Ford Explorer vs. Honda Pilot: How Do They Rank?
The Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot are alike in many ways, but have two glaring differences.
Written by Alexandra Maloney
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
If you’re looking for a new 2022 model vehicle, both Ford and Honda are probably car brands that have come up in your search. That’s especially true if you
want to buy
a midsize SUV with three rows. Both Ford and Honda are popular for a good reason—they’re known to be comfortable, practical, family cars. The truth is you can’t go wrong with either the Ford Explorer or Honda Pilot, but there likely is one car that better fits your driving needs.
Similarities: Ford Explorer vs. Honda Pilot
When it comes to the engine, comfort and safety of the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot, you can find almost identical features.
While the 2022 Explorer is equipped with a four-cylinder, 10-speed automatic engine, and the 2022 Pilot has a V6, nine-speed automatic, the performance of the two is very similar. The Explorer can go from 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, while the Pilot is just a smidge behind at 7.5 seconds. Plus, fuel economy is about the same, with overall mileage in the Explorer being 21 mpg, and in the Pilot 20 mpg.
Consumer Reports
rated comfort in the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot very similarly. Both cars earned four out of five in noise, driving position, and front seat comfort. The Pilot did a bit better with a five out of five in rear seat comfort, and front and rear access, but the Explorer was close behind with four out of five in all those categories. As for safety, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rated the cars similarly. Both the Explorer and Pilot were rated “good” in front moderate overlap, small overlap driver, side crash, rear crash, and roof crash. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration also rated the cars similarly in various categories.
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Differences: Ford Explorer vs. Honda Pilot
For differences, we have to focus on price, reliability, and overall road test score from Consumer Reports.
Price is typically a big factor when it comes to car buying, and as
Kelley Blue Book
points out, the price benefits of the Explorer vs. Pilot vary based on the trim you purchase. The Explorer starts around $34,000 while the Pilot starts around $37,500. That makes the base trims of the Explorer a better deal. But if you’re looking for a higher, more luxury trim, you’ll get the highest Pilot trims for about $5,000 cheaper than the highest Explorer trims.The reliability differences in these cars are large. Consumer Reports rated the Honda Pilot a three out of five in reliability, while the Ford Explorer got the lowest rating possible in reliability—a one out of five. That’s definitely something to consider before purchasing, especially if you plan to use your new SUV as a family car.
Lastly, in overall road test score, the Ford Explorer falls behind again—by a large margin. Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Explorer a 47 out of 100 in overall road test, while the 2022 Pilot fared far better, earning a 76 out of 100. With differences as big as these on overall road test and reliability, it’s crucial drivers buying a new car need to take both ratings into account.
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