2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Honda Pilot in Hastings, NE
2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Honda Pilot
The three-row SUV segment is crowded, but the 2025 Ford Explorer® continues to stand out with a confident stance, balanced performance, and thoughtful technology that makes daily life easier. This is especially apparent when shoppers compare the 2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Honda Pilot. Both models seat large families and offer available all-wheel traction, but only the Explorer pairs a rear-wheel-drive foundation with a standard Class III Trailer Tow Package across the lineup and an available hands-free highway system in BlueCruise. Inside, Ford’s focus on seamless connectivity includes a 5G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot and Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+ with Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane-Centering. As your local team at Hastings Ford, we invite you to see, touch, and test these systems in person in Hastings, NE. Our community-first approach means we tailor every test drive to your needs, whether that’s third-row access, cargo flexibility, or highway-driver assist demonstrations. From Juniata to Grand Island, families tell us they appreciate how the Explorer balances comfort, towing confidence, and design. If you are weighing the 2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Honda Pilot, start with the features that matter most to your routine and then feel how the Explorer delivers on the road in Hastings, NE.
| Feature | 2025 Ford Explorer | 2025 Honda Pilot |
|---|---|---|
| Rear-wheel-drive platform (available 4WD/AWD) | Yes | No |
| Class III Trailer Tow Package standard on every model | Yes | No |
| Tow up to 5,000 lbs | Yes | Yes |
| 5G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot | Yes | Yes |
| Available hands-free highway driving (BlueCruise) | Yes | No |
| Performance-tuned ST model | Yes | No |
| Available 21-inch wheels | Yes | No |
| Available black-painted roof | Yes | No |
| Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane-Centering | Yes | Yes |
| 360-degree camera system | Yes | Yes |
Exterior - Ford Dealer serving Hastings, NE
From every angle, the 2025 Ford Explorer communicates purpose. Strong character lines meet athletic proportions, and the ST-Line and ST models sharpen the look with available 21-inch magnetite painted wheels, a bold mesh grille, and available red performance brake calipers. For a distinctive two-tone statement, the available black-painted roof completes a confident, modern profile. The color palette underscores this personality, with standout factory finishes such as Vapor Blue (Extra Cost Color), Agate Black, Carbonized Gray, Rapid Red (Extra Cost Color), and Star White (Extra Cost Color). Function meets form out back with a handsomely integrated hitch setup courtesy of the Class III Trailer Tow Package that’s standard on every 2025 Explorer, making it effortless to attach bikes, campers, or utility trailers before you head out from Hastings, NE. The 2025 Honda Pilot projects a rugged stance as well, especially in TrailSport, and offers standard roof rails on many trims. Yet the Explorer’s aerodynamic cues, performance details, and wheel options create a sport-forward look you can tailor to your tastes. If you are comparing curb appeal and customization, our team at Hastings Ford can show you how accessories, wheel choices, and factory options transform the Explorer’s presence for everything from school runs to weekends in the Sandhills.
Interior - 2025 Ford Explorer in Hastings, NE
Cabin usability can make or break a family SUV. The 2025 Ford Explorer leans into smart ergonomics and modern tech, so you and your passengers stay connected and comfortable mile after mile. Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+ helps reduce fatigue with Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane-Centering, while the available hands-free highway experience with BlueCruise underscores how seamlessly the Explorer integrates driver-assist capability. A 5G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot supports work, school, and entertainment on the go, and thoughtful storage nooks keep cords, snacks, and devices organized. The Explorer’s seating configuration supports up to seven, with an easy-to-fold rear row that opens generous cargo space for sports gear, strollers, or weekend projects. Materials and finishes are crisp and durable, and the ST-Line and ST elevate the mood with distinctive trim details that match the performance-minded exterior. While the Honda Pilot offers family-friendly touches like an available panoramic moonroof and CabinTalk®, the Explorer emphasizes intuitive controls and user-forward tech that’s easy to learn on day one. Visit us at Hastings Ford to step through the features that matter to you, from infotainment responsiveness to rear-seat flexibility, and see why drivers in Hastings, NE consistently tell our team that the Explorer’s cabin strikes the right balance of comfort and capability.
Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot Mechanical Specs
Under the hood, the 2025 Ford Explorer starts with an inherent advantage: a rear-wheel-drive architecture with available 4WD. That layout contributes to confident handling, stable towing, and the sure-footed feel drivers value on sweeping Nebraska highways and in tight urban turns. Every 2025 Explorer includes a Class III Trailer Tow Package, so hitch hardware and wiring are ready the day you take delivery—no extra steps before your first camping trip from Hastings, NE. The suspension tuning balances ride comfort and body control, especially in performance-oriented ST configurations that further refine steering response and roll control. The Honda Pilot counters with the available i-VTM4® AWD System and traction programming, including Trail mode on certain trims, plus the benefit of TrailWatch™ on off-road focused models. Those tools help on rough tracks, but the Explorer’s composure on pavement, steady towing manners up to 5,000 lbs, and planted highway feel will likely matter more to families who split time between school, work, and weekend travel. Our product specialists at Hastings Ford can walk you through mechanical differences, demonstrate how the rear-drive foundation benefits stability with a trailer attached, and help you determine whether your driving mix and seasonal conditions align better with the Explorer’s tuning or the Pilot’s off-road-flavored approach.
Powertrain - Ford Dealership in Hastings, NE
The 2025 Ford Explorer lineup is built around responsive turbocharged power and smart gearing that prioritizes torque where you use it most—merging lanes, two-lane passes, and towing. The Active model features a 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4, a proven engine that punches above its weight with strong low-end response. Performance enthusiasts can step into the ST, which adds a performance-tuned chassis and the feel you expect from Ford’s sport SUV heritage. Across trims, the Explorer’s 10-speed automatic helps keep the engine in its sweet spot while enabling calm, low-rpm cruising. Crucially, the Class III Trailer Tow Package comes standard on every 2025 Explorer, and maximum towing reaches 5,000 lbs with the proper setup. The 2025 Honda Pilot employs a naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 and a 10-speed automatic, complemented by the available i-VTM4® AWD System. It also rates up to 5,000 pounds of towing capability on properly equipped models. The key difference you’ll feel is the Explorer’s turbocharged surge at everyday speeds, delivering the kind of effortless acceleration that reduces driver workload, especially with passengers and cargo aboard. When you test drive both back to back at Hastings Ford, our team will encourage you to take the same route, including on-ramps and passing zones, to appreciate how the Explorer’s powertrain translates to real-world confidence for drivers from Juniata and beyond.
Safety - Ford Explorer vs Honda Pilot
Technology that supports the driver is a Ford hallmark, and the 2025 Explorer advances that tradition with Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist+. This suite includes Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane-Centering to ease traffic stress, while available BlueCruise introduces hands-free highway driving within designated Hands-Free Blue Zones. Paired with an available 360-degree camera system, these features make parking, navigating tight lots, and long-distance cruising more relaxed. Pilot shoppers will find Honda Sensing® standard across the board, with useful additions like Low-Speed Braking Control on EX-L and above, a multi-view camera system on TrailSport and Black Edition, and an available Head-Up Display on top trims. Both SUVs prioritize occupant protection and driver support; however, if you value the added step of hands-free highway capability and standard trailering hardware ready on day one, the Explorer’s advantage is clear. As always, driver-assist technologies are supplemental and do not replace safe driving. Our staff at Hastings Ford will demonstrate how each feature operates and discuss limitations, so you feel informed and confident using these tools from your first drive in Hastings, NE and every trip thereafter.
Request more 2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Honda Pilot in Hastings, NE information
Choosing your next family SUV often comes down to how well the vehicle fits your life—with kids, cargo, commutes, and road trips all in the mix. In a direct 2025 Ford Explorer vs 2025 Honda Pilot comparison, the Explorer’s rear-wheel-drive platform, standard Class III Trailer Tow Package across every model, available BlueCruise hands-free highway driving, and sport-forward design options create a compelling, real-world advantage. The Honda Pilot remains a solid contender with available i-VTM4® AWD and useful tech, but the Explorer’s blend of powertrain responsiveness, towing readiness, and driver-assist capability adds up to greater day-to-day confidence. We invite you to schedule a personalized walk-around and test drive at Hastings Ford—our team will tailor the visit around your priorities and demonstrate the features you care about most. Whether you are coming from Grand Island or right here in Hastings, NE, we are ready to help you compare trims, explore colors like Vapor Blue or Carbonized Gray, and experience the difference from behind the wheel. See for yourself why so many of our neighbors choose the 2025 Ford Explorer for its capability, comfort, and composed performance in all seasons in Hastings, NE.
May not represent actual vehicle. (Options, colors, trim and body style may vary)