Which 2024 Midsize SUV Is Better for Adventure: The Ford Explorer or the Honda Pilot?

When it comes to purpose, midsize three-row SUVs should be geared for adventure. After all, there’s little more enjoyable than packing in friends and family and enjoying all the great outdoors has to offer. When your vehicle can seat up to seven people, you want to take advantage and be the person in your friend group or family who drives everyone out to the wilderness for some fun or to the water for some boating. The right midsize SUV will let you do that with confidence, security, and some real pep in its step.

The automotive market has two very popular midsizes right now that we are comparing to see how they try to let their drivers live a more adventurous lifestyle: the 2024 Ford Explorer vs 2024 Honda Pilot. Neither midsize is anything to shake your head at, but we want to show you why the Explorer comes out ahead if escapades are on the menu. If you’re driving down to Westchester or Long Island to enjoy the water or driving west to do some off-roading, the Explorer will treat you well. We’re not saying the Pilot is a bad purchase by any means, but since you’re only buying one, you should go with the one that allows you to live your life to the fullest, and there’s no question that it’s the Explorer.

Using Performance Numbers to Your Advantage

You might assume that if your SUV can seat more people, then its size will mean it won’t perform well on the road. Rest assured that this could not be further from the case. A lot of midsize SUVs produce performance numbers that are mind-boggling and will have you cruising down the freeway. Both the Explorer and the Pilot fall into this category, but the Explorer is capable of just a bit more aggression on the road, which is why it wins out. Let’s see how.

The Ford Explorer arrives with two engine possibilities. The first is the standard 2.3L four-cylinder engine that cranks out 300 hp. This is already superior to the Pilot’s 3.5L V6 in terms of horsepower, as the Pilot only produces 285. However, you can upgrade the Explorer’s engine to a twin-turbocharged 3.0L V6 engine; this engine comes on the Explorer’s higher trims: the King Ranch, Platinum, and ST. The horsepower rating for this rough-and-tumble engine is 400 hp.

Horsepower matters quite a bit for the adventurous among us. It lets a vehicle accelerate faster, which is why even the standard engine on the Explorer beats out the Pilot’s 0 to 60 mph rating by about half a second. Acceleration is just the beginning, though. Superior horsepower also makes the ride smoother, which is great when you’re on the road but quite important if you’re on rougher terrain. You want to feel in command, especially when the terrain is more hazardous. Plus, better horsepower equates to better towing, another area in which the Explorer has a distinct advantage.

Before we touch on towing limits, though, there’s another number to consider: torque. Similar to horsepower, a solid torque rating gives you the ability to power forward even when you’re towing a heavy load. The Explorer’s torque numbers far exceed the Pilot’s. The Pilot’s engine only offers 262 lb-ft torque, while the Explorer’s standard engine gives you 310 lb-ft, and its upgraded engine raises that to 415 lb-ft.

Towing What You Want, Where You Want

The ability to tow a hefty weight is what can set midsize SUVs apart from other SUV classes. It’s also why a midsize can be better for anyone looking to spice up their weekends and vacations. Taking along a camper, bike, or boat can turn an average trip into the most memorable trip of your life. You’ll be able to bring whatever you need for camping, or you can tow a boat you and your pals can use to sail during the summer sunsets.

Both the Explorer and the Pilot let you tow, but the better engine in the Explorer makes for a higher weight limit. The Explorer can tow up to 5,600 lbs, and the Pilot can go up to 5,000 lbs. The extra 600 lbs the Explorer offers can make quite a difference, especially since it’s not recommended that you tow the exact weight limit. With the Explorer, you’ll have some more wiggle room. Even if you opt for the Explorer’s standard engine, your towing limit will still be higher than the Pilot’s by 300 lbs.

Neither SUV has you towing on your own. They both come with technology aimed to make towing simpler and friendly to anyone who is a novice at it. The Explorer offers the available Class IV Trailer Tow Package and a Trailer Hitch Receiver that is extra strength compared to other manufacturers’ hitches, which is one reason the Explorer can tow more than its competition. The Terrain Management System in the Explorer comes with a specific mode to help you trailer, too: Tow/Haul. This mode ensures that the Explorer’s disparate systems are working in a fashion that leads to the best towing results.

It takes some of the stress off of you as the Explorer adjusts to your expectations. Drivers who want to have the extra fun and fulfillment that trailering can bring but have little towing experience particularly love this mode as it gives them an extra level of security when they start to embrace their new lifestyle. The Pilot also has trailer features that help, especially if you opt for its TrailSport trim. With the Explorer, though, you can get most of these features, like the Tow/Haul mode, which is standard. The Pilot, though a nice SUV, is not designed for difficult terrain or heavy towing in its lower trims.

Expand Your Possibilities for Fun With the 2024 Ford Explorer

New York has so much to offer in all four seasons. From off-roading to boating, from driving through the mountains to heading down to Long Island’s beaches, there’s near infinite fun. But you can only truly embrace all it has to offer if you have a vehicle that has solid capability so that you and your friends and family can venture out each day knowing you have everything you need to make your trip easy and memorable. The 2024 Ford Explorer is the SUV that will make that happen without question.

If this breakdown of these two midsize SUVs has piqued your interest in experiencing the 2024 Ford Explorer, you owe it to yourself to visit us here at DePaula Ford, your go-to headquarters for all things Ford. From the moment you step through our doors, you’ll be greeted by a friendly and knowledgeable team dedicated to providing exceptional customer service and helping you discover which Ford vehicle best fits your needs. They’ll listen closely to your needs, answer any questions you may have, and walk you through our extensive selection of Ford vehicles, including the iconic Explorer.

But our dedication to you doesn’t end with just finding you a great vehicle; once you’ve picked out your ideal model, the team in our finance center will work closely with you to create a payment plan that best fits your budget. Once you drive off our lot with the perfect Ford vehicle, our relationship with you continues throughout your ownership with a dedicated service center that is here for all your maintenance needs. At DePaula Ford, it’s more than just selling you a great vehicle; it’s about being there for you throughout your journey. Visit us today, and let us show you everything the 2024 Ford Explorer has to offer.