10 Biggest News Stories of the Week: Honda Pilot Takes Off, Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Generates Buzz
The Honda Pilot is a popular choice for families in need of a family-size vehicle with family-friendly features and fit for family duty. To stay relevant against a gang of competing mid-size three-row SUVs, the Pilot has been refreshed for the current model year with new tech, exterior styling updates, interior comfort upgrades and driving refinements. The results are generally favorable, though some lingering issues leave room for improvement in the next full redesign — which you can read all about in Cars.com’s most popular news article of the past week, a rapid-fire rundown of what delighted and disappointed us about the 2026 Pilot.
Related: 10 Biggest News Stories of the Month: BMW iX3 Moves Up in the World, Ram 1500 Fuels Interest
In the Pilot’s plus column are an enlarged new 12.3-inch infotainment display featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Google Built-In; enhanced steering feel that subtly improves the SUV’s already excellent ride and handling; well-powered carryover engine in its 3.5-liter V-6 still paired with a smooth-shifting 10-speed automatic transmission; and cabin accommodations that continue to offer ample occupant comfort and high-grade materials choices. Points come off the board for an EPA-estimated 19/27/22 mpg city/highway/combined that gets smoked by chief rivals from Hyundai and Toyota, as well as a third row that’s sized strictly for the smallest members of your brood.
For full details on what we loved and what we loathed about the 2026 Honda Pilot, follow the link below to the No. 1 news story on this week’s countdown of most read articles.
Perhaps the furthest thing from a family-friendly SUV tucks in at the second-place spot — but not for a lack of acceleration. An all-new high-powered track-truck variant of the Ram 1500 is pulling up to the line for well-financed enthusiasts and weekend warriors who prefer performance with their payload: the 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee. The sport pickup truck will come in four increasingly potent flavors, most notably the 777-horsepower Rumble Bee SRT, boasting a range-topping supercharged 6.2-liter Hellcat V-8 engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with full-time four-wheel drive as well as a host of other race-ready features and equipment. The Rumble Bee gets a model-exclusive quad-cab configuration with a 5.5-foot bed; aerodynamics-enhancing exterior add-ons; trim-specific “angry-bee” badging and available graphics on the hood and bed; and SRT-only premium leather seats, suede and carbon-fiber trim with racy orange interior stitching. Expect to shell out over 100 grand for SRT supremacy.
For full details on the 2027 Ram 1500 Rumblebee sport truck, follow the link below to the No. 2 news story of the week.
Beyond that, we’ve got headlines on the BMW iX3, Rivian R2, Volvo EX60, Ford Maverick, Ineos Grenadier, Audi A6 and much more — so don’t stop reading till the digits double. Here are the top 10 news stories Cars.com readers couldn’t get enough of in the past week:
1. Is the 2026 Honda Pilot a Good 3-Row SUV? 4 Pros, 2 Cons
2. All-New 2027 Ram 1500 Rumble Bee Sport Truck Brings Sting With Up to 777 HP
4. BMW iX3, Rivian R2, Volvo EX60: How Do These Next-Gen Electric SUVs Compare?
5. What’s the Best New-Car Deal for Memorial Day 2026?
6. How Safe Is the 2026 Ford Maverick?
7. What Are the Best Used EVs for Under $30,000?
8. The Updated 2026 Ineos Grenadier Eliminates Deal Breakers for Your Everyday Expeditions: Review
9. Is the 2026 Audi A6 a Good Sedan? 4 Pros, 3 Cons
10. Here Are the 10 Cheapest New Cars You Can Buy Right Now
Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.
