2019 Honda Pilot vs Ford Explorer

At Honda of Bay County, we know that purchasing a new SUV is a big step. After all, your SUV will be accompanying you on all those road trips and off-roading adventures, but you also want an SUV that can fit the whole family and haul all your gear. The 2019 Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer are two of the best SUVs out there, but which one is better? Which one will fit your needs and your lifestyle? You need to make the right decision, because that is key to driving home happy.

Drivers of the Panama City, Springfield, and Callaway areas-get ready for the Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer to go one-on-one in a battle for SUV supremacy! We’ll compare the pros and cons and you decide which comes out on top. Read more about the key differences and find out where you can test drive the winning vehicle.

The Pilot Strikes First with Great Power and Efficiency

The Pilot and Explorer have similar standard engines. A 3.5L V6 24-valve engine sits beneath the hood of both models. It’s the efficiency of the Pilot, however, that sets it apart.

The Pilot gets superior fuel economy. Its standard EPA-estimated 19 MPG city and 27 MPG highway* makes it more efficient than the Explorer, which only gets a standard EPA-estimated 17 MPG city and 24 MPG highway.

The fuel tank of the Pilot holds an astounding 19.5 gallons, while the fuel tank capacity of the Explorer is only 18.6 gallons. That means that while all those Explorers are stuck at the gas station, the Honda Pilot can be out exploring the farthest reaches of Panama City, Springfield, and Callaway.

Power is important in an SUV. You need horsepower and torque, and these SUVs have plenty of both. They have similar horsepower, but the Pilot takes the cake in terms of torque with a standard 262 lb-ft. The Explorer can only manage 255 lb-ft of torque with its base engine.

They both manage to show off their strength in terms of towing, with a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.

Can the Ford Explorer Make a Comeback as We Move to Interiors?

Let’s talk about interiors. When you go on a weekend camping trip or take a road trip, you want to take all your friends and family. The Explorer only seats seven, so get your friends ready to play rock/paper/scissors over that last seat. With seating for up to eight, the Honda Pilot, on the other hand, leaves no one behind.

Fortunately, you won’t have to worry about your passengers being uncomfortable in either model, as they both feature available automatic climate control systems.

Anyone who owns an SUV knows there comes a time when traveling light is not an option. Luckily, neither of these models are short on cargo space. Both feature 60/40 second-row and 50/50 third-row fold-flat seats. With all the seats down, the Explorer boasts up to 81.7 cubic feet of cargo space. Impressive for sure, but what’s more impressive is the maximum cargo space of the Pilot. It has 83.9 cubic feet. A couple cubic feet might not seem like a lot, but all you weekend warriors out there know how to make every inch count.

2019 Honda Pilot Takes Home the Gold in Safety!

The Ford Explorer has its fair share of safety features, like the Safety Canopy® System, which is a system designed to protect the heads of outboard passengers when a collision occurs. There is also the SOS Post-Crash Alert System™. This system activates the horn and emergency flashers if the airbags deploy. The Explorer also features the available Ford Safe and Smart™ Package, a set of driver-assistive technologies.

The Honda Pilot, however, features the Honda Sensing® Suite standard on all trims. With features like a Collision Mitigation System™ that will stop the Pilot if it senses an unavoidable frontal collision, and a Road Departure Mitigation System that provides steering assistance if the car begins to drift from a detected lane. The Honda Sensing® Suite makes certain that the Pilot is always actively working to avoid a collision.

The Pilot is also built using the ACE™ body structure. This Honda-exclusive body design not only enhances occupant protection, but also makes the vehicle more compatible in a frontal collision.

Come Give the Winner a Test Drive

No one can deny that the Ford Explorer is a great SUV, but even with all its features and capabilities, it still can’t compete with the 2019 Honda Pilot. The Pilot has all the power, space, and comfort that drivers in Panama City, Springfield, and Callaway need, as well as all the safety features that will keep your mind at ease behind the wheel.

Come join us at Honda of Bay County. You can schedule a test drive, and one of our service professionals will help you choose the SUV that best suits you!

* 19 city/27 highway/22 combined mpg rating for 2WD 6AT model. 18 city/26 highway/21 combined mpg rating for AWD 6AT model. 20 city/27 highway/23 combined mpg rating for 2WD 9AT model. 19 city/26 highway/22 combined mpg rating for AWD 9AT models. Based on 2019 EPA mileage ratings. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions and other factors.