Honda Pilot trims and V6 power for Tulsa families: what each trim adds
A Honda Pilot fits a Tulsa family that needs seven or eight seats, a 285 hp V6, and room for a weekend of gear, and the trim comes down to drive, seats, and towing. It does not fit a Tulsa driver who commutes alone and wants the lowest fuel bill, because every 2026 Pilot trim is rated 20 to 22 mpg combined by the EPA.
Every trim shares the same 285 hp. What changes from the Sport to the Black Edition is the manufacturer’s suggested price, which runs from $42,395 to $55,195, plus how many people sit down, how much the Pilot can pull, and which drive layout you get. We sell and service Honda in south Tulsa every day, so we can walk a Tulsa family through each step.
Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Tulsa. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.
Every Pilot trim has 285 hp, so Tulsa commuters choose on mpg
The engine will not separate one Tulsa buyer’s choice from another’s, because all eight trims have the same 285 hp. Fuel use does. The EPA rates the front-wheel-drive Pilot at 22 mpg combined and the all-wheel-drive Pilot at 21. The all-wheel-drive TrailSport comes in at 20.
That is a one-mile-per-gallon gap between a 2WD Sport and an AWD Sport, and a two-mile gap between a 2WD Sport and a TrailSport. A family that never needs all-wheel drive pays for it twice, once at purchase and again at the pump.
Tulsa already asks a lot of a commuter’s budget before the Pilot burns a drop. Congestion cost the average Tulsa auto commuter $928 in 2024 (Texas A&M Transportation Institute, 2025). A buyer who sits in that traffic every weekday should count every mile per gallon.
The heat adds its own argument. Tulsa International Airport averages 73.9 days a year at or above 90 degrees Fahrenheit and 10.8 days at or above 100 degrees (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 2020). A full seven or eight seats on a 100-degree afternoon is the day the 285 hp V6 earns its place.
If you drive alone most days and fuel is your top worry, ask us about a Honda sedan or a smaller SUV. If your days start with a school run and end with a ball field, the V6 is the right size, and the choice moves to seats.
A Tulsa family of eight needs an 8-seat trim, and TrailSport seats 7
Seat count is the first fork in the Pilot lineup. The Sport, EX-L, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition seat up to 8. The TrailSport seats 7. A Tulsa family of eight has one set of trims to shop, and a family of seven has all of them.
The space numbers are the same on every trim. Second-row legroom is 40.8 inches. Third-row legroom is 32.5 inches. That 8-inch difference tells you who sits where. Adults and tall teenagers take the second row, and children take the third. Tulsa parents with teens should sit in the third row before they sign anything.
Cargo moves a little by trim. Behind the second row there is 48.5 cu ft. With the seats folded, maximum cargo is 111.8 cu ft in the Sport and 112.4 cu ft in the EX-L and the Touring. The Elite and the Black Edition each hold 112.1 cu ft. The TrailSport holds the most at 113.7 cu ft.
The TrailSport trade is plain. It gives up one seat and gains the most cargo room in the lineup. For a family of five or six that hauls coolers, strollers, and sports gear, that is a fair swap. For a family of eight, it is not an option.
A Tulsa trailer weekend needs all-wheel drive, which lifts towing from 3,500 to 5,000 lbs
Towing splits the Pilot lineup in two. The 2WD Sport and the 2WD EX-L tow up to 3,500 lbs when properly equipped, per Honda. Every all-wheel-drive trim tows up to 5,000 lbs. That is 1,500 lbs of added pulling power for a $2,100 step from the 2WD Sport to the AWD Sport.
If your weekend plan includes a boat, a camper, or a loaded utility trailer, check the trailer’s loaded weight first. A trailer that weighs more than 3,500 lbs sends you to an all-wheel-drive trim, and the price step is the same on the Sport and on the EX-L.
Oklahoma turnpikes belong in the same plan. The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority’s 2026 Outlook puts PIKEPASS discounted rates at an average of 7 cents per mile against 15 cents per mile on PlatePay, which photographs license plates and bills motorists without a PIKEPASS (Oklahoma Turnpike Authority, 2026). A family that tows out of Tulsa on a turnpike pays the lower rate with a PIKEPASS, and that savings repeats every trip.
For a Tulsa buyer who tows once or twice a summer, the AWD Sport at $44,495 is the lowest-priced Pilot that reaches 5,000 lbs. For a buyer who never tows, the 2WD trims cost less up front and burn less fuel.
What each Pilot trim adds, from a $42,395 Sport to a $55,195 Black Edition
Each step up the Pilot ladder buys something specific, and the numbers show where. All-wheel drive adds $2,100 on the Sport and on the EX-L. The EX-L adds $2,300 over the Sport in either drive layout. The TrailSport sits $3,800 above the AWD EX-L, then gives back one seat and gains the most cargo room.
| Trim | Starting MSRP | Towing | Seats | EPA combined mpg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sport (2WD) | $42,395 | 3,500 lbs | up to 8 seats | 22 |
| Sport (AWD) | $44,495 | 5,000 lbs | up to 8 seats | 21 |
| EX-L (2WD) | $44,695 | 3,500 lbs | up to 8 seats | 22 |
| EX-L (AWD) | $46,795 | 5,000 lbs | up to 8 seats | 21 |
| TrailSport (AWD) | $50,595 | 5,000 lbs | 7 seats | 20 |
| Touring (AWD) | $51,295 | 5,000 lbs | up to 8 seats | 21 |
| Elite (AWD) | $53,695 | 5,000 lbs | up to 8 seats | 21 |
| Black Edition (AWD) | $55,195 | 5,000 lbs | up to 8 seats | 21 |
Read down the table and the Touring stands out. It costs only $700 more than the TrailSport, and it returns to 8 seats at 21 mpg. A family of eight that wants a trim above the EX-L reaches the Touring for $4,500 over the AWD EX-L. The Elite adds $2,400 over the Touring, and the Black Edition adds another $1,500 over the Elite.
The towing and mpg figures change only with drive layout and the TrailSport. Above the EX-L, the added money pays for the trim itself, and the numbers in the table cannot show you that. Walk the lot with us and we will put the trims side by side, so you can see what each step gives your family.
What a Pilot costs a Tulsa buyer in MSRP and Oklahoma tax
The manufacturer’s suggested retail price for a 2026 Pilot runs from $42,395 for the Sport (2WD) to $55,195 for the Black Edition. Those are Honda’s suggested prices for each trim, and the price on a specific Pilot comes with that vehicle. We show the price and terms on the exact Pilot you are looking at.
Oklahoma adds its own charge to the sticker. The state taxes a vehicle purchase mainly through a motor vehicle excise tax, levied by 68 O.S. Section 2103 at 3 1/4% of the value of each new vehicle. The tax is delinquent after the thirtieth day following legal ownership or possession, and a penalty of $1.00 a day applies, never more than the tax itself (Oklahoma State Courts Network, 2026). A Tulsa buyer should plan to pay that tax at the tag counter and not let the thirty days run.
Because the tax follows the value of the vehicle, each step up the trim ladder raises it a little too. A $3,800 step to the TrailSport carries a larger tax than a $2,100 step to all-wheel drive. The manufacturer’s numbers show the price gaps, and the tax is on top of them.
The warranty cost of ownership stays the same on every trim. We keep the figures on that for the questions that follow, and the short version is that every Pilot trim carries the same coverage.
South Pointe Honda helps Tulsa families make the Pilot choice
We sell new Honda vehicles: sedans, SUVs, trucks, and minivans. That means a Tulsa family weighing a Pilot can see it next to a smaller SUV or a minivan in the same store, with people who work on Honda every day. We also carry used cars from a large variety of makes and models, so a buyer who wants a different price point has options on the same lot.
Buying does not have to start at our door. Through Acceleride, a new vehicle can be bought online and delivered. We also ship cars out of state and can deliver new or pre-owned vehicles to the buyer’s driveway. A family in Tulsa that wants the Pilot trim settled before a weekend can do the paperwork on its own schedule.
If you are trading in a vehicle, trade-in appraisal visits do not require an appointment. Come to 9124 S Memorial Dr, Tulsa, OK 74133, or call Main and Sales at (918) 496-7833. Service is at (918) 491-0199 and Parts is at (918) 491-0110.
Our owners talk about the Pilot more than about the lot, and their words tell the story better than we can.
In a September 2026 Google review of South Pointe Honda, Theresa M. described a purchase visit: “Everyone was attentive, knowledgeable, and professional from the time I walked I the door to the time I walked out with my new Honda Pilot Elite.”
Amanda C. left a Google review of South Pointe Honda in January 2026 after a routine visit: “I went in for a routine oil change for my 2023 Honda Pilot. The service attendant was very attentive and efficient. I was in and out in 60 minutes. I would recommend this service.”
Brett P. wrote in an October 2026 Google review of South Pointe Honda about a harder repair: “2025 Honda Pilot A/C clutch melted. Took almost two months to get back ordered parts. Thank goodness South Point gave us a loaner vehicle. Advisor Gabe did a good job keeping us informed of progress.”
Frequently asked questions
How much cargo room is behind the Pilot’s second row?
The 2026 Pilot has 48.5 cu ft of cargo room behind the second row. That figure is the same on every trim. The trims differ only in maximum cargo with the seats folded.
What warranty comes with a new Pilot?
A new 2026 Pilot carries a basic warranty of 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The powertrain warranty runs 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Both apply to every trim.
Does Oklahoma require an inspection or emissions test for a new Pilot?
Service Oklahoma lists a VIN Inspection Fee of $4.00 among the additional initial registration fees. Its published fee schedule carries no charge of any kind for a periodic safety inspection or an emissions test (Service Oklahoma, 2026). A Tulsa buyer pays the small VIN fee once at first registration.
How high does the Pilot sit off the road?
Ground clearance runs from 7.3 inches to 8.3 inches across the trims. A Tulsa family that drives on gravel roads or rutted lots after a storm can ask us to show the difference on the lot.
What happens if I wait too long to register my Pilot?
A buyer who does not get the vehicle registered, titled, and tagged within two months of the transfer of ownership owes $1.00 per day, never more than $100.00 (Oklahoma State Courts Network, 2026). Plan the tag counter visit in the first weeks after you take the keys.
Can I buy a used or certified Pilot from South Pointe Honda?
Yes. We sell used and certified pre-owned Honda vehicles alongside new ones, and we carry used cars from a large variety of makes and models. Ask our sales team which Pilot model years are on the lot.
A Tulsa family should buy the Pilot trim that matches its seats and trailer
The Pilot is the right Honda for a Tulsa family that needs seven or eight seats and a V6 with 285 hp on every trim. A family of eight takes an 8-seat trim, and a family of seven that wants the most cargo room can look at the TrailSport. A family that tows takes an all-wheel-drive trim, and a family that never tows keeps the money in a 2WD Sport or EX-L. A Tulsa driver who commutes alone should look at a smaller Honda, and we can show you both on the same lot, with people who know the lineup and keep the process free of pressure.
South Pointe Honda is a Honda store in south Tulsa with Group 1 behind it
South Pointe Honda sells new, used, and certified pre-owned Honda vehicles and runs a full service, parts, and financing operation. We are part of Group 1 Automotive, whose Tulsa cluster sits on our block of South Memorial Drive. Customers rate us 4.6 stars across 6,344 Google reviews (Google, 2026). Group 1 Automotive posted record full-year revenue of $22.6 billion, up 13.2%, and sold 459,000 new and used vehicles, a company record (Group 1 Automotive, 2026).
In a February 2026 Google review of South Pointe Honda, Lena M. wrote: “The service manager and Matt was a blessing to us. They was honest, straight forward and they help us out at the minute of the day. They can get my money and my respect any day. Thanks you guys.” A Tulsa buyer who chooses us gets a Honda store that stays with the vehicle long after the sale.
See our current Pilot inventory at South Pointe Honda.
South Pointe Honda answers this question against the specific vehicle in front of you rather than the model in general. Value your trade and get pre-approved online, then see us at our Tulsa showroom, or call (918) 496-7833.
Disclaimer: Vehicle features, specifications, pricing, options, and availability may vary based on production timelines and dealership inventory; images are for illustrative purposes only. Starting MSRP figures are national and exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Standard and available equipment varies by trim, configuration, and model year; confirm the specification of the individual vehicle before purchase. Maximum towing and payload ratings depend on cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment configuration; see the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual and trailering guide for limits. Electric range and charging times vary with battery, configuration, temperature, terrain, load, and driving habits. Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Financing and pre-approval are subject to credit approval. Contact South Pointe Honda for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.
