When choosing the ideal family SUV, the Honda Pilot vs Ford Explorer are two of the most popular options in today’s market. Both vehicles offer a compelling combination of space, comfort, and performance. Still, some key differences could make one a better choice depending on your specific needs and preferences. In this article, we will take an in-depth look at these two SUVs, comparing them in terms of design, performance, interior features, safety, reliability, and pricing to help you make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
Overview of the Honda Pilot vs Ford Explorer
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot is a mid-size crossover SUV that has been a family favourite due to its spacious interior, smooth ride, and excellent safety features. It offers seating for up to eight passengers, making it one of the few SUVs in this class to provide such a capacity. The Pilot also boasts a reputation for reliability and longevity, with many owners enjoying their Pilots for over 100,000 miles.
The Pilot’s design focuses on practicality and comfort, with a cabin that offers generous space and an intuitive layout. Honda offers several trim levels, including the base LX, the mid-range EX-L, the more luxurious Touring, and the top-tier Elite, ensuring that buyers can choose the level of features and amenities that suit their needs.
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is one of the best-selling SUVs in the United States and has a long history of being a versatile and capable family vehicle. It has a more rugged design than the Pilot, focusing on performance and towing capability. The Explorer offers three rows of seating and has various engine options, including a turbocharged four-cylinder, a V6 engine, and a hybrid version. The mid-size SUV segment competes directly with vehicles like the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander, and Chevrolet Traverse.
Ford offers the Explorer in several trims, including the base model, XLT, Limited, ST, and Platinum. Each trim offers a unique blend of performance and luxury features. Whether you’re looking for an off-road capable vehicle, a family haulier, or a more performance-focused SUV, the Explorer delivers.
Exterior and Design
Honda Pilot Exterior
The Honda Pilot’s exterior design is typically understated, focusing on clean lines and a minimalist approach to styling. It has a robust, muscular appearance with a prominent grille, angular headlights, and a wide stance. The Pilot has 18-inch wheels as standard, but buyers can opt for 20-inch wheels on higher trims for a more sophisticated look. The body is aerodynamically designed, helping improve fuel efficiency while maintaining a solid and stable stance on the road.
The Pilot’s design focuses on function, with features like roof rails for added storage capacity and an available hands-free power tailgate. Its proportions are generous, offering a commanding presence on the road, but without the overly aggressive or rugged look found on some competitors like the Ford Explorer.
Ford Explorer Exterior
The Ford Explorer, in comparison, has a more dynamic and aggressive design. Its bold front end features a prominent grille with large air intakes, while the headlights are sharp and modern. The wide fenders and sculpted side panels contribute to the Explorer’s athletic stance, making it look more rugged and off-road-ready than the Pilot.
Ford offers a variety of exterior options, including different wheel sizes (ranging from 18 inches to 21 inches), which further enhance the Explorer’s appearance. Higher trims like the ST and Platinum, which include unique front and rear fascias and larger, more stylish wheels, also offer chrome accents and sportier finishes.
Regarding exterior size, the Ford Explorer is slightly longer than the Honda Pilot. Its more noticeable emphasis on width gives it a bulkier look on the road. This larger size, combined with its off-road-focused design elements, gives the Explorer a more aggressive aesthetic than the Pilot’s refined approach.
Performance and Engine Options
Honda Pilot Performance
The Honda Pilot is known for its smooth, comfortable ride, mainly due to its refined suspension system and engine options. All Pilot models have a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission, contributing to a smooth shifting and responsive performance on the road.
The Pilot’s performance is more oriented towards comfort and efficiency than outright power or sportiness. It offers plenty of towing capability, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, which is sufficient for most families’ needs.
Honda offers both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations, with the AWD option providing added confidence in wet or slippery conditions. The Pilot’s handling is not particularly sporty, but it gives a stable and comfortable driving experience, making it an excellent choice for long road trips or daily commutes.
Ford Explorer Performance
The Ford Explorer offers a broader range of engine options, making it a more versatile choice for drivers who want performance. The base engine is a 2.3-litre turbocharged inline-four, producing 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, offering a good balance of power and fuel economy. For those who crave more power, the Explorer also offers a 3.0-litre turbocharged V6 engine, which delivers an impressive 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque in the performance-oriented ST trim.
The Explorer is also offered in a hybrid version, which combines a 3.3-litre V6 engine with an electric motor, producing 318 horsepower. This hybrid version attracts buyers seeking better fuel economy while maintaining decent towing capacity and performance.
Regarding towing, the Ford Explorer outperforms the Honda Pilot, with a maximum towing capacity of up to 5,600 pounds when properly equipped. This makes it a better choice for those who regularly tow heavy loads or need additional performance for off-road adventures. Additionally, the Explorer is available with rear-wheel drive (RWD) or AWD, providing more excellent driving dynamics and capability.
Interior and Comfort
Honda Pilot Interior
The Honda Pilot’s interior is designed with families in mind, offering ample space and comfort for passengers. The three-row seating configuration can accommodate up to eight passengers, making it one of the few mid-size SUVs that offers such capacity. The seats are comfortable and supportive, with higher trims featuring leather upholstery and power-adjustable front seats.
The Pilot’s cabin is practical, with numerous storage compartments, cupholders, and a spacious centre console. The second-row seats are roomy and slide forward easily to provide access to the third row, which can comfortably seat adults for short trips. However, the third-row seats are better suited for children or more miniature adults, as space can be tight for taller passengers.
The Pilot’s dashboard is user-friendly, with a clear layout and straightforward controls. However, while functional, Honda’s infotainment system is not as advanced or intuitive as some of its competitors. Higher trims feature an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, but they lack the advanced features of some rivals.
Ford Explorer Interior
The Ford Explorer’s interior focuses on luxury and performance, particularly in higher trims. The standard configuration offers seating for seven passengers, but higher trims with captain’s chairs in the second row reduce the seating capacity to six. The Explorer’s seats are plush and supportive, with leather upholstery available on the Limited trim and above.
The Explorer’s cabin feels more premium than the Pilot’s, especially in higher trims like the Platinum, which offers high-end materials, wood accents, and a more sophisticated design. The dashboard is modern and sleek, with an intuitive layout and high-quality materials.
Regarding space, the Explorer offers a comfortable second row with plenty of legroom. The third row is better suited for adults than the Pilot’s, though it’s still a tight fit for taller passengers. The Explorer offers less overall passenger capacity than the Pilot, but the quality of materials and comfort level in the cabin are often regarded as superior.
Safety Features and Ratings
Honda Pilot Safety
Honda is known for its commitment to safety, and the Pilot is no exception. The SUV comes standard with a suite of safety features, including Honda Sensing, which includes adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, lane-keeping assist, and road departure mitigation. These features help make the Pilot one of the safest vehicles in its class.
The Pilot has earned excellent safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It has received a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and is a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, demonstrating its ability to protect passengers in a collision.
Ford Explorer Safety
The Ford Explorer also has a comprehensive list of safety features, including Ford Co-Pilot360, which includes automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, and rear cross-traffic alert. Like the Pilot, the Explorer offers higher-end safety features like adaptive cruise control and a 360-degree camera system on higher trims.
The Explorer also performs well in crash tests, earning a 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and “Good” ratings in all crash tests from the IIHS. While the Pilot and Explorer excel in safety, the Pilot’s standard suite of safety features may offer families more peace of mind.
Pricing and Value
Honda Pilot Pricing
The Honda Pilot offers excellent value for money, especially considering the standard features and space it provides. The base model starts at around £35,000, while higher trims like the Touring and Elite can push the price to over £50,000. The Pilot is generally considered a solid investment, thanks to its reputation for reliability and long-term value.
Ford Explorer Pricing
The Ford Explorer has a broader price range, starting at around £36,000 for the base model. The mid-range trims like the XLT and Limited typically range from £40,000 to £50,000, while the performance-oriented ST and luxury-focused Platinum trims can exceed £60,000. The Explorer’s higher price point is justified by its additional performance options, advanced technology, and premium features.
Conclusion: Which SUV Is Right for You?
Both the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer offer excellent features, performance, and reliability, but they cater to different types of buyers. If you’re looking for a spacious and practical family vehicle focusing on comfort and ease of use, the Honda Pilot is a solid choice. Its smooth ride, generous passenger capacity, and excellent safety features make it an ideal family SUV.
However, suppose you’re seeking a more performance-oriented SUV with powerful engines, off-road capability, and a more premium interior. In that case, the Ford Explorer may be the better fit. Its larger engine options, rugged styling, and more refined interior make it a versatile choice for families who want both capability and luxury.
Ultimately, the decision comes down to your priorities—whether you value comfort and practicality or performance and luxury. Both vehicles have merits, and choosing the right one depends on your needs.