2026 Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot
When you’re determining the right SUV for your family adventures around Salisbury, Kannapolis, Lexington, and Mooresville, there’s a lot to consider. If you’re having trouble choosing between the Ford Explorer vs. Honda Pilot, you’ve come to the right place because our team at Cloninger Ford is here to help!
This Explorer vs. Pilot guide will show you what each vehicle offers and how they differ. By learning more about these differences, you’ll be able to determine which of these SUVs is right for you and your trips on the road!
Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot Performance & Efficiency
While similar, the Explorer and the Pilot actually come standard with completely different engines. The Ford Explorer features a 2.3L Turbocharged EcoBoost® 4-cylinder engine. It boasts 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque.
The Honda Pilot, on the other hand, comes standard with a 3.5L V6 engine that makes less power and torque. This engine generates up to 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. If you seek even more power, the Explorer offers a 400-horsepower 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 engine, which puts out 415 lb-ft of torque.
Despite offering more power, Explorer is also rated for better efficiency and has a larger fuel tank for greater cruising range. The standard 2WD Explorer is rated for up to an estimated 20 MPG city/29 MPG highway/24 MPG combined, compared to 2WD Pilot's 19/27/22 respectively. Even Explorers with the 3.0L EcoBoost® V6 and AWD are rated up to 25 mpg highway, same as the significantly less powerful Pilot AWD. EcoBoost® V6 Explorers also have a 20.2 gallon fuel tank, larger than Pilot's 18.5 gallon tank and resulting in a longer highway cruising range: 505 miles Explorer, 463 Pilot.
If you are seeking to tow with your SUV, Explorer also offers an advantage here over Honda Pilot: every Explorer is rated to tow up to 5,000 lbs properly equipped. Pilot can also tow this amount, but not in every configuration.
Cabin Space & Technology
The Honda Pilot and the Ford Explorer each offer spacious cabins with three rows of seating for their respective passengers. In fact, each SUV includes more than 150 cubic feet of passenger space. In the front, Explorer offers a bit more room for passengers with 43 inches of legroom and 40.7 inches of headroom compared to Pilot's 41 inches of legroom and 40.5 inches of headroom in front. Explorer is also wider, with more hip and shoulder room than Pilot. The Explorer first row features 59.2" hip and 62.1" shoulder room compared to Pilot's 58.4" and 61.9" respectively. The second row of Explorer has 59.1" hip and 61.9" shoulder room versus Pilot's 57.4" and 61.7" respectively.
Explorer also shines in tech features over Pilot. Pilot received a standard 12.3" center infotainment display for 2026, but this is still smaller than Explorer's 13.2" screen. Explorer also features standard SiriusXM® satellite radio capability, which isn't available on any Pilot. And while both feature Intelligent Access smart entry systems, Explorer has this on all 4 doors standard; Pilot requires moving up to higher trim levels for all doors.
Safety
The Ford Explorer and the Honda Pilot both come standard with driver-assisting technology features. These features use exterior sensors to measure distance and speed to help you avoid a potential collision or unintentional lane departure. While both SUVs offer similar lane-keeping systems, the Ford Explorer also includes the Reverse Sensing System that uses rear sensors to detect objects in your path while you’re backing up, standard on all trims. Pilot doesn't include this on its base trim.
Further, when it comes to a vehicle to carry your loved ones in, you want a strong safety rating. Explorer is rated a Top Safety Pick+ by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, higher than Honda Pilot's Top Safety Pick rating.
Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot: Deciding on Your Next SUV
At Cloninger Ford, we hope this Explorer vs. Pilot comparison has shed a little light on what these respective SUVs offer and how they differ. While you’re now aware what they come with and what they can do on the road, you also know the Ford Explorer simply offers you more.
One area that Explorer isn't more than Pilot is price. The 2026 Explorer starts at $38,465, while 2026 Pilot starts much higher at $42,195 (prices exclude destination). Explorer offers safety, capability, convenience, all in a more affordable package. And see what special Cloninger offers and manufacturer incentives may also be available on Explorer for even greater savings.
Find out more by scheduling a test drive with us to see how the Ford Explorer will handle on the roads of Salisbury, Kannapolis, Lexington, and Mooresville!
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