2021 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Ford Escape

The 2021 Honda Pilot's exterior design was refined over recent years, aiming to balance ruggedness and sophistication. Starting with a 2019 refresh and followed by the 2020 Black Edition, the Pilot attempted to appeal to a wider range of buyers with styles varying from the practical base LX to the upscale Black Edition. The 2021 model came in seven trims including the new Special Edition. This broad spectrum ranged from $32,250 to $49,920, with AWD as an available upgrade for most trims. The Special Edition added black 20-inch wheels, blacked-out exterior trim, wireless charging, and a hands-free power tailgate, all for an MSRP of $38,960.

Inside the 2021 Pilot Black Edition we evaluated, the dominant black leather upholstery featured unique red accents. Despite using high-quality materials throughout, the Pilot’s interior design bore a resemblance to a minivan, an unfavored comparison for an SUV, partly due to its flat dashboard and low center console. This detracted from its otherwise high utility and commodious feel.

Conversely, the 2021 Ford Escape took a different approach. Its design straddled the line between SUV and hatchback, making it look like an enlarged Ford Focus. This model appeared less like a traditional SUV compared to models like the Toyota RAV4 and instead pursued a sleeker, more car-like appearance. In 2021, the Escape introduced new appearance packages, adding stylish elements like 19-inch alloy wheels and leather-wrapped steering wheels in higher trims, albeit giving it a less distinct identity compared to some competitors.

The Escape's interior didn’t mirror the exterior's visual coherence. There were apparent mismatches like the angular instrument cluster that didn’t fit with the otherwise smooth exterior design. The interior materials also felt subpar, with even the top-tier Titanium trim lacking standard leather seats, making it feel less luxurious compared to other models in the segment.

The 2021 Honda Pilot was powered exclusively by a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This engine delivered consistent performance, propelled by a nine-speed automatic transmission. The available torque-vectoring AWD system could distribute up to 70% of power to a single rear wheel, making it adaptable to various terrains assisted by features like Hill Start Assist and multiple driving modes. Fuel efficiency was respectable, with an AWD model achieving an EPA-rated 22 mpg combined. The Pilot’s sturdy MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension contributed to its smooth ride and surprisingly athletic handling, though off-road capability was somewhat limited by its 7.3 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Ford Escape provided more variety with its powertrains. The base model utilized a 1.5-liter turbocharged three-cylinder EcoBoost engine, producing 181 horsepower and 191 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. More powerful was the optional 2.0-liter turbo-four generating 250 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, the Escape offered hybrid and plug-in hybrid models powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and electric motor, totaling 200 hp. Despite the versatility, the Escape’s handling left something to be desired with noticeable deficiencies in suspension and steering feel, expected to persist unchanged in 2021.

For towing, the 2.0-liter variant boasted a capacity of 3,500 pounds, although the Escape did not specify towing capabilities for its hybrid models.

The 2021 Honda Pilot was designed to accommodate families, seating up to eight passengers with the second-row bench seat. The test model featured leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats with the driver enjoying a 10-way power-adjustable seat. The second row’s captain's chairs, standard on higher trims, provided substantial comfort, heating, and flexibility, easing access to the third row. Cargo space was also a strong point, offering 16.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.8 cubic feet with it folded, and a maximum of 83.9 cubic feet, embedding the Pilot firmly in competitive territory for cargo capacity.

In comparison, the 2021 Ford Escape’s interior space was maximized through its car-like design. It boasted generous first and second-row legroom, with the sliding rear seat optimizing either legroom or cargo space. Gasoline models offered 33.5 cubic feet of cargo space with the seats up, expandable to 37.5 cubic feet and 65.4 cubic feet when folded. The hybrid versions had slightly diminished cargo space due to the battery placement, featuring 30.7 cubic feet which could be increased to 34.4 cubic feet when adjusted, and 60.8 cubic feet when the rear seats were folded. Despite this, other competitors offered more, noting the Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester's larger capacities.

The 2021 Honda Pilot provided most of its trims with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system including Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and some HondaLink services. Higher trims, like the Touring, enhanced these features with navigation, WiFi hotspot capabilities, and a premium 10-speaker audio system. The infotainment was functional but slightly behind competitors, with usability issues like limited voice recognition capabilities and a missing tuning knob.

The 2021 Ford Escape used the older Sync 3 infotainment, starting with a 4.2-inch touchscreen in the base trim, escalating to an 8-inch touchscreen in the SE trim featuring pinch-and-zoom capabilities and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Titanium trim included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, although missing Sync 4 meant it lacked newer features like wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Sync 3 was still user-friendly, but the absence of such modern updates made the system feel dated compared to its advancements.

Honda equipped every 2021 Pilot with its Honda Sensing package, encompassing adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic emergency braking, among others. Higher trims received additional safety features like blind-spot monitoring. Crash-test ratings were largely positive, with the NHTSA awarding it a five-star overall rating and the IIHS giving high scores across most categories, with a few areas needing improvement like front passenger small overlap protection.

The 2021 Ford Escape's safety profile was robust, earning a "Top Safety Pick" from the IIHS with top scores in most crash tests, although headlight ratings varied. The NHTSA granted it a five-star overall rating as well. The standard Co-Pilot360 safety features included automatic high beams, lane-keeping assist, and forward collision warning, with the enhanced Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package adding adaptive cruise control, traffic-sign recognition, and park assist features.