Ford Expedition vs Honda Pilot

The 2025 Ford Expedition presented a robust and functional design, reminiscent of a modern school bus but with a more appealing aesthetic. Its form-over-function ethos was evident in its slab sides and rectilinear silhouette, ensuring ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. Despite its utilitarian focus, the Expedition featured stylish elements like horseshoe-shaped daytime running lights framing a bold grille, integrated headlights, and off-roading lamps on the Tremor trim. The blacked-out pillars and distinct character line added a touch of sophistication, while the new split-gate tailgate design offered practical benefits for luggage management and seating convenience. Available in four trim levels and two lengths, the Expedition catered to diverse needs, with the King Ranch trim showcasing luxurious materials and the Active trim impressing with its standard features.

The 2026 Honda Pilot underwent a makeover, adopting a more truck-like appearance with a larger, blockier grille and grey plastic scuff plates. The rugged design direction continued with standard roof rails and a rear bumper scuff plate. Inside, the Pilot retained its practical and versatile layout, with notable upgrades like larger infotainment and digital instrument panels. The top trims featured unique diamond quilting and contrast stitching, adding visual flair. Despite these changes, the Pilot remained a tastefully designed midsize SUV, excelling in practicality and material quality, making it a strong contender in its class.

The 2025 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Tremor trim offered a high-output version with 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Despite its 2,628-kilogram curb weight, the Expedition's powertrain excelled on highways, providing a comfortable and quiet ride. The ten-speed automatic transmission ensured smooth shifts, and the multi-link rear suspension handled rough terrain with ease. The Tremor trim, with its increased ground clearance and off-road enhancements, performed admirably on challenging courses, though its size limited hardcore off-roading capabilities. However, the Expedition's fuel economy was a downside, with ratings of 15.4 L/100 km in the city and 10.7 on the highway, falling short compared to competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2026 Honda Pilot retained its 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration was adequate, and the Pilot responded well on highways without requiring aggressive pedal input. The revised steering improved feedback and stability, addressing previous concerns. While the Pilot maintained its confident handling, it didn't offer a sporty feel. The brake pedal effort was soft, suitable for a family SUV, though occasional downshifts affected smooth stops. Overall, the Pilot's performance remained consistent with its previous iteration, providing a reliable and comfortable driving experience.

The 2025 Ford Expedition excelled in towing capacity, reaching up to 4,350 kilograms, surpassing competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe. Inside, it offered substantial cargo space, with 611 litres behind the third row in the standard model, expanding to 1,022 litres in the Expedition Max. With all rear seats down, the Expedition provided up to 3,072 litres, while the Max offered 3,485 litres. The minimalist interior design featured touch-sensitive trackpads and a touchscreen for climate controls, appealing to tech-savvy users. However, some might find the lack of physical buttons less intuitive.

The 2026 Honda Pilot's cabin remained spacious and versatile, with a removable second-row centre seat for added flexibility. The seats provided ample legroom and comfort, though the centre seat was better suited for smaller passengers. Access to the third row was easy, and while space was adequate for smaller adults, the seat cushions were lower, reducing thigh support. The Pilot offered 635 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expandable to 1,702 litres with the third row folded. With both rows down, it could hold up to 3,219 litres, depending on the trim. The front seats featured generous storage options, enhancing practicality.

The 2025 Ford Expedition boasted a groundbreaking 24-inch driver information display, offering features like Google Maps projection and customizable widgets. The 13.2-inch touchscreen, part of the Ford Digital Experience, included Google-based services but required an active cellular data plan for full functionality. The Ford Connectivity Package offered a complimentary year of access, with subscription options thereafter. Without it, the tech was limited, though wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were available.

The 2026 Honda Pilot upgraded to a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument panel. The system, running on the latest Honda software, was responsive and user-friendly, with customizable shortcuts. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, though the wireless phone charger required an upgrade to the EX-L trim. The charging pad was temperamental, needing precise phone placement. The Pilot retained unique features like multiple camera angles and the CabinTalk intercom system, enhancing convenience.

The 2025 Ford Expedition had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, and the IIHS ratings were based on the previous generation. However, it came equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts. BlueCruise 1.4 was available on all trims, offering hands-free driving capabilities with a subscription.

The 2026 Honda Pilot's crash test scores were unavailable, but it was expected to perform similarly to the 2025 model, which received high ratings. The Honda Sensing suite included forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The safety features generally worked well, though the forward collision warning was overly sensitive.