Two Heavy Hitters in the Three-Row SUV Ring for 2026
Picking a three-row SUV can feel like choosing between two really good restaurants. Both will leave you satisfied, but the experience is going to be different. The 2026 Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer are two of the most popular midsize family haulers on the market, and both got some attention for the new model year. So which one actually earns a spot in your driveway?
- The refreshed 2026 Honda Pilot brings a larger 12.3-inch touchscreen, quieter cabin, and updated styling while keeping its proven 3.5L V6 engine.
- Ford’s 2026 Explorer adds a new Tremor off-road trim and offers two engine choices, including a 400-hp twin-turbo V6 on the ST.
- Both SUVs tow up to 5,000 pounds and seat up to seven or eight passengers, but they take different approaches to power, fuel economy, and interior space.
What’s Under the Hood
This is where the Honda Pilot vs Ford Explorer conversation gets interesting right away. Honda sticks with one engine across the entire Pilot lineup: a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 making 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque paired with a 10-speed automatic. It won’t pin anyone to their seat, but it handles highway merging and mountain grades without breaking a sweat.
Ford takes a different approach. The Explorer’s base engine is a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder that outmuscles the Pilot’s V6 with 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Want real punch? The Explorer ST and available Tremor upgrade pack a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 producing 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque. That ST hits 60 mph in about 5.1 seconds, which is seriously quick for a vehicle that can also haul your kids to soccer practice.
Fuel Economy and Efficiency
With front-wheel drive, the Pilot earns EPA estimates of 19 mpg city and 27 highway. AWD models drop to 19 city and 25 highway. The Explorer’s turbocharged four-cylinder edges ahead at 20 city and 29 highway with rear-wheel drive, or 20 city and 27 highway with 4WD. Go with the twin-turbo V6, and those numbers settle at 18 city and 25 highway. If fuel costs matter to you, the Explorer’s base engine has a clear advantage at the pump.
Space for People and Stuff
The Pilot seats up to eight passengers across three rows, and all of those seats are actually usable for adults on shorter trips. Behind the third row, you get 18.6 cubic feet of cargo space, which expands to 48.5 with the third row folded and 87 cubic feet with everything flat. That’s a lot of room for road trip gear or a Costco run that got out of hand.
Over on Ford’s side, the Explorer seats six or seven, depending on second-row configuration. It offers 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 with the third row folded, and up to 85.8 total. The Pilot wins by a small margin on cargo, and its third row tends to feel more generous for adult passengers.
Tech and Safety Features
Both SUVs got tech upgrades for 2026. The Pilot now comes standard with a 12.3-inch touchscreen (a big jump from last year’s 9-inch unit), a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Google Built-In. Honda Sensing safety tech covers automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist across every trim.
Ford counters with a slightly larger 13.2-inch touchscreen, a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and its Digital Experience platform. Higher trims add BlueCruise hands-free highway driving, a surround-view camera, and front parking sensors. Both SUVs are well-equipped on the safety front from the factory.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Base Engine | 3.5L V6 (285 hp / 262 lb-ft) | 2.3L Turbo I-4 (300 hp / 310 lb-ft) |
| Available Engine | N/A | 3.0L Twin-Turbo V6 (400 hp / 415 lb-ft) |
| Transmission | 10-speed automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| Standard Drivetrain | FWD (AWD available) | RWD (4WD available) |
| Fuel Economy (best) | 19 city / 27 hwy mpg (FWD) | 20 city / 29 hwy mpg (RWD) |
| Max Towing Capacity | 5,000 lbs (AWD) | 5,000 lbs |
| Seating Capacity | Up to 8 | Up to 7 |
| Max Cargo Space | 87 cu ft | 85.8 cu ft |
| Cargo Behind 3rd Row | 18.6 cu ft | 16.3 cu ft |
| Touchscreen | 12.3-inch | 13.2-inch |
| Off-Road Trim | TrailSport | Tremor (new for 2026) |
| Starting MSRP (incl. dest.) | $43,690 | $40,160 |
Pricing and Trims
Honda’s 2026 Pilot starts at $43,690, including destination, for the Sport trim and tops out at $56,490 for the Black Edition. Seven trims are available, with AWD adding about $2,100 on models where it isn’t already standard.
Ford starts lower at $40,160 for the base Active trim and goes up to $56,600 for the Platinum. That roughly $3,500 price gap at the entry level is worth noting, especially since the Explorer’s base engine actually makes more power than the Pilot’s V6.
Picking the Right Three-Row for Your Family
If you want a proven V6, a roomier third row, and up to eight seats, the Pilot is a strong choice. Honda’s reliability reputation and the Pilot’s easygoing driving experience appeal to buyers who want something dependable and easy to live with every day.
The Explorer fights back with a lower starting price, more engine options, a sportier driving feel, and available BlueCruise hands-free highway tech. The new Tremor trim also gives adventure-minded families a factory-built off-road option. For buyers who want more performance variety without moving to a full-size SUV, the Explorer is hard to beat. Really, you can’t go wrong with either one.
Explore the 2026 Ford Explorer at Gates Ford Lincoln
If the Explorer is calling your name, we’d love to help you find the right one. At Gates Ford Lincoln in Richmond, KY, we keep a wide selection of new Ford Explorer models on our lot, from the value-packed Active to the performance-ready ST. Our team can walk you through every trim, answer your questions, and get you behind the wheel for a test drive. We also carry a large selection of pre-owned SUVs if you’re shopping on a budget.
Whether you’re coming from Lexington, Nicholasville, or anywhere else in central Kentucky, swing by and see why our customers have rated us the highest-ranked Ford dealership in the area. As part of the Gates Auto Family, we’ve been helping families find the right vehicle for over a century.
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