Towing Advantage: Ford Explorer

Both SUVs can reach 5,000 pounds of maximum towing capacity, but the Explorer’s available 400-horsepower engine gives it an extra dose of confidence for drivers who want serious capability from their three-row SUV.

Explorer Performance Meets Everyday Efficiency

More power doesn’t necessarily mean giving up fuel efficiency.

The 2026 Ford Explorer with its 2.3L EcoBoost® engine and rear-wheel drive is rated at up to 29 MPG highway, allowing you to enjoy strong performance while still making the most of your fuel.

Available four-wheel-drive configurations achieve up to 27 MPG highway.

The Honda Pilot reaches up to 27 MPG highway with front-wheel drive, giving the Explorer an advantage for drivers who spend plenty of time on the highway.

Fuel-Economy Advantage: Ford Explorer

The Explorer gives you an appealing combination of turbocharged performance and highway efficiency, making it a strong choice for both daily driving and longer road trips.

Rear-Wheel Drive Gives the Explorer a Different Personality

The 2026 Ford Explorer isn’t built like every other three-row SUV.

The Explorer’s standard rear-wheel-drive platform gives it a more performance-oriented foundation than the front-wheel-drive Honda Pilot.

For drivers who enjoy being behind the wheel, that difference matters.

The Explorer feels designed around the idea that a family SUV doesn’t have to be boring. It can be practical when you need it, powerful when you want it, and capable enough to follow you on weekend adventures.

Available all-wheel drive and four-wheel-drive configurations provide additional traction and capability when conditions demand it.

Technology That Keeps You Connected

The 2026 Ford Explorer brings technology to the forefront of the driving experience.

Inside the Explorer, you’ll find a modern cabin centered around a large touchscreen and digital displays, along with smartphone connectivity and available premium audio.

But one of the Explorer’s biggest technology advantages is available Ford BlueCruise.

Ford BlueCruise provides hands-free highway driving capability on compatible roads, allowing drivers to relax their hands while maintaining attention on the road.

The Honda Pilot also offers a strong technology package, including an available 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™, wireless smartphone charging, and available premium audio.

However, the Explorer’s available BlueCruise technology gives Ford a significant advantage for drivers who spend a lot of time traveling on highways.

Technology Advantage: Ford Explorer

The Pilot is technologically capable, but the Explorer goes a step further with available Ford BlueCruise, giving highway drivers access to one of Ford’s most advanced driving technologies.

Safety for Every Journey

Whether you’re driving across town or taking the family on a cross-country road trip, modern safety technology is an important part of the SUV experience.

The 2026 Ford Explorer offers a comprehensive collection of driver-assistance technologies through Ford Co-Pilot360™, with available upgrades that provide additional assistance and convenience.

Features can include technologies designed to help with:

• Pre-Collision Assist
• Automatic Emergency Braking
• Blind Spot Information System
• Lane-Keeping System
• Adaptive Cruise Control
• Evasive Steering Assist
• Rear Cross-Traffic Alert

The Honda Pilot also comes equipped with Honda Sensing® technologies, providing a similarly extensive collection of driver-assistance features.

Both SUVs give drivers additional tools to help navigate today’s roads, but the Explorer combines those technologies with available BlueCruise for an even more advanced driving experience.

Room for Family, Friends, and Everything in Between

The Explorer is designed to make three-row SUV ownership easy.

Depending on configuration, the 2026 Ford Explorer seats six or seven passengers. Available second-row captain’s chairs provide a more spacious, comfortable setup for passengers, while the second-row bench configuration provides seating for up to seven.

The Explorer provides generous passenger space across all three rows, making it suitable for family trips, carpools, road trips, and everyday errands.

The Honda Pilot has an advantage here with seating for up to eight passengers.

If maximum passenger capacity is your number-one priority, the Pilot’s eight-passenger configuration may be worth considering.

But for many families, the Explorer’s six- or seven-passenger configuration provides more than enough room while allowing Ford to focus on delivering the performance and driving experience that distinguish the Explorer from conventional family SUVs.

Cargo Space for Everyday Adventures

The Explorer provides up to 85.8 cubic feet of cargo space, giving you plenty of room for groceries, luggage, sports equipment, camping gear, and other everyday necessities.

The Honda Pilot offers greater maximum cargo capacity, with up to 113.7 cubic feet depending on trim and configuration.

However, cargo volume isn’t the only consideration when choosing an SUV.

The Explorer gives you a compelling balance between cargo versatility, passenger space, performance, and driving enjoyment. It’s an SUV designed to accommodate your family without making you feel like you’ve given up everything you enjoy about driving.

Take the Explorer Beyond the Pavement

If your idea of a weekend adventure involves leaving the pavement behind, Ford has an Explorer for that, too.

The Explorer Tremor adds rugged capability to the Explorer lineup, giving adventurous drivers an SUV designed to handle more challenging terrain.

The Tremor combines specialized off-road equipment with the Explorer’s powerful EcoBoost® performance, creating an SUV that’s equally at home on the highway and the trail.

Honda offers its own adventure-oriented Pilot TrailSport, which provides standard all-wheel drive, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and off-road-focused technology.

But if you’re looking for a three-row SUV with a more performance-driven personality and Ford’s legendary approach to capability, the Explorer Tremor is a compelling choice.

Adventure Advantage: Ford Explorer

The Explorer Tremor gives Ford shoppers a powerful option for drivers who want their three-row SUV to be ready for more than the pavement.

More SUV for Your Money

One of the Explorer’s biggest advantages comes before you even leave the dealership.

The 2026 Ford Explorer starts at $38,465, while the 2026 Honda Pilot starts at $42,395.

That means the Explorer gives you a lower entry price while also providing more standard horsepower.

For shoppers comparing these two SUVs based on value, that’s a significant advantage.

You’re not simply paying less for a smaller or less capable SUV. You’re getting a three-row SUV with a turbocharged 300-horsepower engine, available four-wheel drive, up to 5,000 pounds of towing capability, and access to advanced technology like Ford BlueCruise.

2026 Ford Explorer vs. Honda Pilot: Which SUV Is Right for You?

The Honda Pilot is a capable three-row SUV, and its available eight-passenger seating and larger maximum cargo capacity may appeal to shoppers who prioritize interior volume above all else.

But if you’re looking for an SUV that combines family practicality with performance, capability, technology, and value, the 2026 Ford Explorer makes a particularly strong case.

The 2026 Ford Explorer is the right choice if you want:

• More standard horsepower than the Honda Pilot
• Up to 400 horsepower with the available 3.0L EcoBoost® V6
• 415 lb.-ft. of available torque
• A lower starting MSRP
• Up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity
• Standard rear-wheel drive
• Available all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive
• Up to 29 MPG highway
• Available Ford BlueCruise
• A rugged Explorer Tremor model
• A sportier, more performance-oriented driving experience
• A three-row SUV that doesn’t feel like an ordinary family hauler

The Honda Pilot may be worth considering if you prioritize:

• Seating for up to eight passengers
• Maximum cargo capacity
• A family-focused interior layout
• Honda’s TrailSport adventure-oriented model

But for drivers who want their SUV to offer more power, more personality, and more capability, the Explorer deserves a serious look.

Why Buy the 2026 Ford Explorer?

The 2026 Ford Explorer proves that a three-row SUV doesn’t have to choose between practicality and performance.

With 300 horsepower standard, an available 400-horsepower EcoBoost® V6, up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity, available four-wheel drive, available Ford BlueCruise, and a starting MSRP below the Honda Pilot, the Explorer delivers a compelling combination of everything today’s SUV shoppers are looking for.

The Honda Pilot is built to be practical.

The Explorer is built to be practical, powerful, and fun to drive.

That’s the difference.

Whether you’re commuting to work, loading up the family for a road trip, towing a trailer, or heading toward your next adventure, the Explorer gives you the capability to take the long way home.

Experience the 2026 Ford Explorer Today

Comparing specifications is a great place to start, but the best way to understand the difference between the Explorer and Pilot is to experience it for yourself.

Visit our Ford dealership to explore the 2026 Ford Explorer, compare available trims, check out its technology and interior, and take one for a test drive.

Our team is ready to help you find the Explorer that’s right for your lifestyle and budget.

Ready to see why the Explorer stands apart from the Honda Pilot? Contact us today to schedule your test drive of the 2026 Ford Explorer.