2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2020 Honda Pilot was designed with dynamic styling that aligned with the rest of the Honda lineup. It featured thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille, with a subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows that cleverly masked its size, giving it a more streamlined appearance. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog gauges for fuel and engine temperature with a digital screen for other information. The cabin was spacious and comfortable, though it used hard plastics in many areas, which made it less upscale compared to rivals like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Escape straddled the line between SUV and hatchback, with a curved snout and sleek roofline that made it resemble an enlarged Focus. It maintained the tall ride height of an SUV, offering a less truck-like look than competitors such as the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. The Escape introduced new appearance packages for its SE, SEL, and Titanium trims, enhancing its aesthetic appeal with features like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels. However, the interior design lacked cohesion, with odd choices like an angular instrument cluster and low-quality materials, even in the top Titanium model.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. The LX, EX, and EX-L trims came with a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition featured a 9-speed automatic for smoother acceleration and better fuel economy. Despite its unconventional shifter button setup, the V6 engine provided strong acceleration for everyday driving, though it wasn't the segment leader. The Pilot's ride was tuned for comfort, making it ideal for commutes and road trips, with drive modes for various conditions via the Intelligent Traction Management System.

The 2021 Ford Escape offered a range of powertrains, including two gasoline engines and hybrid options. The base 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 181 horsepower and 191 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and available in FWD or AWD. An upgrade to the 2.0-liter turbo-four engine increased output to 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque, available only with AWD. The hybrid and plug-in hybrid models used a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine with electric assist, providing a total of 200 horsepower. While the three-cylinder engine was adequate, the Escape's chassis tuning left much to be desired, with sloppy suspension and steering. The 2.0-liter engine offered a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds with the optional Trailer Tow Package.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while higher trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing capacity to seven. Unlike some rivals, the Pilot's third row was adult-friendly, and EX trims and above provided one-touch fold-down rear seats for easy access. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot offered 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, slightly less than some competitors but more than the Mazda CX-9. Higher trims included a power liftgate and hands-free power tailgate, enhancing convenience for family hauling.

The 2021 Ford Escape, despite its car-like styling, offered competitive interior space among compact SUVs. It featured near-top segment headroom and legroom, with a standard sliding rear seat to adjust legroom or cargo space. Non-hybrid models provided 40.7 inches of rear legroom, while hybrid models had slightly less due to battery placement. Cargo space varied, with gasoline models offering up to 37.5 cubic feet with the rear seat forward and 65.4 cubic feet with it folded. Hybrid models had less space, maxing out at 60.8 cubic feet. While the Escape's cargo capacity was less than some competitors, it remained practical for everyday use.

The 2020 Honda Pilot's base LX trim featured a 5-inch color LCD screen with a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. Other trims included an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the system's layout was confusing. Additional features like HD Radio, SiriusXM, and Cabin Control Remote Capability were available on higher trims. The Touring, Elite, and Black Edition offered a 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system, mobile hotspot capability, and wireless charging pad.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with the base S model featuring a 4.2-inch touchscreen. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen with SiriusXM, while the Titanium trim added a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system. Sync 3 was user-friendly, but the Escape lacked some standard tech features found in competitors and missed out on wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite, 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, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety features included parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" score from the IIHS, with a "Superior" rating for crash prevention technology.

The 2021 Ford Escape received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top "Good" scores in crash tests and high marks for front-crash prevention. However, its headlights received "Acceptable" and "Marginal" ratings. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, and automatic emergency braking. The optional Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, park assist, and Evasive Steering Assist.