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There are automobiles that announce their arrival with dramatic styling, enormous horsepower figures or an exhaust note capable of turning heads from across a parking lot.

The 2026 Honda Pilot AWD Elite isn’t really one of them.

And after spending time with Honda’s three-row SUV on the streets of Denver and the twisting mountain roads west of Golden, I’m beginning to think that’s precisely the point.

The Pilot is an exceptionally competent vehicle that doesn’t need to make much noise about it.

My test drive took me west from Denver along U.S. 6, through Lakewood and Golden and eventually onto Golden Gate Canyon Road. From there, I climbed into the foothills toward Centennial Cone Park and the Ralph Schell Trailhead, part of the Jefferson County Open Space system.

That provided a considerably better test than another afternoon cruising suburban arterials.

Golden Gate Canyon Road climbs and twists its way into the foothills, with plenty of curves and elevation changes along the way. It is exactly the sort of Colorado road that can expose the difference between an SUV designed primarily to look adventurous and one that’s genuinely comfortable when pavement starts pointing uphill and bending around mountains.

The Pilot was terrific.

Despite being a substantial three-row SUV measuring just over 200 inches long, it never felt cumbersome. Steering was predictable, the suspension kept the Pilot composed through the curves and the all-wheel-drive system added an underlying sense of security as the road climbed toward Centennial Cone.

The destination itself seemed appropriate. Centennial Cone Park offers a near-backcountry setting remarkably close to the Denver metropolitan area, and the Ralph Schell Trailhead provided the kind of backdrop that illustrates where vehicles like the Pilot make considerable sense for Colorado owners.

Under the hood is something becoming increasingly unusual: a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6.

It produces 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Elite gets Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system, which can distribute power between the front and rear axles and between the rear wheels.

Drivers also get seven selectable modes: Normal, Econ, Sport, Snow, Tow, Trail and Sand.

That combination doesn’t transform the Pilot into a sports car, nor should it. But the V6 delivers smooth, predictable power, and the 10-speed transmission generally goes about its business without calling attention to itself.

And when properly equipped, AWD Pilots can tow as much as 5,000 pounds.

Inside, Honda has concentrated on practicality while giving the Elite enough premium equipment to justify its place near the top of the Pilot lineup.

There’s a leather-trimmed interior, heated seating, a Bose premium audio system, head-up display, 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster and a 12.3-inch color touchscreen with Google built in. CabinTalk allows the driver to communicate with passengers farther back without resorting to the traditional parental technique of shouting toward the third row.

Safety equipment is extensive, including Honda’s suite of driver-assistance technologies, blind-spot information with rear cross-traffic monitoring, stability control, ABS and a comprehensive airbag system.

The Pilot also provides the versatility expected of a genuine three-row family vehicle, with seating for up to eight and plenty of room for passengers and cargo.

Perhaps the Pilot’s strongest quality became apparent only after spending time with it. It isn’t trying desperately to impress you.

There are more flamboyant SUVs. There are quicker ones. There are more luxurious ones and certainly more fuel-efficient ones.

But drive a Pilot from Denver through Golden and point it toward a winding road into the Colorado foothills, and its virtues begin accumulating quietly: solidity, comfort, predictable handling, usable technology, all-wheel-drive capability and Honda’s longstanding reputation for building vehicles intended for the long haul.

The 2026 Pilot may not be the SUV your neighbors rush across the street to inspect.

It may instead be the SUV still sitting reliably in your driveway years after the novelty of something flashier has worn off.

And there’s something to be said for that.

Saturday Drive Specs