2023 Ford Bronco vs 2023 Honda Pilot

The Ford Bronco, with its nine trim levels, captured the eyes of many with its seamless blend of retro-cool styling and modern engineering. Its blocky, upright shape, wide horizontal grille, and large round headlights delivered an unmistakable presence even from long distances. The Base trim presented a primitive and bare-bones look, adorned with steel wheels and minimal embellishments that appealed to purists. Contrast that with the Raptor trim, which flaunted a wide stance, elevated height, and substantial fender flares enveloping massive tires, assertively staking its claim as the top-tier model.

In the middle of the lineup, the Heritage trim played on nostalgia with a charming white grille, roof, and wheels, complemented by unique plaid seat upholstery. Also in this category, the Heritage Limited trim stood out with both style and capability. The Bronco's design wasn't all about looks; many features served practical off-road purposes. The cleats above the headlights helped secure cargo and tree limb-lifter cables, while the raised "fins" gave drivers a clear sense of the vehicle's corners during off-road maneuvers.

The interior of the Bronco extended this rugged aura with a broad, distinctive dash. Its switches and buttons were sealed against the elements, allowing for easy hosing down post-adventure, further aided by drain plugs in the floor and waterproof marine-grade vinyl upholstery. Sturdy handholds were customizable and replaceable, making sure passengers felt secure during bumpy rides. Other practical features included a mesh grid on seat backs for attaching Molle-type bags and accessories.

Although the Bronco's interior materials prioritized durability over luxury, they exuded a reassuring heft. Occasional creaking over bumps was noticeable but far less intrusive than in an equivalent Jeep Wrangler, and the noise levels inside were appreciably quieter.

The Honda Pilot's redesign emphasized a more rugged and substantial exterior. Its upright grille and boxier styling gave it a larger and more imposing presence. This wasn't just an illusion; the new Pilot was 3.4 inches longer, up to 1.5 inches wider, and 0.8 inches taller than its predecessor. The TrailSport model benefited from these changes with genuine off-road enhancements such as a one-inch taller ride height, 18-inch wheels, all-terrain tires, and underbody skid plates that could support the vehicle's entire weight.

Inside, the Pilot offered a more conventional aesthetic compared to its predecessor and other new Honda models. It included practical features such as a handy dash shelf for the front passenger. Lower trims included a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims featured a nine-inch display. Although the Elite trim's touchscreen seemed a bit undersized, it still met functional needs.

The interior focused on functionality without sacrificing attractiveness. Climate and drive mode controls were logically placed, eliminating the need for menu digging. A large rubberized shelf, two substantial cupholders, and a large center console bin were all thoughtfully designed for everyday convenience. Storage was another strong point with numerous cleverly placed compartments.

The Ford Bronco offered a choice among three engines. The base 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine produced 300 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, available with either a seven-speed manual transmission (with a dedicated low-range crawl gear) or a 10-speed automatic. The optional twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine boosted power to 330 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, paired only with the automatic. The top-tier Raptor trim housed a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 churning out 418 hp and 440 lb-ft of torque. All Broncos featured four-wheel drive and a two-speed transfer case as standard, emphasizing its off-road prowess.

Most drivers found the base four-cylinder engine more than adequate for highway and off-road exploits, with the engine delivering a pleasant sound. The 2.7-liter V6 proved to be a better match for the heavier four-door model without altering performance fundamentals. The Raptor's EcoBoost engine, while excessive for most needs, offered a thrilling experience.

Off-road intentions didn't mean sacrificing on-road manners for the Bronco. Its ride quality, though bouncier than a family SUV, was more stable than a Jeep Wrangler. It also tracked straight on highways, unlike the Wrangler, which required constant driver input. Remarkably, the Bronco’s interior remained quieter than that of a Wrangler.

However, the Bronco had its limitations. Its high-riding dimensions and large all-terrain tires necessitated careful driving on winding roads. Even so, the Bronco instilled more confidence than one might expect. Maneuvering the four-door model was less stressful thanks to several cameras aiding in navigation. Comparatively, only the Land Rover Defender surpassed the Bronco in comfort among off-road-capable SUVs.

The Honda Pilot came equipped with an all-new 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission. While front-wheel drive was standard for most models, all-wheel drive was available across the lineup and standard on the Elite and TrailSport trims.

Initial acceleration was quick, with minimal delay between throttle input and vehicle response. The power was adequate but not particularly dazzling. The brake pedal was appropriately soft for a family SUV, making smooth stops easy. In handling, the Pilot performed as expected for a three-row SUV, cornering well and exhibiting a bit of body roll without being alarming. It was tuned for comfort, not sportiness, which made perfect sense for its target audience.

Steering was light, facilitating easy maneuvering in tight spaces but slightly vague on the highway, feeling somewhat detached. Opting for the TrailSport trim increased ground clearance and added all-terrain tires, which introduced a subtle vibration on pavement. Nonetheless, this was a minor trade-off for the TrailSport's off-road attitude. It managed to reach scenic locales that would challenge lesser off-roaders.

The Pilot's all-terrain capability did not compromise its on-road comfort, making it ideal for both daily family duties and outdoor adventures.

The Ford Bronco's boxy design was a nod to its heritage and enhanced interior space. Both front and back seats offered ample room, though the four-door model was more practical for shuttling multiple passengers. Accessing rear seats in the two-door version required some scrambling, but the four-door allowed easy entry.

Up front, the Bronco featured numerous storage options, including netted door pockets, a secure rubberized tray between front seats for phones, and accessory rails atop the dash for cameras or GPS trackers, complete with a USB jack. Cargo capacity behind the rear seats was notable, with the two-door offering up to 22.4 cubic feet and 52.3 cubic feet with seats folded, whereas the four-door provided 35.6 cubic feet and 77.6 cubic feet, respectively. However, the rear seats didn’t fold flat, presenting a step-up that hindered sliding long items in and out or sleeping back there.

For off-road enthusiasts, the Bronco's fenders and doors could be removed easily, with tools not required for fender removal and doors detaching with a single bolt. The Raptor's oversized fenders, however, were not designed for removal.

The Honda Pilot's interior was more conventional. Unlike other new Honda vehicles, it didn't feature the horizontal mesh dash trim hiding air vents but instead offered a handy dash shelf for the front passenger. Lower trims had a seven-inch infotainment touchscreen, while higher trims upgraded to a nine-inch display. The Elite trim's touchscreen seemed small for its available space but was adequate.

Primary controls for climate and drive modes were logically placed, below which a large rubberized shelf accommodated two large phones with a wireless charger for one. Two large cupholders and a wide center console bin provided ample storage, with Honda claiming the bin could hold a full-sized tablet. Front doors featured moderate-sized pockets and another large cupholder each, capable of holding a one-liter drink bottle.

The standout feature in the Pilot was the stowable second-row center seat. With a simple strap tug and lift, it converted into a pass-through for third-row access, especially useful for child seats in the outboard seats. Even when removed, it could be stowed under the cargo floor, ensuring you wouldn't be without it when needed.

In terms of space, the Pilot had ample second-row space for adults over six feet tall, though the third row was less inviting, with a lower seat cushion reducing thigh support. Behind the third row, there was 22.4 cubic feet of cargo space. With the second-row center seat not stowed beneath, the floor could drop a few inches for more cargo space and flipped to a hard plastic surface for dirty or wet gear. Maximum cargo capacity was 114.3 cubic feet with all seats folded, significantly surpassing the Kia Telluride's 87 cubic feet.

The Ford Bronco’s technology suite extended beyond safety, entertainment, and convenience to off-road capabilities. The G.O.A.T. (Goes Over Any Terrain) drive modes allowed drivers to select from various terrain settings that optimized engine and suspension automatically, making off-roading accessible even to novices. Seasoned off-roaders could manually select features such as transfer case gearing and sway-bar disconnects. Numerous camera views aided in navigating tight spots, predicting tire end positions for safe rock crawling, and even included Trail Turn Assist to brake the inside rear wheel for sharp turns.

The infotainment system featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with Ford's SYNC 4. Although most Bronco's came with an eight-inch touchscreen, the 12-inch display was recommended for ease of use. A wireless charging pad was available as an option.

The Honda Pilot enticed tech-savvy consumers starting with the EX-L trim, offering a larger infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless phone charger, and USB ports in every row. Higher trims also received a multi-view camera system, with the top Elite trim adding a head-up display and fully digital instrument panel.

The Pilot’s touchscreen was functional with large, logical on-screen buttons despite lacking modern graphics. Additional features included Honda’s CabinTalk PA system, navigation, Bose premium audio, remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. TrailSport and Elite trims included the TrailWatch camera system tailored for exceptional off-road awareness.

The NHTSA only released partial results for the Ford Bronco, giving the four-door model four out of five stars for frontal crash protection and three stars for rollover protection. The IIHS rated the four-door Bronco "Good" in most crashworthiness tests except for head restraints and seats, which received an "Acceptable" rating.

Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, hill-start assist, hill-descent control, trailer-sway assist, and Trail Turn Assist. The optional Mid package added enhanced features such as a blind-spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alerts, lane-keep assist, and rear parking sensors. The High package offered front parking sensors and a 360-degree camera system, and the Luxe package included adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist. Compared to mainstream SUVs, the Bronco lagged in test scores and feature availability, though its driver assistance systems performed reliably without false alarms.

The 2023 Honda Pilot had yet to undergo NHTSA testing but received a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS. All trims featured the Honda Sensing suite, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, traffic-jam assist, a blind-spot monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign reader, automatic high beams, and a driver attention monitor. The EX-L trim added low-speed automatic braking and front and rear parking sensors. TrailSport and Elite trims included surround-view and multi-view camera systems.

During test drives, the Pilot's safety features functioned as intended with no false alarms. Adaptive cruise control maintained gaps smoothly, and disabling certain proximity warnings for off-roading prevented unnecessary alerts.