Are you looking for that ultimate family SUV that can seamlessly transition from work to play? If so, you may find yourself torn between the 2021 Honda Pilot and the 2021 Ford Explorer.
Since both vehicles offer the space, safety, and technology to aid your travels around Abington, Willow Grove, and Glenside, PA, how do you make the right choice for your family?
The Honda of Abington team is here to help you decide through the following 2021 Honda Pilot vs. Ford Explorer comparison. Discover their similarities and differences and find your new favorite ride.
Ready to learn more? Keep reading!
If you’re in the market for a family-friendly SUV, chances are you’re looking for something spacious.
Luckily, the Honda Pilot can deliver the space you need. It offers seating for up to eight passengers, while the Ford Explorer is capped at seven. Plus, the Pilot doesn’t just offer more seating, it does so quite comfortably, particularly in the third row. No more squeezing into the “way back” here thanks to 38.9 inches of headroom, 44.6 inches of hip room, and 57.6 inches of shoulder room.
As for the third row of the Explorer, it does offer the same 38.9 inches of headroom, but slightly less of everything else with only 40.9 inches of hip room and 54.6 inches of shoulder room. Also, it’s worth noting that, albeit slight, Honda features more passenger volume with 152.9 cubic feet in comparison to the Ford’s passenger volume of 152.7 cubic feet.
Connected to space is comfort. After all, the interior of a vehicle shouldn’t just be spacious, it should be a place of relaxation and luxury.
Both SUVs share some premium similarities. For instance, heated first- and second-row seats are available within both models, while a tri-zone automatic climate control system comes standard in both. However, this system includes humidity control and air filtration within the Pilot but not within the Explorer.
As for upholstery and trim accents, each SUV can be outfitted with leather-trimmed seating as well as a matching leather-trimmed steering wheel for an elegant appearance.
Family trips are a great way to create lifelong memories, that is if you can keep the kids entertained.
Make “are we there yet?” a question of the past with the collection of technology features found within the 2021 Honda Pilot. It starts up front, where co-pilots can easily pair their Apple or Android device via Apple CarPlay® or Android Auto™ integration. These systems allow drivers to pair their smartphones and access their music, podcasts, and compatible apps all through the center display screen.
Speaking of display screens, the Pilot has a pretty nice one! An optional 8-inch touch-screen display, to be precise. That’s a whole lot of screen for navigation, music, maps, and more.
The rear entertainment system of the Ford Explorer features available display screens mounted to the rear of the front headrests. With this system, passengers can use wireless headphones to watch movies and play music.
Similarly, the optional Advanced Rear Entertainment System in the Honda Pilot allows rear passengers to use wireless headphones to watch movies, connect their laptop or smartphone for mirroring, and play built-in games. At first glance, these systems may seem similar, but upon closer investigation, you’ll see that CabinTalk® is also available with the Pilot’s system, but not with the Ford Explorer.
With CabinTalk®, the front passengers can communicate with those seated in the rear with a press of a button. This provides a microphone for you to speak to the passengers through their wireless headphones or the speaker system of the Pilot. This feature is great for giving passengers updates on the trip or getting their attention quickly.
keeping your family safe each time you go for a ride is the driving force behind a series of standard safety features offered on both SUVs. When looking at the Pilot vs. Explorer in terms of safety, you’ll find that the Pilot comes with ample safety features through its Honda Sensing suite. Check them out:
Of these four confidence-boosting features, only the Lane Keeping Assist System and Collision Mitigation System come standard with the Explorer. As for the remaining two standard safety systems within the Pilot, we’ll show you how they work.
Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM): This feature uses a front-mounted camera to monitor your position within the lane. Should the system detect that you’re crossing lanes without signaling, it will attempt to prevent you from fully departing the lane. This is done by applying gentle steering and even braking assistance until you’re repositioned in your lane.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): Keep a set following interval behind detected vehicles with ACC. Ideal for highway driving, this system will detect and monitor the vehicle ahead. When said vehicle comes to a stop or slows down, so will your Pilot. A tap on the throttle will instruct your Pilot to keep moving at a set speed.
After reading this, you can see that the Honda Pilot offers more seating variety as well as safety and technology features to enhance your family drives. If you find yourself already envisioning all the ways the 2021 Honda Pilot will improve your drives around Abington, Willow Grove, and Glenside, Pennsylvania, we’re here to help. Schedule a test drive today.
At Honda of Abington, our team is happy to provide even more information about the Honda Pilot. Stop by to learn more today!
