2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, with its decade-old styling theme, received subtle updates to modernize its appearance. The new model year introduced a refreshed grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation across all trims, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert stretching across the taillights. New wheel designs were also introduced for the top three trims, enhancing the Odyssey's aesthetic appeal by reducing brightwork. The Odyssey was available in five trim levels: LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with base prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820, excluding destination charges. The Elite trim, priced at $48,940, featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping, new dashboard ambient lighting, and handsome 19-inch wheels with Shark Gray paint and machined surfaces, elevating the Odyssey's interior to a more luxurious level.

The 2021 Ford Explorer maintained a family resemblance with other Ford SUVs, featuring sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive visages. It offered six trim levels: base, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, Explorer ST, and Platinum, with prices ranging from $32,925 to $52,730. The Explorer's exterior and interior improved with each trim level, offering a variety of grille options, from black to full chrome. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seating as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model. The dashboard was clean, featuring an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and a center console with a rotary gearshift, freeing up space for storage. The XLT trim, favored by most consumers, offered better equipment, including a power front passenger seat and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen, while leather upholstery was standard on higher trims.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a ten-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. This drivetrain, identical to the previous year's model, provided smooth and effortless power. The engine featured variable cylinder management, a fuel-saving technology that allowed it to operate on fewer cylinders under certain conditions, contributing to an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in combined driving. However, the Odyssey lacked all-wheel drive, putting it at a disadvantage in regions with frequent snow and ice. Honda introduced a new electronic brake booster for improved brake pedal feel and response, enhancing the adaptive cruise control's low-speed following capability. The Odyssey's ride and handling qualities, while not overtly sporty, offered a pleasurable driving experience, with perfectly weighted steering and expertly managed body motions. However, the brakes struggled under heavy use, particularly during a Southern California heatwave, indicating a need for a braking component upgrade.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing 4,345 pounds at its lightest, featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. This engine outperformed the Kia Telluride's V6, despite the Telluride being lighter. The Explorer's 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift capability was standard across all trims. The Limited Hybrid trim offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, while higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The sport-oriented Explorer ST offered 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, providing the most engaging driving experience among the trims. The Explorer excelled in towing power, with a capacity ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine, making it suitable for towing an 18-foot dual axle Airstream.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a well-designed interior with legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. A 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat was standard on all but the base LX trim, providing comfort with inboard adjustable armrests. The Elite trim added a heated steering wheel and heated and ventilated front seats. However, the front passenger seat lacked a height adjuster, though passengers did not find this omission uncomfortable. The Odyssey excelled in storage space, with shelves in the front doors and a wireless smartphone charger on the center console's top tray. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout, available on all trims except the base LX, allowed for versatile seating configurations. The third-row seats accommodated both children and adults comfortably. Cargo space behind the third-row seat measured 32.8 cubic feet, expanding to 88.8 cubic feet with the third-row seat tumbled and 144.9 cubic feet with the second-row seats removed. However, removing and reinstalling the second-row seats was cumbersome.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base trim, with captain's chairs in the second row for other trims, reducing seating capacity to six. The Explorer provided 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, surpassing some competitors but falling short of others like the Kia Telluride. With the third row deployed, the Explorer offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space, but its overall cargo volume with the rear seats folded was 81 cubic feet, comparable to smaller SUVs like the Dodge Journey.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey, starting with the EX trim, featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, HD Radio, text-messaging support, basic HondaLink connectivity, and a Cabin Control smartphone app. The Touring trim added a navigation system, HondaLink subscription service plans, WiFi capability, a CabinWatch interior camera, and a CabinTalk in-vehicle PA system. The Elite trim included an 11-speaker premium sound system, multi-zone listening options, and wireless smartphone charging. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The Touring and Elite trims also offered a rear-seat entertainment system with a 10.2-inch screen, Blu-Ray disc player, and built-in streaming apps, though the lack of a touchscreen disappointed some users.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's base trim offered an 8-inch touchscreen with 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, while higher trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers. The Explorer provided charging access through two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with the standard inclusion of Honda Sensing on the base LX trim. Honda Sensing expanded its capabilities with a new radar unit, adding low-speed follow capability to the adaptive cruise control, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey's ADAS worked accurately, though not always smoothly, with some uneven braking and steering wheel wobbling. The Odyssey was expected to maintain its impressive IIHS ratings, aside from the headlights, and received top five-star ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star score in rollover resistance.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, achieving top "Good" scores on all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer's base trim included the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, featuring 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. The Limited trim and above offered additional features through the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite, including adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.