Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot

Family adventures await, and the roads of Morganton and Lenoir are calling! The 2020 Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot are two excellent midsize SUVs—but which is right for you? In this car comparison, we want to help you answer that question.

Read ahead and see what these SUVs can add to your drives near the Boone and Newland areas. We’ll cover performance, technology, and much more. Drop us a line at Cloninger Ford Morganton with any questions!

Explorer vs Pilot: All-Star Performance

Let’s start with the obvious: The 2020 Explorer and Pilot are two highly capable vehicles. Able to tow and accelerate with ease, they make even the most difficult tasks and commutes easier. 

The energetic 280-horspower V6 engine powering the Honda Pilot can tow up to 5,000 pounds—a total that helps this SUV stand out in the segment. However, the Ford Explorer’s available EcoBoost® V6 can trailer even more—5,600 pounds, to be precise. Hitch up a larger boat and head on your way!

The Explorer’s towing advantage is partially a result of a major redesign that adds rear-wheel drive and a new 10-speed automatic transmission—features you won’t find on the Honda. As you’ll soon see, that redesign enhances every facet of this Ford SUV.

Plush & Comfy Interiors

Slide inside the Ford Explorer or Honda Pilot, and you’ll be surrounded by deluxe materials. Soft surfaces abound, and you’ll find available leather seats in both. The stunning Tri-Diamond perforated leather seats in the Explorer are especially stylish. You’ll find them available in Ebony or Light Sandstone.

With its redesign, the Explorer features unique characteristics lacking in the Pilot. You’re in for a comfier and more connected drive in the Ford, with available features that include:

• 10.1-inch portrait touchscreen
• Multicontour Seats with Active Motion® massaging front seats
• 12.3-inch digital instrument panel

While the Pilot offers a touchscreen infotainment system, it lacks the screen size and modern orientation of the Explorer’s screen. The cherry on top in the Explorer is the digital instrument panel, which you can customize to suit your needs!

Exterior Features: Flair & Function Unite

You’ll get your first impression of the 2020 Explorer and Pilot from their exteriors. These SUVs manage to match each other in key ways, from their eye-catching grilles to their strikingly efficient LED headlamps. The Explorer’s headlamps are adaptive, so when you turn, the lights will turn with you!

While the Pilot’s bold chrome grille carries a stately presence, it lacks the dynamism of the cascading grille on the Explorer. That grille is taller and wider than the Pilot’s, not to mention the previous Explorer’s. It’s one more way the Ford SUV shows a commitment to flashy, sporty design.

Another advantage to the Ford? It offers available Michelin® self-sealing tires. They can seal punctures up to a quarter-inch wide in the tread area. Drive with confidence and keep your safety in mind!

Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot: The Verdict

How do you feel about the 2020 Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot? These midsize SUVs are popular among Morganton and Newland shoppers, but only one can earn that coveted space in your driveway.

We think you’ll be especially impressed by the Explorer and its fresh new style. If you’re ready to test out the newly redesigned Ford Explorer, schedule a test drive at Cloninger Ford Morganton today! See if this SUV can conquer your drives near Boone and Lenoir.