Ford has completely redesigned the Explorer for the 2020 model year in the quest to surpass its many talented and popular rivals. One of those rivals is the third-gen Honda Pilot that has been around in its current form since 2016 and recently facelifted for the 2019 model year. Both models are popular, but now that the new Ford is out, is a mere facelift enough to keep the Honda up to date and competitive?

The latest Explorer changes the previous model’s formula a bit through the fact that its platform is now rear-wheel-drive biased. It is also lighter than before, offers better performance, better fuel economy, and Ford is even going to make a hot ST version of it. Honda’s Pilot refresh brought with it more aggressive exterior styling, new tech (especially on the safety front, with the full Honda Sensing suite), but no new engines - only one non-turbo V-6 is offered.

Exterior

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Since this Ford Explorer is all new, it looks nothing like the outgoing model and, in fact, it is one of the more distinctive Blue Oval vehicles currently on sale as it looks like no other vehicle in the range. It has a bold face, its side profile is dominated by what seem to be oversized wheelarches and wheels, and the roof is angled towards the rear like that of the Range Rover Evoque to add a bit of sportiness. The back is the most conservative part of its design, but it actually completes the look really well and it’s certainly going to be less polarizing than the front fascia.

Its sharpened up standard LED headlights and fog lights and, while the slimmed and reshaped grille does make it look a bit more modern, from the side it looks exactly the same. From the rear, it looks identical aside from the redesigned light clusters.

Out of the two, the Ford certainly stands out more from pretty much every angle. And, to my eyes, it also looks a bit more premium and exclusive with its newfound proportions courtesy of its longitudinally-mounted engine. Its hood is longer and the A-pillar starts further back, a look more commonly associated with large premium SUVs, thus hinting at Ford’s intentions for this model.

The Ford’s front fascia may not be to everybody’s taste, though, and the Honda’s more conventional (and probably slightly more aggressive) face design will help it in terms of having mass appeal.

2020 Ford Explorer vs. 2019 Honda Pilot - exterior dimensions


2020 Ford Explorer

2019 Honda Pilot

Wheelbase

119.1

111.0

Length

198.8

196.5

Width, mirrors folded

82.7

78.6

Height

69.9

70.6

Track, front curb

66.9

66.3

Track, rear curb

66.9

66.3


Interior

I see what Ford was trying to do there, to have as much of the screen high in the driver’s line of sight, but realistically it looks quite daft, and it just feels like something you can detach and take with you. If that was the case, you wouldn't need to put it back since many functions are available through the 12.3-inch gauge cluster screen.

The rest of the Explorer’s interior is more successful, though. It looks vast inside, the quality of the materials seems really good, and the cabin looks almost as luxurious as what Ford offers in its higher tier Lincoln offerings. The more button-heavy interior of the Pilot certainly looks a bit busier and more cluttered, but at least its infotainment screen is much better integrated with the overall design.

Seating capacity is where the Honda surpasses the Ford, since the Pilot can carry up to eight people, whereas the Explorer can only fit seven people.

2020 Ford Explorer vs. 2019 Honda Pilot - interior dimensions


2020 Ford Explorer

2019 Honda Pilot

Wheelbase

119.1

111.0

Length

198.8

196.5

Width, mirrors folded

82.7

78.6

Height

69.9

70.6

Track, front curb

66.9

66.3

Track, rear curb

66.9

66.3


What’s interesting regarding this is the fact that even though the Honda can squeeze in an extra person, its shoulder room ratings for third-row passengers exceed what the Ford can manage. And, it also fares just slightly better when it comes to second-row shoulder room too.

Overall, I think the Ford has the edge when it comes to looking more modern and fresh, whereas the Honda just looks closer to an early 2000s car inside. On the other hand, it is more spacious for passengers, even when carrying one more than the Blue Oval high rider in this comparo.

On the safety tech front, the Ford comes with a whole host of standard safety equipment, including:

-* Blind Spot Information System with cross-traffic alert

-* Lane-Keeping System

-* Hill start assist

-* Rearview camera with built-in lens washer

-* Auto headlamps with auto high-beams

-* Pre-Collision Assist with automatic emergency braking and Pedestrian Detection

-* Forward collision warning with dynamic brake support

-* Post-impact braking.

Optional equipment includes adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality and automatic lane centering, evasive steering assist, and voice activation.

The Pilot comes standard with Honda Sensing, a comprehensive safety suite that includes:

-* Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)

-* Road Departure Mitigation System (RMB )

-* Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)

-* Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)

-* Automatic headlights with high beam assist

-* Multi-angle rearview camera

2020 Ford Explorer vs. 2019 Honda Pilot - cargo room

Drivetrain and Performance

The only transmission option is a ten-speed automatic, but you can get it with optional all-wheel drive; otherwise, all power will be sent exclusively to the rear wheels. If you’re looking for more power, there’s also the 3.0-liter, EcoBoost, V-6 with 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet (515 Nm) of torque. That engine is only available with all-wheel drive.

Honda has but one engine available to power the Pilot, a non-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 with 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet (352 Nm,) of torque considerably less than either of the two power plants available for the Ford Explorer. However, reviewers point out that the vehicle feels spritely and has enough performance to move itself around with ease, even when fully laden with people and cargo. You can choose between front- and all-wheel drive models each of which comes equipped with a different automatic transmission - front-driven examples get a six-speed while models with all-wheel drive come with a nine-speed auto.

But with either engine option, the Explorer will probably feel much more muscular on the move better thanks to its considerably better torque rating.

To top things off, there’s also going to be an ST version of the Explorer with even more power and on-road capability. Ford is also going to launch a Limited Hybrid model which is bound to use the same powertrain as revealed in the new Ford Police Interceptor Utility.

2020 Ford Explorer vs. 2019 Honda Pilot - drivetrain specifications


2020 Ford Explorer Base, XLT, Limited

2020 Ford Explorer Platinum

2019 Honda Pilot - all trims

Engine

2.3-liter EcoBoost® I-4

3.0-liter EcoBoost V6

3.5-liter V-6

Displacement

140 cu. in.

183.1 cu. in.

3471 cc

Compression ratio

10.0:1

9.5:1

11.5:1

Horsepower

300

365

280 hp @ 6000 rpm

Torque

310 lb.-ft.

380 lb.-ft.

262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm

Towing

5300

5600

3500


Final Thoughts

The Honda Pilot has been a good seller since the first model was introduced, way back in 2002, usually selling over 100,000 examples in the U.S. every year. The Ford Explorer, on the other hand, used to be far more popular than it is today - its record sales years were between 1995 and up until around 2003, when Ford was moving more than 400,000 units annually.

Sales of the Explorer plummeted in the mid-to-late 2000s (just 52,190 vehicles were sold in 2009, for example) but have slowly been climbing in recent years, especially after the introduction of the now outgoing Explorer, which debuted in 2012 with EcoBoost turbo power. Sales of the Explorer reached 227,730 last year, so the current model really needs to impress in order to continue the sales upswing. The new model is bold, powerful, fairly luxurious inside, and the nameplate it carries will help with sales too since the Explorer name is very familiar. It's even familiar outside North America where you occasionally spot older generations of the model still running (most commonly the mid-1990s model).

The Pilot accounts for a smaller segment of the market, but it too is increasing in popularity year-on-year. However, I think that the Explorer is the most impressive vehicle and, in general terms, the winner of this comparison.

It looks more special inside and out than the Honda, it is more powerful (and there’s a kudos-boosting ST version on the way) and it just looks like you’re getting more vehicle for your buck. Now that’s not entirely true, since the Honda has one extra seating capacity and more standard safety tech, plus better reliability records than the Blue Oval.

The Honda is a purchase you make with your head, but the heart will probably tug more towards the Ford. I’d buy it over the Pilot any day simply because of the rear-wheel drive layout that I associate with more expensive, premium cars, as well as the overall look and feel of the vehicle.

If it’s going to be considerably more expensive than the Pilot, which starts at $31,450, then the decision will be made harder. The current Explorer range kicks off at $32,365, so it’s already a tad over, and there’s a good chance the new model will add even more, so we’ll have to wait and see for now.

2020 Ford Explorer vs. 2019 Honda Pilot - towing capacity

Further reading

Read our full review on the 2020 Ford Explorer.

Read our full review on the 2019 Honda Pilot.