2026 Pilot EX-L
Quick Answer: 2026 Honda Pilot EX-L
The EX-L starts at $44,695 MSRP in front-wheel drive, $46,795 with i-VTM4 all-wheel drive, plus $1,495 destination, a roughly $2,300 step up from the Sport that buys leather-trimmed seats with fabric accents, a stowable and removable second-row center seat (converting the Pilot from 8 to 7 passengers), a Qi wireless phone charger, front and rear parking sensors, CabinTalk in-car PA, and 3rd-row USB-C ports. One trade: the EX-L's 18-inch wheels are smaller than the Sport's 20s, a swap rather than an upgrade, and there's still no moonroof this year, that arrives at TrailSport. It's the value pick for families who want leather and real second-row flexibility without stepping into AWD-standard territory, and Honda of Staten Island stocks it at 250 Parkinson Avenue.
The seat that changes how the Pilot is used
The feature that separates the EX-L from every trim below it isn't leather, it's the stowable, removable second-row center seat. Sport buyers get a fixed center seat and are locked into 8-passenger mode; EX-L and every trim above it can pull that center seat, drop it into in-floor storage, and run two captain's-chair-style second-row positions with a real walkway to the third row. For a family that carpools kids into car seats most weeks but occasionally needs the eighth seat for a grandparent's visit, that flexibility is worth more day-to-day than the leather it arrives alongside.
The leather itself is trimmed with fabric accents rather than being wall-to-wall hide, and the driver's seat and mirrors gain memory settings, useful when two drivers in the household have different setups dialed in. Acoustic-glass windshield glass and 2nd-row sunshades round out the comfort additions, along with an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
What the EX-L trades to get there
Honda's trim ladder isn't monotonic on wheels, and the EX-L is where that shows up: its 18-inch machine-finished alloys are smaller than the Sport's 20-inch Shark Gray wheels one rung below. It's a styling and ride-comfort choice, not a downgrade in capability, but shoppers who liked the Sport's stance should know about it before assuming bigger wheels come standard as the trim gets pricier. The other honest gap: no moonroof. For 2026, Honda pushed the panoramic moonroof up to TrailSport and above, so neither the Sport nor the EX-L has one, worth knowing if an open roof was assumed at this price point.
FWD or AWD on the EX-L
Like the Sport, the EX-L offers a genuine choice: FWD at 19 city / 27 highway mpg and 3,500-pound towing, or i-VTM4 AWD for $2,100 more at 19/25 highway and up to 5,000-pound towing. The EX-L is the last trim in the lineup where AWD is optional rather than standard, TrailSport and every trim above it builds it in. For buyers who want leather and flexible seating but aren't ready to commit to standard AWD pricing, this is the last exit ramp.
What EX-L buyers say
Trade-ins into a nicer Pilot show up often in the dealership's review history. One customer who moved from a 2021 Pilot into a 2025 Pilot EX-L wrote: "The accommodation and hospitality i received was top tier, I love the way everyone at Honda of Staten Island worked together to make things happen for their clients... Which i am happy to say that im very glad i made the switch." That kind of repeat, step-up purchase, the same family, the same model, one trim nicer, is common in the store's Pilot history and speaks to how the ownership experience holds up past the first sale.
Frequently asked questions
What does the EX-L add over the Sport?
Leather-trimmed seats with fabric accents, driver's seat and mirror memory, a stowable/removable second-row center seat (8-passenger, converts to 7), a Qi wireless charger, CabinTalk PA, front and rear parking sensors, Low-Speed Braking Control, acoustic-glass windshield, 2nd-row sunshades, an auto-dimming mirror, and 3rd-row USB-C ports. It trades the Sport's 20-inch wheels for 18s.
Does the EX-L have a moonroof?
No, not for 2026. Honda moved the moonroof up to TrailSport and above this year; both Sport and EX-L go without one, a change from some prior model years. If a moonroof is a must-have, the TrailSport is the next trim up that has one.
Is the EX-L worth the price jump over the Sport?
If the flexible second-row seat or leather interior matters to your family's routine, yes, it's a meaningful usability upgrade, not just trim. If neither is a priority and the Sport's 20-inch wheels appeal more, the Sport guide covers what you'd be skipping.
Can I get the EX-L with all-wheel drive?
Yes, i-VTM4 AWD is a $2,100 option on the EX-L, the last trim where AWD is optional rather than built in. FWD stays available here for buyers who don't need it.
Where can I see the EX-L on Staten Island?
Check live Pilot inventory at Honda of Staten Island, 250 Parkinson Avenue, open seven days a week including Sunday afternoons.
The bottom line
The EX-L's real upgrade isn't cosmetic, it's a second-row seat that can disappear when you need the walkway and reappear when you need the eighth belt. Add leather, memory seats, and parking sensors, and the roughly $2,300 step from Sport is easy to justify for a family that actually uses all three rows on a regular basis.
MSRP figures exclude the $1,495 destination charge plus tax, license, registration, 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 with Honda of Staten Island. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Honda of Staten Island.