2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Honda Pilot

The 2020 Ford Escape was a visually appealing compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks. Its headlights were inspired by the Ford GT supercar, and despite a more curvaceous design that reduced cargo space, it remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market. Inside, the Escape featured a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel, floating infotainment screen, and a smooth, forward-looking design. The SE trim was particularly recommended for its value, offering an 8-inch Sync 3 screen, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a power driver’s seat.

The 2021 Honda Pilot aimed to balance styling with reliability, safety, comfort, and performance. Despite a 2019 refresh and a 2020 Black Edition, its exterior design was still an acquired taste. The Pilot was available in seven trims, ranging from the base LX to the upscale Black Edition, with prices from $32,250 to $49,920. The new Special Edition trim added black 20-inch alloy wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, wireless smartphone charging, and a hands-free power tailgate. The Black Edition, which we tested, featured exclusive black leather upholstery with red accents and a fully loaded interior.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a variety of engine options, including a new 3-cylinder engine with 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 hybrid drivetrain, standard on the SE Sport and available on the Titanium, combined a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with electric power to make 198 horsepower. The plug-in hybrid variant was optional on the SE, SEL, and Titanium trims. The Escape's most efficient version, the non-Sport hybrid, returned 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Honda Pilot featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, powered the front wheels or the available torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. The Pilot's AWD system could direct up to 70 percent of engine output to a single rear wheel, enhancing traction. Fuel-saving measures included variable-cylinder management and automatic engine stop/start, with the AWD model achieving 22 mpg in combined driving. The Pilot's MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension provided a comfortable ride and unexpectedly athletic handling, though its off-road capability was limited by its modest ground clearance and all-season tires.

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, dropping 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. Despite the reduced cargo capacity, the Escape emphasized passenger space, with ample headroom and legroom for second-row passengers and commanding seating positions for the front occupants. The interior featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

The 2021 Honda Pilot provided ample room for a family, seating up to eight people with a second-row bench seat. The test vehicle's leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats were comfortable and supportive, with 10-way power adjustment for the driver. Second-row captain’s chairs, standard on Elite and Black Edition models, were nearly as comfortable as the front seats and slid forward for easier third-row access. The third-row seat offered mid-pack comfort for midsize SUVs, with a low and flat bottom cushion. The Pilot excelled in storage, with numerous compartments and a large center console. Cargo space measured 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 83.9 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

The 2020 Ford Escape's base trim featured 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, which was less effective for taller drivers. The latest version of Sync allowed for multitasking, enhancing the user experience.

The 2021 Honda Pilot's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and HondaLink connected services. The Special Edition added wireless phone charging, while the Touring trim offered navigation, a WiFi hotspot, a 10-speaker premium audio system, and a rear-seat entertainment system. The system was adequate but lacked a tuning knob and had limited HondaLink subscription services. The rear-seat entertainment system played DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, and streaming audio apps, with a Cabin Talk feature for easier communication with rear-seat passengers.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system (TPMS). It earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) in all phases of testing. The Escape also featured Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor were also standard.

The 2021 Honda Pilot included Honda Sensing, a package of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. Starting with the EX trim, the Pilot also had a blind-spot monitoring/rear cross-traffic warning system. The Pilot's crash-test ratings were favorable, with a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and high ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), except for an "acceptable" score for front passenger small overlap frontal-impact protection.