Compare the2023 Ford ExplorerVS 2023 Honda Pilot

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.

Both the Explorer and Pilot have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Explorer offers optional Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Pilot’s Cross Traffic Monitor doesn’t automatically brake.

Both the Explorer and the Pilot have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

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 has not been tested, yet.

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.

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.

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 more horsepower (300 vs. 285) and 48 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Explorer’s optional 3.3 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 33 more horsepower (318 vs. 285) and 60 lbs.-ft. more torque (322 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Explorer’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 115 more horsepower (400 vs. 285) and 153 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Honda Pilot:

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

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.

The Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Pilot (20.2 vs. 18.5 gallons).

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

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:

For better traction, the Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pilot (275/45R21 vs. 265/60R18).

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 Sport/Touring/Elite’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.

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.

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Pilot doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 5.3 inches longer than on the Pilot (119.1 inches vs. 113.8 inches).

The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Pilot’s (55.3% to 44.7%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .86 G’s, while the Pilot TrailSport pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Pilot Elite (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

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 .4 inch higher than on the Pilot TrailSport (8.7 vs. 8.3 inches).

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Explorer XLT 4WD is quieter than the Pilot TrailSport (73 vs. 76 dB).

The Explorer has .2 inches more front headroom, 2 inches more front legroom, .8 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more rear headroom, 1.7 inches more rear hip room and .2 inches more rear shoulder room than the Pilot.

The Explorer has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly, without having to lift, carry or store heavy seats, like in the Pilot.

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.

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

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.

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.

The Explorer’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Pilot’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 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.

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