2019 Honda Pilot vs 2020 Ford Edge

The 2019 Honda Pilot featured subtle visual updates that keen Honda enthusiasts would notice. The headlights had a more futuristic design, and the lower front valence was cleaner. The grille area resembled the refreshed Honda CR-V but scaled up to Pilot size, with a larger Honda “H” logo. The rear bumper had more detail, and the taillights incorporated more white and amber portions, giving the Pilot a slightly more distinguished look. Inside, updates included a new steering wheel, Honda’s proprietary shifter design, and a new infotainment system. The climate-control vents saw minor changes, and the trims ranged from the base LX to the range-topping Elite, each offering various features and upgrades.

The 2020 Ford Edge, introduced in 2006, was based on the Ford Fusion sedan platform, providing a car-like ride and ample cabin space. The second generation arrived in 2015 and received a styling update in 2019, which carried over to 2020. The Edge shared angular headlights and a large trapezoidal grille with the Fusion. Inside, the layout remained largely unchanged since 2015, with small climate and radio controls arranged awkwardly. The rotary shifter was a contemporary design cue. The cabin quality was decent, with soft-touch materials and solid fit-and-finish, but the heavy use of hard plastics detracted from the overall feel.

The 2019 Honda Pilot came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine included cylinder deactivation and auto stop/start to save fuel, though the stop/start system was somewhat abrupt. Most trims featured a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring and Elite trims had a 9-speed automatic with paddle shifters. The Pilot offered a smooth ride over rough roads, though the driving experience felt somewhat disconnected. Fuel economy varied by trim and transmission, with the FWD Touring being the most efficient at 20 mpg city, 27 highway, and 23 combined.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either the front wheels or available all-wheel drive. The Edge provided solid low-end acceleration but struggled at higher speeds. The sporty Edge ST trim featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with standard AWD. The ST offered a more engaging driving experience with heavy steering and excellent cornering. The Edge's suspension was designed to handle American roads, providing a smooth yet refined ride.

The 2019 Honda Pilot was one of the few midsize 3-row SUVs with truly adult-friendly third-row seating, alongside the Volkswagen Atlas and Chevrolet Traverse. The Pilot offered ample space for kids and their gear, with double-level in-door storage spaces and 15 cupholders. Cargo volume varied by trim, with up to 83.9 cubic feet of space with all seats folded. The Pilot's cargo capacity was comparable to the Toyota Highlander and slightly less than the Subaru Ascent, with the Volkswagen Atlas and Chevrolet Traverse offering the most cargo room.

The 2020 Ford Edge excelled in cabin layout, providing a commanding view of the road and plenty of cubbies and compartments. The second-row head- and legroom were generous, and the two rows were spacious and comfortable. The Edge offered 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. This was more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Murano but slightly less than the Honda Passport. The SEL and Titanium trims featured a hands-free foot-activated power rear liftgate.

The 2019 Honda Pilot featured a new infotainment system with a Volume knob, a significant improvement over previous models. The touchscreen, standard on trims above the base LX, offered crisp graphics and easy menu navigation. The Touring and Elite trims included a flip-down rear entertainment screen with headphones, and the EX-L trim had this as an option. The Touring and Elite also featured a mobile hotspot. Parent-friendly tools included a wide-angle cabin mirror and the CabinTalk PA system, which allowed the driver to speak to rear passengers through the rear entertainment system headphones or rear speakers in the Elite trim.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with easy-to-use icons and a helpful home button. SYNC 3 included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, with optional voice-activated navigation on the SEL and ST trims and standard on the Titanium. The Edge also came with two smart-charging USB ports and a semi-digital instrument panel on the SEL and ST trims, standard on the Titanium. An optional dual rear-seat entertainment system was available on all trims.

The 2019 Honda Pilot came standard with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, vehicle stability control, a reversing camera, and a tire pressure monitoring system with fill assist. The Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance features, including forward-collision warning and avoidance, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and automatic high beams, was standard on all trims. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was available on trims above the LX.

The 2020 Ford Edge included a full array of front and side-impact airbags, AdvanceTrac traction control with Roll Stability Control and Curve Control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a child seat anchoring system. The Ford Co-Pilot360 safety system, standard on all trims, included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The SEL trim offered the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, adding adaptive cruise control and active lane centering. The Edge received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.