2020 Ford Escape vs 2020 Honda Pilot

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks. Its headlights were inspired by the Ford GT supercar, and while the previous Escape had a more upright rear end, the new curvaceous design came at a cost. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market, trailing only the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel, floating infotainment screen, and a smooth, contemporary design. The base S trim included 17-inch steel wheels, a 4.2-inch instrument-panel screen, and Sync infotainment, while the SE trim added an 8-inch Sync 3 screen, automatic climate control, and heated front seats. Higher trims like the SE Sport, SEL, and Titanium offered additional features such as black-painted wheels, a hybrid drivetrain, and a premium B&O audio system.

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the dynamic styling of the current Honda lineup, featuring thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. Its belt-line design around the rear side windows masked the size of the Pilot, giving it a more svelte appearance. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog fuel and engine-temperature gauges with a digital screen. The cabin was comfortable and spacious, though it used hard plastics in many areas, making it less upscale compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Pilot was available in LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims, with the EX trim adding remote start, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Smart Entry. Higher trims like the EX-L, Touring, and Elite offered additional features such as leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a variety of engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine making 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, produced 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, part of the hybrid drivetrain, made 198 horsepower and was standard on the SE Sport and available on the Titanium. A plug-in hybrid variant was also optional on the SE, SEL, and Titanium. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids used a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Escape's most efficient version, the non-Sport hybrid, returned fuel economy of 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined. The 1.5-liter turbo engine returned 27/33/30 combined, while the 2.0-liter turbo with AWD returned 23/31/26.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The V6 engine was paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission on the LX, EX, and EX-L trims, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims received a 9-speed automatic transmission. The 9-speed transmission provided more refined acceleration and improved fuel economy. The Pilot's ride was tuned for comfort, making it ideal for easy commutes and relaxing road trips, though it lacked athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes for various conditions, including Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand, enhancing the Pilot's capability in different terrains.

The 2020 Ford Escape's sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space compared to its predecessor. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, which dropped to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat folded down, the Escape provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. While this was less than rivals like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester, the Escape emphasized passenger space, offering plenty of headroom and legroom for second-row passengers. The front seats provided a commanding view, and there were numerous storage compartments for gear.

The 2020 Honda Pilot provided a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while higher trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The Pilot's third row was adult-friendly, unlike some rivals with cramped third rows. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot offered 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to competitors like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Pilot also featured numerous storage spaces for family gear, and higher trims included a power liftgate and hands-free power tailgate.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim came with a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, while the SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync 3 screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Titanium trim included a head-up display (HUD) with a flip-up screen, though it was less effective for taller drivers. The latest version of Sync allowed for multi-tasking, enhancing the user experience.

The 2020 Honda Pilot's LX trim featured a 5-inch color LCD screen, while all other trims included an 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Display Audio system had a confusing layout, lacking a tuning knob and relying heavily on the touchscreen. Higher trims offered additional features like navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a premium audio system. The Elite and Black Edition trims included a wireless charging pad.

The 2020 Ford Escape came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor. The Escape earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also featured front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, and traction control. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the best crash test score of Good from the IIHS.