD or the $2,100 AWD upgrade

Like the Sport below it, the EX-L can be ordered in front-wheel drive to hold the price down, or with i-VTM4 all-wheel drive for $2,100 more. FWD models rate 19 city / 27 highway and tow up to 3,500 pounds; AWD drops slightly to 19/25 highway but raises max towing to 5,000 pounds. Every trim above the EX-L, TrailSport and up, comes with AWD standard, so the EX-L is effectively your last chance to save on drivetrain if all-wheel drive isn’t a must-have for how you actually drive around St. Charles County.

What Frank Leta Honda buyers say

“Malachi was extremely helpful and knowledgeable throughout the entire sales process while purchasing my new 2024 Honda Pilot EX-L. This is a great dealership in my opinion!” wrote one Frank Leta Honda customer. Malachi Cade is a member of the current sales team, and his name shows up in multiple Pilot reviews describing a similar pattern: buyers who came in comparing trims and left feeling like the salesperson helped them land on the right one rather than the most expensive one.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between the Pilot Sport and EX-L?

Mostly comfort and materials, not technology. The EX-L adds leather-trimmed seating, a stowable second-row center seat, parking sensors, a wireless charger, and acoustic glass, for about $2,300 more. Screen size, safety tech, and the V6 powertrain are identical between the two.

Does the Pilot EX-L have a moonroof?

No, not for 2026. Honda moved the panoramic moonroof up to start at the TrailSport trim this model year. If a previous-generation EX-L had one, don’t assume the 2026 version does.

Is the EX-L’s second-row seat really removable?

Yes. Unlike the Sport’s fixed center seat, the EX-L’s second-row center seat stows and can be taken out entirely, switching the Pilot between 8-passenger and a 7-passenger, walk-through-aisle layout, with in-floor storage underneath when it’s removed.

Can the EX-L tow a trailer?

Yes, 3,500 pounds in front-wheel drive or up to 5,000 pounds with the AWD upgrade, the same ratings as the Sport, since both share the identical V6 and drivetrain options.

Is the EX-L a good value compared to higher Pilot trims?

For a family that wants leather and flexible seating but doesn’t need a moonroof, premium audio, or off-road hardware, the EX-L is often the sweet spot, real comfort upgrades over the Sport without paying TrailSport or Touring money for equipment you may not use.

All 2026 Honda Pilot guides

MSRP figures exclude the $1,495 destination charge plus tax, title, license and registration fees, options, and dealer-installed accessories; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are 2026 EPA ratings; your mileage will vary. Equipment and availability can change with configuration and production timing; confirm current specs and in-stock inventory with Frank Leta Honda. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Frank Leta Honda.