Greene Ford Compares 2014 Ford Explorer VS 2015 Honda Pilot Near Cleveland, GA

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Explorer XLT/Limited/Sport inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Pilot doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

The Explorer Limited/Sport offers an optional collision warning system, which detects an impending crash through forward mounted sensors and flashes a bright light and sounds a loud, distinctive tone to warn the driver to brake or maneuver immediately to avoid a collision. The system also pre-charges the brakes to begin deceleration more quickly. The Pilot doesn't offer a collision warning system.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Explorer 4WD’s standard Hill Descent Control allows you to creep down safely. The Pilot doesn’t offer Hill Descent Control.

The Explorer Limited’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Pilot doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Explorer XLT/Limited/Sport’s optional blind spot warning system uses digital cameras monitored by computer to alert the driver to moving objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The Pilot doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing safer, the Explorer XLT/Limited/Sport’s optional cross-path warning system uses wide-angle radar in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The Pilot doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

The Explorer’s optional driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Pilot doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The Explorer offers optional SYNC ®, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to get turn-by-turn driving directions or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Pilot doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the Explorer and the Pilot have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front-wheel drive, height-adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available all wheel drive.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Honda Pilot:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Honda Pilot:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Explorer comes with free roadside assistance for 5 years 60,000 miles. Ford will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Honda doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Pilot.

There are almost 4 times as many Ford dealers as there are Honda dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

The Explorer’s optional 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 17 lbs.-ft. more torque (270 vs. 253) than the Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6. The Explorer’s standard 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 40 more horsepower (290 vs. 250) and 2 lbs.-ft. more torque (255 vs. 253) than the Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6. The Explorer Sport’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 115 more horsepower (365 vs. 250) and 97 lbs.-ft. more torque (350 vs. 253) than the Pilot’s 3.5 SOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Explorer 3.5 V6 is faster than the Honda Pilot:

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer 2.0 ECOBoost gets better fuel mileage than the Pilot FWD (20 city/28 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Pilot doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

The Explorer’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Pilot are solid, not vented.

The Explorer stops much shorter than the Pilot:

For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the Pilot (245/65R17 vs. 235/65R17). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Pilot (255/50R20 vs. 235/65R17).

The Explorer’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Pilot EX/SE/EX-L/Touring’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Explorer offers optional 20-inch wheels. The Pilot’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 3.4 inches longer than on the Pilot (112.6 inches vs. 109.2 inches).

The Explorer Limited 4WD handles at .81 G’s, while the Pilot Touring 4WD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Explorer Limited 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Pilot Touring 4WD (27.4 seconds @ .61 average G’s vs. 28.2 seconds @ .59 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Explorer Limited 4WD is quieter than the Pilot EX-L 4WD:

The Explorer has 1.4 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more rear headroom, 1.3 inches more rear legroom and 1.1 inches more third row legroom than the Pilot.

The Explorer offers an optional rear tailgate seat that can be flipped rearward and used for tailgate picnics. (Do not use seat reversed while vehicle in motion.) The Pilot doesn’t offer a rear tailgate seat.

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the Pilot.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Explorer Limited’s optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Pilot doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

The Explorer Limited’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Pilot doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The power windows standard on both the Explorer and the Pilot have locks to prevent small children from operating them. When the lock on the Explorer is engaged the driver can still operate all of the windows, for instance to close one opened by a child. The Pilot prevents the driver from operating the other windows just as it does the other passengers.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer XLT/Limited/Sport’s exterior keypad. The Pilot doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system.

Intelligent Access standard on the Explorer Limited/Sport allows you to unlock the driver’s door, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Honda Pilot doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

The Explorer’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Pilot’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted. The Explorer Limited’s optional wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Explorer has a standard rear variable intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Pilot only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

The Explorer has a standard automatic headlight on/off feature. When the ignition is on, the headlights automatically turn on at dusk and off after dawn. When the ignition turns off, the headlights turn off after a delay timed to allow you to securely get to your front door. The Pilot has an automatic headlight on/off feature standard only on the EX/SE/EX-L/Touring.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Explorer Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Pilot doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

Both the Explorer and the Pilot offer available heated front seats. The Explorer Limited also offers optional heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Pilot.

The Explorer Limited/Sport’s optional air conditioned front seats cool the driver and front passenger and help take the sting out of hot leather in Summer. The Pilot doesn’t offer air conditioned front seats.

On extremely cold Winter days, the Explorer Limited’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the vehicle heater warms up. The Pilot doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The Explorer offers an optional center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable. The Pilot LX doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Explorer Limited/Sport offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Pilot doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Optional SYNC AppLink for the Explorer allows the driver and passengers access to select programs on their smartphones, including playing internet radio stations and other connected activities without taking their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel. The Pilot doesn’t offer factory integrated smartphone program access.

The Explorer Limited’s optional Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Pilot doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Explorer is less expensive to operate than the Pilot because it costs $9 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost less on the Explorer than the Pilot, including $6 less for front brake pads, $171 less for a starter, $31 less for fuel injection and $77 less for a power steering pump.

Popular Mechanics performed a comparison test in its August 2011 issue and they ranked the Ford Explorer Limited 4WD three places higher than the Honda Pilot Touring 4WD.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Explorer as the 2011 North American Truck of the Year. The Pilot has never been chosen.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Honda Pilot by 52% during 2013.