2022 Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot

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Explorer vs. Pilot: Exterior Design & Style

The exteriors are the first things you’ll notice about the 2022 Explorer and the 2022 Pilot. It’s safe to say that the Ford SUV’s refreshed exterior lends it a much more rugged look than its Honda counterpart. A bold grille and chrome exhaust tips give the Explorer a dash of sportiness that the Pilot can’t quite match.

You’ll find that both SUVs feature innovative and efficient LED lighting. In the Explorer, you’ll find it in the automatic LED low-beam headlamps and LED Signature Lighting. Meanwhile, the Pilot offers LED low-beam headlights for better visibility. In either SUV, you’ll have impressive lighting that lasts longer and shines brighter than traditional halogen bulbs.

The Explorer and the Pilot also feature available power liftgates for your convenience. Plus, they can be swapped out for hands-free power liftgates. You can kick your foot under the rear bumper and watch as the liftgate opens by itself, when this feature is equipped. If you have full hands, it’s an essential option!

The 2022 Explorer goes above and beyond, with its available rain-sensing wipers that detect moisture and activate when needed. These advanced wipers use sensitivity settings to adapt to the amount of moisture by speeding up or slowing down. The 2022 Pilot does not have a similar feature. Meanwhile, the 2022 Explorer Limited and subsequent trims come standard with this feature.

Explorer vs. Pilot: Interior Space & Comfort

At first glance, the 2022 Explorer and the 2022 Pilot look similar from a utility standpoint. Both SUVs offer three rows of seating. When equipped with second-row captain’s chairs, they can fit up to seven passengers. The second row is also adult-friendly, with legroom of 39 inches in the Explorer and 38.4 inches in the Pilot.

The ample legroom extends to the third row of the Explorer, which offers 32.2 inches of legroom. However, the Pilot is slacking in this regard, with a slightly more cramped 31.9 inches of legroom for third-row passengers.

The Honda Pilot continues to fall behind when it comes to cargo space. In total, the Ford Explorer offers a whopping 87.8 cubic feet of cargo space when all five rear seats are folded down. Meanwhile, the Pilot provides just 83.9 total cubic feet of cargo space. This may not seem like much; however, the roughly four extra cubic feet would be the difference between putting a seat down and not fitting in another suitcase or box.

Explorer vs. Pilot: Performance Specs

The 2022 Ford Explorer and the Honda Pilot prove to be quite powerful yet efficient. You’ll get a robust 280 standard horsepower from the Pilot, while the Explorer pulls ahead slightly, with 300 standard horsepower. Unfortunately, you’ll be capped at this power output when it comes to the Pilot, as this engine is the only one this model offers.

The Explorer, on the other hand, offers two more potent engines. You can opt for the available 3.0L EcoBoost® V6, which pumps out an incredible 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. This model can tow up to 5,600 pounds of trailer weight with this engine and other appropriate equipment. The Pilot maxes out at 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The Explorer also offers a 3.3L Hybrid engine, which works with the standard 10-speed automatic transmission to maximize your fuel economy. With the Pilot, you won’t have the choice to opt for a hybrid powertrain.

Explorer vs. Pilot: Advanced Technologies

The 2022 Ford Explorer and the 2022 Honda Pilot find themselves in the family vehicle realm—which means that safety is more important than ever. Both models are armed with a suite of advanced safety features that are designed to act as a smart copilot to help prevent collisions.

Some of the standard and available features include:

• Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control: This feature monitors the vehicles around you and automatically adjusts your speed to keep you at a safe distance from them.
• Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking: This system utilizes exterior sensors to predict potential collisions and automatically applies the brakes, if a collision is detected.
• BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System): BLIS® keeps an eye on your blind spots and alerts you so that you can switch lanes with added confidence on the highway.
• Lane-Keeping System: This feature monitors lane lines and warns you if you begin to veer from the center of your lane without using your turn signal.

However, there are a few extra features that you’ll get with the Explorer, such as the standard SOS Post-Crash Alert System™. After an accident, this system turns on the horn and the emergency flashers. It makes sure that other drivers see your vehicle in order to prevent a secondary collision.