Head-to-head
2026 Ford Explorer vs 2026 Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot wins clearly, 96.3 to 77.5, on tech & comfort, safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on fuel & range.
F
2026 Ford Explorer
The 2026 Ford Explorer is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Explorer RWD, is EPA-rated at 24 …
vs
A2026 Honda Pilot
The 2026 Honda Pilot is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Pilot FWD, is EPA-rated at 22 mpg c…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Honda Pilot
Clear winThe Honda Pilot wins clearly, 96.3 to 77.5, on tech & comfort, safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on fuel & range.
Tech & comfort 2026 Honda Pilot leads by 44.1
Safety 2026 Honda Pilot leads by 20.2
Fuel & range 2026 Ford Explorer leads by 8.2
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Exploreroverall 77.5 | 2026 Honda Pilotoverall 96.3 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 91.8 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 76.8 | 97 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 55.9 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantynot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Overall | 77.5 | 96.3 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 3 of 7 categories compared
Ford Explorer: base trim Active Base RWD · Honda Pilot: base trim Sport FWD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Honda Pilot wins
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 53).
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (29 against 44 filed with NHTSA).
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (51 points against 28.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
Where the 2026 Ford Explorer answers
- It is rated 24 combined against 22 (EPA mpg or MPGe).
- It costs $250 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,800 against $3,050).
What they share
- 5 NHTSA stars.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
Specifications side by side
53 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $42,395 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | naturally aspirated |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 6 |
| Engine displacement | — | 3,471 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | V6 |
| Fuel injection system | — | Fuel Injection |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC 24-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 285 hp |
| Torque | — | 262 lb-ft |
| Fuel Economy | ||
| MPG (city) | — | 19 mpg |
| MPG (combined) | — | 22 mpg |
| MPG (highway) | — | 27 mpg |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.58 | 4.167 |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 10 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | automatic |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 7.3 in |
| Overall height | — | 71 in |
| Overall length | — | 200 in |
| Overall width | — | 78.5 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 114 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 87 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 48.5 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | — | 18.6 cu-ft |
| Total interior volume | — | 158 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 8 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 40.5 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 40.2 in |
| Third-row headroom | — | 39.3 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 41 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 40.8 in |
| Third-row legroom | — | 32.5 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 4,336 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 4,336 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent | MacPherson Strut |
| Rear suspension type | Independent | Multi-Link |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 37.8 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 351 mm |
| Front brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold | Electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 330 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | solid disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 20 in |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | forged alloy |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P255/65R18 | 255/50 R20 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.9 gal | 18.5 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 87 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Ford Connectivity Package | HondaLink |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 84 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 61.9 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 61.7 in |
| Third-row shoulder room | — | 59.5 in |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
181 features · differences first, then sharedSafety36 differ · 53 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Evasive Steering Assist | std | — |
| Rearview Camera with Dynamic Guidelines | — | std |
| Driver Attention Monitor | — | std |
| Rear Parking Sensors | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | — |
| 3-Point Seat Belts at all Seating Positions | — | std |
| Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure | — | std |
| Brake Assist | — | std |
| Child-Proof Rear Door Locks | — | std |
| Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) | — | std |
| Curve Control | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold | std | — |
| Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) | — | std |
| Electronic Parking Brake | — | std |
| Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ (base ADAS suite) | std | — |
| Front & Mid Row Outer 3-Point Seat Belts with Automatic Tensioning System | — | std |
| Hill Descent Control | — | std |
| Intersection Assist | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) on Second and Third Row Outboard Seating Positions | std | — |
| Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH): Lower Anchors (2nd-Row All, 3rd-Row Passenger-Side), Tether Anchors (2nd-Row All, 3rd-Row All) | — | std |
| Perimeter Alarm | std | — |
| Personal Safety System™ (driver and front passenger – dual-stage front airbags, belt pretensioners, energy-management retractors, belt usage sensors, driver seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module, Front-Passenger Sensing System) | std | — |
| Post-Collision Braking | std | — |
| Post-Collision Braking System | — | std |
| Rear Seat Reminder | — | std |
| Rear View Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines | std | — |
| Rearview Camera Washer | — | std |
| Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM) | — | std |
| Seat Belt Reminder for all Seating Positions | — | std |
| Side-Wind Stabilization | std | — |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | std | — |
| Speed Sign Recognition | std | — |
| Traffic Jam Assist | — | std |
| Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR) | — | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | — | std |
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow | std | std |
| Cross Traffic Monitor | std | std |
| Forward Collision Warning (FCW) | std | std |
| Advanced Front Airbags | std | std |
| Lane Departure Warning (LDW) | std | std |
| Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) | std | std |
| SmartVent® Front Side Airbags | std | std |
| Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | std |
| Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) | std | std |
| Auto High-Beam Headlights | std | std |
| Blind Spot Information System (BSI) | std | std |
| Front Knee Airbags | std | std |
| Hill Start Assist | std | std |
| Three-Row Side Curtain Airbags with Rollover Sensor | std | std |
| Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®) with Traction Control | std | std |
| Direct Ignition System with Immobilizer | std | std |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) with Tire Fill Assist and Location and Pressure Indicators | std | std |
Infotainment28 differ · 29 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Ford App – Remotely lock and unlock vehicle | std | — |
| Ford App – Locate parked vehicle | std | — |
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | — | std |
| 10.2-Inch Digital Instrument Cluster | — | std |
| 12.3-Inch Color Touchscreen | — | std |
| 245-Watt Audio System with 9 Speakers, including Subwoofer | — | std |
| 3.0-Amp USB Type-C Charging Port - 2nd Row (2 Ports) | — | std |
| 3.0-Amp USB Type-C Charging Port - Front Console (1 Port) | — | std |
| 3.0-Amp USB Type-C Smartphone / Audio Interface - Front Console (1 Port) | — | std |
| 5G Modem | std | — |
| 911 Assist® | std | — |
| Audio – AM/FM Stereo, MP3 Capable, Six (6) Speakers, Speed-Compensated Volume, SiriusXM® with 360L | std | — |
| CabinTalk® In-Car PA System | — | std |
| Ford Connectivity Package (1-year Included) | std | — |
| Ford Connectivity Package (One-time purchase – 7 years) (91D) | opt | — |
| Ford Digital Experience – 13.2" Color LCD Touchscreen in IP Center-Stack with Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Wireless Compatibility | std | — |
| Ford Power-Up Software Update Capability | std | — |
| Google built-in (includes 3-Years Unlimited Data Plan for In-Vehicle Apps) | — | std |
| HD Radio™ | — | std |
| HondaLink® | — | std |
| HondaLink® Subscription Services | — | std |
| Radio Data System (RDS) | — | std |
| SiriusXM with 360L (3-year plan) (94B) | opt | — |
| Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation (SVC) | — | std |
| Steering Wheel with Mounted Features – Audio Controls | std | — |
| USB Ports, First Row and Second Row (Ford Digital Experience standard); Third Row USB included on 200A+ | std | — |
| Wireless Android Auto™ Compatibility | — | std |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay® Compatibility | — | std |
| Wi-Fi® Hotspot Capability | std | std |
Convenience11 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Key Fob Activated Remote Engine Start | — | std |
| 12-Volt Power Outlet (Front) | — | std |
| Capless Fuel Filler | — | std |
| One-Touch Turn Indicators | — | std |
| Power Door and Tailgate Locks | — | std |
| Power Lift Tailgate | — | std |
| Power Windows with Auto-Up / Down All 4 Windows | — | std |
| Programmable Remote Entry | — | std |
| Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock® (Front Door and Tailgate) | — | std |
| Manual Liftgate | std | — |
| Powerpoints (12V) – three (3) | std | — |
| Push Button Start | std | std |
Climate2 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin Particulate Air Filter | std | — |
| Rear-Seat Heater Ducts | — | std |
| Tri-Zone Automatic Climate Control System with Humidity Control, Air Filtration | std | std |
Seating12 differ · 12 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated Front Seats | — | std |
| 2nd-Row Captain's Chairs | std | — |
| 40 / 20 / 40 Split, Flat-Folding 2nd-Row Seats | — | std |
| 60/40 Split, Flat-Folding 3rd-Row Bench Seat | — | std |
| Adjustable Seat-Belt Anchors (Front Row) | — | std |
| Driver's Seat with 10-Way Power Adjustment, including 2-Way Power Lumbar Support | — | std |
| Front Passenger's Seat with 4-Way Power Adjustment | — | std |
| Head Restraints at all Seating Positions | — | std |
| On-Demand In-Trunk Seat Storage | — | std |
| One-Touch Flat-Folding 2nd-Row Seats | — | std |
| Seats – Second Row 35/30/35 Bench with E-Z Entry and Armrests (17U) | opt | — |
| Unique Cloth Seating | std | — |
Interior22 differ · 22 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Beverage Holders (Front Row-4 / 2nd-Row-6 / 3rd-Row-4) | — | std |
| Cargo Area Light (LED) | — | std |
| Compass | std | — |
| Driver's and Front Passenger's Seatback Pockets | — | std |
| Floor Mats | — | std |
| Garment Hooks (2nd row, 2 total) | — | std |
| Illuminated Steering Wheel-Mounted Controls | — | std |
| Instrument Panel Cluster – 12.3" Color LCD Productivity Screen | std | — |
| Interior Ambient LED Lighting | — | std |
| Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel | — | std |
| Lockable Glove Compartment | — | std |
| Multi-Functional Center Console Storage | — | std |
| Rotary Gear Shift Dial | std | — |
| Sliding Sunvisors | — | std |
| Sunglasses Holder | — | std |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Column | — | std |
| Day/Night Rearview Mirror – Manually Adjustable | std | — |
| Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors (Driver and Front Passenger) | std | — |
| Steering Column – Manual Tilt/Telescoping | std | — |
| Floor Mats – Black Carpet, Front and Second Rows | std | — |
| Overhead Console with Sunglasses Storage | std | — |
| Trip Computer | std | — |
Exterior26 differ · 27 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 18" Spare Wheel and Jack Kit (76U) | opt | — |
| Acoustic Laminate Windshield | — | std |
| Active Grille Shutters | std | — |
| Active Shutter Grille | — | std |
| Compact Spare Tire | — | std |
| Configurable Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) | std | — |
| Dual Gloss Black Exhaust Finishers | — | std |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | std | — |
| Fin-Type Roof-Mounted Antenna | — | std |
| Gloss Black Roof Rails | — | std |
| Heated Power Side Mirrors with Integrated LED Turn Signal and Reverese Gear Tilt-Down | std | — |
| Intermittent Rear Window Wiper/Washer | — | std |
| LED Brake and Taillights | — | std |
| LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED Fog Lights | — | std |
| LED Headlights with Auto-On / Off | — | std |
| LED Low and High Beam Headlamps with Courtesy Delay / Wiper-Activated | std | — |
| LED Taillamps | std | — |
| Power Side Mirrors | — | std |
| Push-to-Release Fuel Filler Door | — | std |
| Rear Privacy Glass | — | std |
| Security System | — | std |
| Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit | std | — |
| Variable Intermittent Windshield Wipers | — | std |
| Privacy Glass – Second Row, Third Row and Liftgate | std | — |
| Rear Spoiler – Body-Color | std | — |
| Rear-Window Defroster with Timer | std | std |
Powertrain14 differ · 15 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd-Gen Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VTM 4 ™) AWD System | — | opt |
| Front-Wheel Drive | — | std |
| Integrated Drive Modes | — | std |
| 10-Speed Automatic Transmission (10AT) with Shift-By-Wire (SBW) and Paddle Shifters | — | std |
| Active Control Engine Mount System (ACM) | — | std |
| Active Noise Cancellation™ (ANC) | — | std |
| Battery Saver | std | — |
| Eco Assist™ System | — | std |
| Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | std | — |
| Engine – 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | std | — |
| Idle-Stop | — | std |
| Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor® | std | — |
| Transmission – 10-Speed Automatic | std | — |
| Variable Cylinder Management™ (VCM®) | — | std |
| Integrated Drive Modes | std | std |
Chassis5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Electric Power-Assisted Rack-and-Pinion Steering (EPS) | — | std |
| Independent Front and Rear Suspension | std | — |
| MacPherson Strut Front Suspension | — | std |
| Multi-Link Rear Suspension | — | std |
| Unit-Body Construction | — | std |
Cargo3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD |
|---|---|---|
| Class III Trailer Tow Package | std | — |
| Cargo Area Bag Hooks | — | std |
| Cargo Area Tie-Down Anchors (4 Total) | — | std |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Explorer
Safety Signal 53 F
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 15 · 3 filed unfixed
Owner complaints 44 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (11), Unspecified (11), Visibility/Wiper (7)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 26V581000 · 7 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V532000 · 6 vehicles
- high Seats 26V451000 · 387,911 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V205000 · 278 vehicles
Honda Pilot
Safety Signal 92 A
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 1
Owner complaints 29 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Steering (15), Unspecified (7), Seat Belts (5)
Top recalls
- high Suspension 26V424000 · 3,933 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Honda PilotSport FWD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | $42,395 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 12 trims | $42,395 – $55,195 8 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Explorer RWD | Pilot FWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 24 | 22 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,800 | $3,050 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | — |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Ford Explorer or the 2026 Honda Pilot?
The Honda Pilot wins clearly, 96.3 to 77.5, on tech & comfort, safety. The Ford Explorer is ahead on fuel & range. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Honda Pilot scores 96.3 and the 2026 Ford Explorer 77.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Ford Explorer or the 2026 Honda Pilot?
2026 Ford Explorer: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 15 recalls (3 filed with no repair available). 2026 Honda Pilot: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the biggest differences between the 2026 Ford Explorer and the 2026 Honda Pilot?
Where the 2026 Honda Pilot wins: it has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 92 against 53), has drawn fewer owner complaints (29 against 44 filed with NHTSA), and lists more comfort and tech equipment (51 points against 28.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½). Where the 2026 Ford Explorer answers: it is rated 24 combined against 22 (EPA mpg or MPGe) and costs $250 a year less to fuel on the EPA's estimate ($2,800 against $3,050). What they share: 5 NHTSA stars.