2021 Ford Explorer vs 2022 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Ford Explorer had a striking family resemblance to other Ford SUVs, with its sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive visages. Depending on the trim, the Explorer featured various grille designs, ranging from black to full chrome. It offered six trim levels, from the base model to the luxurious Platinum, with prices ranging from $32,925 to $52,730. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seats as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model and leather available on higher trims. The dash was clean, featuring an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a rotary gearshift that freed up storage space.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey, while adhering to the classic minivan design, had a sense of style with its kinked sliding doors and hockey-stick character lines. The Elite trim level featured dark gray 19-inch aluminum wheels. Prices ranged from $33,040 to $48,770. Inside, the Odyssey offered quality leather seats, a tri-zone automatic climate control system, and numerous storage spaces. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible seating arrangements, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. The Odyssey provided 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds. Its base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine produced 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid trim offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sport-oriented Explorer ST offered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer could tow between 5,000 and 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain. It had an EPA fuel economy estimate of 22 mpg in combined driving. During a test drive, the Odyssey averaged 22.6 mpg. However, repeated use of the brakes on downhill drives caused pedal vibration and an audible grumble. Despite this, the Odyssey was quick, responsive, and composed, making it enjoyable to drive.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had seating for seven in the base trim, with captain’s chairs in the second row for other trims, reducing capacity to six. It offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers and 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row deployed. With the rear seats folded, the Explorer provided 81 cubic feet of cargo room.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey made entry easy with wide-opening doors and a lower seating position. The Elite trim featured quality leather seats, a tri-zone automatic climate control system, and an onboard vacuum cleaner. The Magic Slide second-row seats allowed for flexible configurations, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. The Odyssey offered 32.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 88.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, offering AM/FM radio, SiriusXM, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, and Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system. Higher trims featured a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen. Charging options included two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Elite was packed with technology, but its infotainment features were increasingly outclassed by rivals. Starting with the EX trim, it offered an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Touring trim added navigation and HondaLink connected services. The Odyssey also featured CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, a rear-seat entertainment system, and an 11-speaker premium audio system. However, the infotainment system was underwhelming, with a small screen and a lack of a tuning knob.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top “Good” scores on all crash tests and an “Acceptable” rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer came 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 added features like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. It also had automatic high-beam headlights and a rear-seat reminder system. The Odyssey earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. However, Honda Sensing lacked refinement, with some features responding too sharply or abruptly.