The vehicle you’re looking at will largely determine the figure, but in general Honda’s 3.5-liter V-6 engines produce about 280–290 horsepower, with higher-output variants reaching around 310 horsepower.
Model-by-model snapshot of horsepower
Representative horsepower figures for common Honda models that use the 3.5-liter V6.
- Honda Pilot (3.5L V6): about 280 hp in recent generations (roughly 2016–present).
- Honda Odyssey (3.5L V6): about 280 hp in recent generations.
- Honda Ridgeline (3.5L V6): about 280 hp in recent generations.
- Acura MDX (3.5L V6): about 290 hp.
- Acura RLX (3.5L V6): about 310 hp.
- Honda Accord with a 3.5L V6 (older, 2013–2017 era): about 278 hp.
Notes: These figures reflect commonly cited specs for U.S. market versions and can vary with drivetrain (FWD vs. AWD), transmission, and model year. Some markets and trims used slightly different tuning that affected horsepower by a small amount.
What drives the horsepower differences
Several factors explain why the numbers vary across models and years.
- Engine technology: VTEC valve timing, direct injection, and head/cylinder design influence peak power.
- Intake and exhaust tuning: refinements over model years can raise or limit horsepower while meeting emissions goals.
- Drivetrain and gearing: front-wheel drive vs. all-wheel drive and the number of gears in the automatic transmission affect how horsepower is delivered to the wheels.
- Market-specific variants: regional tuning and model updates can shift horsepower slightly between trims and year ranges.
In practice, Honda’s 3.5L V6 line remains a workhorse for family SUVs and mid-size sedans, balancing power with efficiency across trims and generations.
Bottom line
When you hear “Honda 3.5 V6,” expect a range centered around 280–290 hp for most mainstream models, with the RLX offering about 310 hp as a higher-output example. Always verify the exact horsepower for your specific year, model, and trim, since numbers can shift with updates and regional differences.
Summary
Honda’s 3.5-liter V6 engines span a spectrum from roughly 278 hp in older, than-late-model sedans to about 290 hp in most modern SUVs and crossovers, with a top-end around 310 hp in the RLX. For precision, check the factory specifications for your exact vehicle year and trim.