Which three-row midsize crossover will treat your family to more style and comfort — the 2024 Ford Explorer or the 2024 Honda Pilot? With our comparison guide, we’ll help you decide which model best serves you and your loved ones!
Key Takeaways
- Although the Explorer offers a slightly lower price tag, these crossovers keep costs pretty competitive.
- Both the 2024 Explorer and Pilot are home to an impressive range of standard features and your choice of luxury upgrades!
- Depending on powertrain configuration, the Explorer delivers the thriftiest performance!
- No matter which Explorer powertrain you select, you can expect a stronger, swifter ride than the Pilot can manage.
What is the Starting Price of the 2024 Ford Explorer?
Truth be told, both three-row crossover SUVs offer friendly starting prices. They’re so close to one another — with the 2024 Explorer starting at $36,860 and the 2024 Pilot at $37,090 — that neither price tag is likely to sway you either way. But if you’re counting every penny, the Explorer can help you save a decent chunk of change!
What Features Are Found on the 2024 Ford Explorer?
This was another close call, because both the Explorer and the Pilot offer a very similar range of comfort and convenience features. Both models come standard with many desirable features, including:
- 18-inch alloy wheels
- LED headlamps
- Tri-zone automatic climate control
- Touchscreen infotainment
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity
- Forward collision mitigation
- Lane departure mitigation
But they don’t have everything in common. The base Explorer also adds these items to its list of standard features:
- Power-adjustable driver’s seat
- Power liftgate
- Blind-spot warning
And the Pilot comes standard with a few features you won’t find on the Explorer:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Lane-centering system
- Driver attention warning
To be clear, both the models are available with all of the above features. For instance, although the Explorer doesn’t come standard with adaptive cruise control, you’ll find it in the available Ford Co-Pilot 360 Assist+ package! And the Pilot adds blind-spot warning to the mid-level Sport trim and up.
On higher trim levels, both crossovers deliver greater luxury and more tech features. The Explorer is available with a few features you can’t get from the Pilot — namely, diamond-pattern leather upholstery, genuine wood trim, and Ford’s Active Motion massage seats — making it our first choice for comfort. However, both the Explorer and the Pilot are available with coveted upgrades, including:
- Leather upholstery
- Heated and ventilated front seats
- Remote ignition
- Wireless smartphone charging
- Premium sound system
- Built-in navigation
- Ambient interior lighting
- Panoramic sunroof
Does the 2024 Ford Explorer Get Good Gas Mileage?
For the best fuel economy, check out any 2024 Ford Explorer trim models with the base turbocharged engine and rear-wheel drive. With this setup, the Explorer is EPA-rated to deliver 24 mpg combined (21 city/28 highway).
Over on the 2024 Honda Pilot, EPA ratings vary according to trim model and drivetrain. You can achieve the Pilot’s best ratings — 22 mpg combined (19 city/27 highway) — with an LX, Sport, or EX-L model equipped with front-wheel drive.
Is the 2024 Ford Explorer Only Rear Wheel Drive?
With its rear-wheel-drive platform, the Explorer is unique in the midsize crossover SUV segment! By combining old-school RWD with a car-style unibody chassis, the Explorer delivers a ride that’s both rugged and agile, with friendly on-road handling and enhanced towing capabilities (with a max rating of 5,600 pounds). Since modern all-wheel-drive systems only supply power to the non-drive wheels when they detect slippage, the Explorer’s rear-wheel drive setup greatly enhances its trail performance!
And we can’t forget that the Explorer is available with your choice of two powerful engines, both of which offer more power than the Pilot.
Here’s a quick look at the current Explorer’s powertrain specs:
- Turbocharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine (300 hp, 310 lb-ft)
- Turbo 3.0L V6 (400 hp, 415 lb-ft)
- 10-speed automatic transmission
- Rear-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive
Although the Honda Pilot doesn’t deliver as much power as the Explorer, it’s still a capable option. Properly equipped, the Pilot can tow a boat trailer or camper weighing up to 5,000 pounds, an average figure for this segment. With front-wheel drive, the Pilot isn’t the most rugged crossover, but you can add all-wheel drive to your model to enhance traction during bad weather or light trail excursions.
Here’s a quick look at the 2024 Honda Pilot’s powertrain specs:
- 3.5L V6 (285 hp, 262 lb-ft)
- 10-speed automatic transmission
- Front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive
Is the 2024 Ford Explorer Worth Looking At?
For us, the 2024 Ford Explorer is the easy winner. Although these three-row crossovers offer many of the same features at similar price tags, the Explorer ultimately offers greater luxury, power, rugged capabilities, and even the best EPA ratings!