2021 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, introduced as part of a mid-cycle refresh, closely mirrored its gasoline-powered sibling in terms of dimensions and design. Measuring 182.1 inches in length, 73.0 inches in width, and 66.5 inches in height, the hybrid model maintained the same visual appeal, including the 19-inch alloy wheels on the Touring trim. Inside, the cabin was nearly identical to the non-hybrid version, featuring the same dashboard, multi-function center console, 7-inch infotainment screen, and steering-wheel-mounted controls. The hybrid's unique elements included blue-outlined Honda emblems, "Hybrid" badges, a hidden exhaust in the rear bumper, and LED fog lights on EX models and above. The gear shifter was replaced with a push-button selector, and paddle shifters were repurposed to adjust brake regeneration.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, part of Ford's "small, medium, large, XL" SUV lineup, showcased a family resemblance with its sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive front grille options. The Explorer offered six trim levels, each with varying degrees of chrome and black grille accents. Inside, the Explorer featured three rows of seating, with the base model accommodating seven passengers and higher trims offering captain's chairs in the second row, reducing capacity to six. The dashboard was clean and functional, dominated by an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and large, redundant knobs for audio and climate controls. The center console housed a rotary gearshift, freeing up space for storage, including a covered bin and cupholders.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid came standard with all-wheel drive and a two-motor hybrid system. It combined a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine with an electric generator/starter motor and a propulsion motor, eliminating the need for a conventional transmission. The total system output was 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque, compared to the gasoline model's 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque. The hybrid boasted impressive fuel economy, with EPA ratings of 40 mpg city, 35 highway, and 38 combined. In real-world testing, the CR-V Hybrid achieved nearly 41 mpg during city driving. The hybrid system's EV mode allowed for electric-only driving for up to a mile under specific conditions. The CR-V Hybrid offered a comfortable ride with good steering feel, though it lacked the additional driving modes found in competitors like the RAV4 and Escape hybrids.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing in at 4,345 pounds, featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. All trims were equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Explorer Limited Hybrid offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. Higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with the sport-oriented ST trim offering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The Explorer excelled in towing capacity, ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds depending on the trim and engine. While the Explorer provided a more engaging driving experience in the ST trim, it was primarily focused on towing power rather than performance.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, sharing the same dimensions as its gasoline counterpart, compromised on cargo capacity to accommodate the battery pack beneath the cargo floor. It offered 33.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and up to 68.7 cubic feet with the seats folded flat. Despite the reduction from the non-hybrid's 39.2 and 75.8 cubic feet, the CR-V Hybrid still provided more cargo volume than the Ford Escape Hybrid. The CR-V Hybrid also featured a low cargo floor for easy loading and unloading and maintained passenger comfort with more overall space than its direct competitors. The configurable center console bin offered additional storage flexibility, though the armrest's adjustability was overly loose.

The 2021 Ford Explorer provided seating for seven in the base trim, with higher trims offering captain's chairs in the second row, reducing capacity to six. The Explorer offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, placing it ahead of some competitors but behind others like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. With the third row deployed, the Explorer offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space, which was impressive. However, with the rear seats folded, the total cargo volume was 81 cubic feet, putting it in competition with smaller SUVs.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid came standard with Bluetooth connectivity, Pandora compatibility, and a single 1.0-amp USB connector in the front console. Higher trims, starting with the EX, added a 7-inch touchscreen display, Honda Link, smartphone integration, SiriusXM and HD radio, a 180-watt stereo, and additional USB ports. The top-of-the-line Touring trim included navigation, wireless device charging, and a 330-watt premium audio system. However, the infotainment system's lack of haptic feedback and overly complicated procedures for simple tasks like turning off the beep sound were frustrating.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered an 8-inch touchscreen as standard equipment, featuring AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, and a six-speaker audio system. The Limited trim added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio, with higher trims offering a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers. The Explorer provided multiple charging options, including two USB ports in the center console and five 12-volt power points, with the ST trim replacing one with a 110-volt AC power outlet.

The 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid earned a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS and a 5-Star Safety Rating from the NHTSA. It came standard with Honda Sensing, a suite of safety and driver-assistance technologies, including automatic braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, automatic high beams, and a multi-angle rearview camera. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available starting with the EX trim.

The 2021 Ford Explorer received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, the highest rating, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims included additional features like adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering, evasive steering assist, a forward sensing system, and rain-sensing front wipers.