Against 247 other V6 cars rated 2024–2026, the Pilot beats their 21 mpg average by 1 mpg, about $84 a year.
Every Honda Pilot engine, compared
The Honda Pilot was rated in a single specification, so its gas mileage does not vary by version — only by model year. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 18 / 24.8 | 2003–2026 | $1,873 |
What that actually costs
Against its rivals in the same model years, the Toyota RAV4 gets 37.5 mpg, the Jeep Wrangler 18.8 mpg and the Mazda CX-5 27 mpg, next to 22 mpg for the 2026 Pilot.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile (2026) | $0.145 |
| Fuel per year | $1,745 |
| Fuel over five years | $8,725 |
| Against other V6 cars, 2024–2026 | −$84 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $3,079 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The 2026 Honda Pilot gives up 8 mpg in town: 27 on the highway against 19 in the city, $599 a year if every mile were city driving.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City (2026) | 19 mpg | $2,021 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 27 mpg | $1,422 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +8 mpg (42%) | Wide — this car dislikes traffic |
How the Pilot changed over the years
The Pilot peaked in 2022 at 23 mpg (20 city, 27 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2005 at 17 — 6 mpg apart, or $589 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 22. The biggest single-year change came in 2016: 20 to 23 mpg.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2025 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2024 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2023 | 19 / 27 | 1 | $1,745 | |
| 2022 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2021 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2020 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2019 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2018 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2017 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2016 | 20 / 27 | 1 | $1,670 | |
| 2015 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2014 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2013 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2012 | 18 / 25 | 1 | $1,920 | |
| 2011 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2010 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2009 | 17 / 23 | 1 | $2,021 | |
| 2008 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2007 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2006 | 16 / 22 | 1 | $2,133 | |
| 2005 | 15 / 20 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2004 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 | |
| 2003 | 15 / 21 | 1 | $2,259 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
- Fuel profile built from your actual mileage and local prices
- Fuel tracker: what you really spend, month by month
- Insurance and fuel folded into 5-year cost to own
- Compare any two cars on total cost, not sticker price
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How we count
This page rests on 24 EPA ratings of the Honda Pilot — 1 engine across 2003–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $3,079. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the 2026 Honda Pilot get?
22 mpg combined, 19 city and 27 highway, per EPA. Across every year since 2003 the Pilot has averaged 20.5 mpg.
Is the 2026 Pilot more efficient than the 2025?
About the same: 22 against 22 mpg combined.
Which Pilot year has the best gas mileage?
The 2022, at 23 mpg combined (20 city, 27 highway).
Does the Pilot get better gas mileage than the Toyota RAV4?
No: 22 mpg for the 2026 Pilot against 37.5 for the 2026 Toyota RAV4, about $721 a year more to run.
Mark ForCar as a preferred source and our data shows up first in your Google results. One click, no account.