Compare the2023 Ford ExplorerVS 2022 Honda Pilot

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Ford Explorer have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Honda Pilot doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Explorer are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Pilot doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Ford Explorer has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Pilot doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Explorer has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Pilot doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Explorer (except Base/XLT/Limited/Timberline) offers an optional Reverse Brake Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Pilot doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Explorer 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Pilot doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Explorer (except Base) offers an optional 360-Degree Camera to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Pilot only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

The Explorer’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Pilot doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Explorer and the Pilot have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Explorer	Pilot
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	125	149
Neck Injury Risk	26.3%	28%
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	189 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	46 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29.2%	35%
Neck Compression	129 lbs.	478 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	380/405 lbs.	478/436 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Explorer	Pilot
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	65	109
Hip Force	224 lbs.	269 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	233
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	42 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
HIC	288	406
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	573 lbs.	838 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Side impacts caused 23% of all road fatalities in 2018, down from 29% in 2003, when the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety introduced its side barrier test. In order to continue improving vehicle safety, the IIHS has started using a more severe side impact test: 37 MPH (up from 31 MPH), with a 4180-pound barrier (up from 3300 pounds). The results of this newly developed test demonstrates that the Ford Explorer is much safer than the Pilot:

	Explorer	Pilot
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	MARGINAL
Structure	GOOD	MARGINAL
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	86	206
Neck Tension	223 lbs.	335 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	GOOD
Torso Max Deflection	1.06 in	1.22 in
Torso Deflection Rate	5 MPH	5 MPH
Pelvis	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL
Pelvis Force	982 lbs.	1339 lbs.
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD
	Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck	GOOD	GOOD
Head Injury Criterion	168	206
Neck Compression	22 lbs.	67 lbs.
Torso	GOOD	MARGINAL
Torso Max Deflection	1.34 in	2.05 in
Torso Deflection Rate	9 MPH	12 MPH
Pelvis	GOOD	GOOD
Head Protection	GOOD	GOOD

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Explorer is 1.3% to 2.8% less likely to roll over than the Pilot.

For its performance in IIHS driver-side and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, updated side impact, headlight, and daytime pedestrian crash prevention testing, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Explorer the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2023, a rating granted to only 55 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Pilot last would have qualified as a “Top Safety Pick” in 2018.

Warranty

There are almost 3 times as many Ford dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

Reliability

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Pilot doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 16 more problems per 100 vehicles, Honda is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Ford vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in long-term dependability. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Honda is rated below average.

Engine

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 20 more horsepower (300 vs. 280) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6. The Explorer’s optional 3.3 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 38 more horsepower (318 vs. 280) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (322 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6. The Explorer’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 120 more horsepower (400 vs. 280) and 153 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Honda Pilot:

	Explorer	Pilot
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	6.5 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.1 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer gets better mileage than the Pilot:

			MPG
Explorer
	RWD	3.3 V6 Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		Platinum 3.3 V6 Hybrid	25 city/26 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/28 hwy
	AWD	3.3 V6 Hybrid	23 city/26 hwy
		2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
		Platinum 3.3 V6 Hybrid	23 city/24 hwy
Pilot
	FWD	3.5 SOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy
	AWD	3.5 SOHC V6	19 city/26 hwy

The Explorer can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 3 miles. The Pilot can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Explorer Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Pilot doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Ford Explorer higher (5 to 6 out of 10) than the Honda Pilot (3). This means the Explorer produces up to 23.4 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Pilot every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Pilot.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Explorer’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Pilot:

	Explorer	Explorer ST	Pilot
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	14.3 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	13.8 inches	13 inches

The Explorer ST’s optional front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pilot are solid, not vented.

The Explorer stops much shorter than the Pilot:

	Explorer	Pilot
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	153 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the Pilot (255/65R18 vs. 245/60R18). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pilot (275/45R21 vs. 245/60R18).

The Explorer’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pilot SE/Touring/Elite/Black Edition’s 50 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Explorer offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Pilot’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Pilot doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Explorer has standard front and rear gas-charged shocks for better control over choppy roads. The Pilot’s suspension doesn’t offer gas-charged shocks.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 8.1 inches longer than on the Pilot (119.1 inches vs. 111 inches).

The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Pilot’s (56.1% to 43.9%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .86 G’s, while the Pilot Elite 4WD pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Pilot Elite 4WD (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Explorer’s turning circle is 1 foot tighter than the Pilot’s (38.4 feet vs. 39.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer ST has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (7.9 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Explorer Timberline’s minimum ground clearance is 1.4 inches higher than on the Pilot (8.7 vs. 7.3 inches).

Chassis

The front grille of the Explorer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Pilot doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Explorer XLT 4WD is quieter than the Pilot Elite 4WD (73 vs. 78 dB).

Passenger Space

The Explorer has 1.2 inches more front headroom, 2.1 inches more front legroom, .1 inches more front hip room, .6 inches more rear headroom, .6 inches more rear legroom, 1.8 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more third row legroom than the Pilot.

Cargo Capacity

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Explorer’s (except Base/XLT/ST-Line) optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Pilot doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Honda Pilot is limited to 5000 pounds. The Explorer offers up to a 5600 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Explorer is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pilot. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Explorer’s power parking brake sets with one touch and releases with one touch or automatically. The Pilot’s parking brake has to be released manually.

The power windows standard on both the Explorer and the Pilot have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Explorer is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Pilot prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Pilot doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its HondaLink Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Explorer Platinum has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Pilot doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Explorer’s power mirror controls are mounted on the armrest for easy access. The Pilot’s power mirror controls are on the dash where they are possibly hidden by the steering wheel and are awkward to manipulate.

The Explorer ST/King Ranch/Platinum offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Pilot.

The Explorer ST/Platinum’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Pilot doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Explorer is less expensive to operate than the Pilot because typical repairs cost much less on the Explorer than the Pilot, including $48 less for a water pump, $7 less for front brake pads, $290 less for a starter, $78 less for fuel injection, $166 less for a fuel pump and $77 less for front struts.

Recommendations

The Ford Explorer outsold the Honda Pilot by over two to one during 2022.