The Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot are versatile midsize SUVs that are designed to give you reliable performance, plus useful features and cargo room. Which one offers everything you're looking for in your next SUV?
Zoellner Ford of Beatrice helps drivers in Lincoln, Ceresco, and Beatrice decide with this Ford Explorer vs. Honda Pilot comparison.
Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot Passenger & Cargo Room
Both the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot make room for all your friends and family with three rows of seats. Each one also gives you power 2nd-row seats, so creating space for passengers to get to the back row is as easy as pressing a button.
The Ford adds this feature to the 3rd-row too. With the PowerFold® 3rd-row seats, you can easily load in extra cargo by automatically folding the seats down. The trunk is roomy though with 21 cubic feet of cargo room. The Honda only has 16.5 cubic feet of space behind the back seats and to make more, you'd have to fold the seats down manually.
In addition to the extra storage room, the Ford can also give you a more comfortable ride. Its open interior provides all three rows with more room to stretch out than the Honda.
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| Ford Explorer | Honda Pilot |
| Front Legroom | 42.9 inches | 40.9 inches |
| Middle Legroom | 39.5 inches | 38.4 inches |
| Rear Legroom | 33.3 inches | 31.9 inches |
Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot Performance
The Ford Explorer gives you a trio of powerful engines to choose from. Each one is designed to help you carry lots of heavy cargo and get you through slick or uneven terrain.
The first option is a 3.5L V6 engine with Twin Independent Variable Camshaft Timing (Ti-VCT). This design improves your production and lets it get 290 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque.
The next option is a 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 engine that gets up to 280 horsepower and an impressive 310 lb-ft of torque.
The largest and most powerful engine for the Explorer is a 3.5L EcoBoost® V6 engine that can generate up to 365 horsepower and 350 lb-ft of torque.
The Honda Pilot isn't able to provide you with the same amount of power. It also doesn't give you any options. Its only engine is a 3.5L V6 that tops out at 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.
Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot Capability
With that kind of power under the hood, the Ford Explorer can tow up to 5,000 pounds. This gives you the ability to tow everything from a few dirt bikes to a large trailer or boat. It's also designed to keep your cargo under control with standard Trailer Sway Control.
The Honda also has a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, but its not really built for it. Trailer Sway Control isn't even an option.
On top of giving you confidence to haul a trailer, the Ford also provides you with a capable drive when you're off-roading and going over rocky terrain. It has a 7.8-inch ground clearance and Intelligent 4WD Terrain Management System. With this system you can adjust the drivetrain to your conditions by just turning a knob on your center console. There's four versatile mods: Normal, Mud/Rut, Sand, and Snow/Gravel/Grass.
You'll have to watch where you drive in the Honda. Its slight lower to the ground with a 7.3-inch ground clearance. While it does have an Intelligent Traction Management feature with selectable modes, it isn't made to cover as many types of terrain.
Test Drive a Midsize SUV
Visit Zoellner Ford of Beatrice to test drive a Ford Explorer. Drivers in Lincoln, Ceresco, and Beatrice can count on it for a dependable performance from a comfortable and powerful SUV. To learn more about this Ford Explorer vs. Honda Pilot comparison, contact us or visit our dealership.