Ford Escape vs. Honda Pilot
iSeeCars' unbiased and data-driven comparison of the Ford Escape and Honda Pilot contrasts the two cars across a broad spectrum of vehicle specifications to determine which car is better. In addition to comparing pricing and specs, iSeeCars uses all the ratings, rankings, and insights from its comprehensive analyses of each vehicle model, including calculations of reliability, safety, depreciation, value retention, and the vehicle's projected lifetime recalls (based on analyzing over 25 billion data points). This in-depth evaluation is used to identify which vehicle represents a better overall choice for shoppers who are considering both the Ford Escape and the Honda Pilot.
When we compare the Ford Escape's and the Honda Pilot's specifications and ratings, the Ford Escape has the advantage in the areas of new vehicle base pricing and typical lower range of pricing for one- to five-year-old used cars. The Honda Pilot has the advantage in the areas of reliability, resale value, interior volume, overall quality score and base engine power. Based on this comparison of the Ford Escape's and the Honda Pilot's specifications and ratings, the Honda Pilot is a better car than the Ford Escape.
Pricing: A used 2024 Ford Escape ranges from $28,542 to $37,394 while a used 2025 Honda Pilot is priced between $41,454 to $54,880. For a new model, the Ford Escape's price is between $29,865 and $40,820, with the Honda Pilot priced between $43,623 and $56,129.
Resale/Retained Value: Looking at the 5-year depreciation rate for both models, the Ford Escape loses 46.4 percent of its value and the Honda Pilot loses 43.6 percent of its value. This means the Honda Pilot retains 2.7 percentage points more of its value and has the advantage of higher resale value versus the Ford Escape.
Quality Rating: The iSeeCars Overall Quality rating for the Ford Escape is 8.6 out of 10 while the Honda Pilot's quality rating is 8.7 out of 10. This results in the Ford Escape being ranked 13 out of 67 Best Crossover SUVs and the Honda Pilot being ranked 11 out of 67.
Reliability Rating: iSeeCars’ Reliability Rating for the Ford Escape is 8.2 out of 10. For the Honda Pilot the reliability rating is 9.2 out of 10. This gives the Honda Pilot a slight advantage in reliability compared to the Ford Escape.
Engine Power and Fuel Efficiency Comparison: For engine performance, the Ford Escape’s base engine makes 180 horsepower, and the Honda Pilot base engine makes 285 horsepower.
Passenger Space Comparison: The Honda Pilot, a crossover/midsize SUV, has the advantage of offering more interior volume, reflected in more front head room, front shoulder room, rear head room, rear shoulder room and rear leg room. The Ford Escape, a crossover/compact SUV, has the advantage in the areas of front leg room cargo space.
Safety Ratings: When comparing crash test ratings from NHTSA, both the Ford Escape and the Honda Pilot have the same average safety rating of 5 out of 5 Stars.
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$29,865 - $40,820
Starting MSRP:
$28,000
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Compact SUVs)
$27,871
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Compact SUVs)
$23,860 - $30,300
New Car Pricing
Asking Price:
$43,623 - $56,129
Starting MSRP:
$39,900
Category Avg Starting MSRP:
(Midsize SUVs)
$39,763
Category Starting MSRP Range:
(Midsize SUVs)
$39,625 - $39,900
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$32,735
Price Range:
$28,542 - $37,394
Category Avg Price:
(Compact SUVs)
$33,244
Category Avg Price Range:
(Compact SUVs)
$29,649 - $36,546
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
9,544
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
1,166
# Good or Great Deals:
567
Used Car Pricing
Avg Used Car Price:
$47,417
Price Range:
$41,454 - $54,880
Category Avg Price:
(Midsize SUVs)
$47,417
Category Avg Price Range:
(Midsize SUVs)
$47,417 - $47,417
# Used Cars for Sale Nationally:
11,383
Avg Mileage of Used Cars for Sale:
130
# Good or Great Deals:
76
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$13,239
Depreciation %:
47.3%
Resale Value $:
$14,761
Residual Value %:
52.7%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Compact SUVs)
42%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Compact SUVs)
29.1% - 47.3%
5-year Depreciation
Depreciation $:
$17,844
Depreciation %:
44.7%
Resale Value $:
$22,056
Residual Value %:
55.3%
Typical Category Depreciation %:
(Midsize SUVs)
47.2%
Category Depreciation Range:
(Midsize SUVs)
44.7% - 48.5%
Ford Escape Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.6 / 10
Reliability:
8.2 / 10
Retained Value:
7.6 / 10
Safety:
10.0 / 10
Honda Pilot Scores & Rankings
Overall Score:
8.7 / 10
Reliability:
9.2 / 10
Retained Value:
7.8 / 10
Safety:
9.0 / 10
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Ford Escape
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
10.2
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Compact SUVs)
10.9
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Compact SUVs)
9.9 - 13.4
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
14.2%
iSeeCars Reliability Insights for Honda Pilot
Avg Life Expectancy (years):
11.1
Typical Category Life Expectancy:
(Midsize SUVs)
10.1
Category Life Expectancy Range:
(Midsize SUVs)
9.1 - 11.1
Chance of Reaching 200k Miles for a New Car:
69.9%
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
2.2
Typical Category Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
2.6
Category Range for Recalls:
(Compact SUVs)
1.8 - 18.3
Expected 30-year Lifetime Recalls
Expected Lifetime Recalls:
Typical Category Recalls:
N/A
Category Range for Recalls:
N/A
Ford Escape Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 19Ranking
2 out of / 20Ranking
2 out of / 14Ranking
3 out of / 19Ranking
3 out of / 19Ranking
4 out of / 19Ranking
4 out of / 13Ranking
5 out of / 19Ranking
5 out of / 19Ranking
5 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 30Ranking
6 out of / 19Ranking
6 out of / 19Ranking
8 out of / 67Ranking
9 out of / 19Ranking
10 out of / 67Ranking
10 out of / 67Ranking
11 out of / 67Ranking
11 out of / 19Ranking
13 out of / 67Ranking
17 out of / 59Ranking
17 out of / 19Ranking
19 out of / 67Ranking
19 out of / 19Ranking
21 out of / 67Ranking
28 out of / 67Ranking
30 out of / 67Ranking
35 out of / 67Ranking
38 out of / 67Ranking
46 out of / 67Ranking
54 out of / 67Honda Pilot Rankings
Ranking
1 out of / 67Ranking
2 out of / 32Ranking
4 out of / 39Ranking
4 out of / 10Ranking
6 out of / 39Ranking
6 out of / 18Ranking
6 out of / 17Ranking
6 out of / 16Ranking
7 out of / 67Ranking
8 out of / 32Ranking
8 out of / 32Ranking
9 out of / 67Ranking
9 out of / 32Ranking
9 out of / 21Ranking
10 out of / 67Ranking
10 out of / 67Ranking
10 out of / 39Ranking
11 out of / 67Ranking
11 out of / 32Ranking
11 out of / 32Ranking
11 out of / 32Ranking
11 out of / 32Ranking
12 out of / 39Ranking
13 out of / 67Ranking
15 out of / 32Ranking
16 out of / 39Ranking
16 out of / 39Ranking
16 out of / 39Ranking
16 out of / 32Ranking
17 out of / 39Ranking
17 out of / 32Ranking
18 out of / 67Ranking
18 out of / 34Ranking
19 out of / 39Ranking
19 out of / 39Ranking
20 out of / 67Ranking
20 out of / 32Ranking
20 out of / 32Ranking
21 out of / 30Ranking
21 out of / 28Ranking
25 out of / 39Ranking
26 out of / 39Ranking
26 out of / 39Ranking
29 out of / 67Ranking
32 out of / 67Ranking
42 out of / 67Ranking
50 out of / 67Ranking
54 out of / 59Summary Review
The Ford Escape is a compact five-person SUV with a smooth ride and efficient engine options. The current Escape was redesigned for the 2020 model year, with new models costing an average of $29,828 and 3-year-old models averaging $20,407.
Summary Review
The Honda Pilot is one of America’s favorite three-row family vehicles. All but two trim levels offer seating for eight passengers, though many buyers opt for the 7-passenger configuration with two large captain's chairs in the second row.
Pros and Cons
- Roomy interior
- Sharp handling with a smooth ride
- Wide range of powertrains
- Cheap interior materials
- Top trims are too pricey
- Small front seat cushions
Pros and Cons
- Seating for up to 8 in almost every trim
- Family-friendly features galore
- Among the largest interior volume and cargo capacity of this segment’s SUVs
- One of the most “made-in-America” models in this segment (Alabama)
- No green (hybrid/electric) powertrain option available
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Body Styles
SUV
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Available Drivetrain Options
Gasoline
Ford Escape Trim Levels
Active, Base, Platinum, ST-Line, ST-Line Elite, ST-Line Select
Honda Pilot Trim Levels
Black Edition, Elite, EX-L, Sport, Touring, TrailSport
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty Information
Warranty, Bumper-to-Bumper:
3 years / 36000 miles
Warranty, Powertrain:
5 years / 60000 miles
Warranty, Roadside Assistance:
3 years / 36000 miles
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Safety Ratings
NHTSA Safety Rating (last 5 year average):
5 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Front Crash Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Side Crash Overall Rating:
5 out of 5 Stars
2024 NHTSA Rollover Rating:
4 out of 5 Stars
IIHS Safety Rating:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
180 hp @ 6000 rpm
Torque:
199 foot-lbs @ 3000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.055 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Base Drivetrain Specs
Horsepower:
285 hp @ 6100 rpm
Torque:
262 foot-lbs @ 5000 rpm
Power-to-Weight Ratio (higher is better):
0.066 hp per pound
Towing capacity:
Not yet available
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
1.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
Inline
Number of Cylinders:
3
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
27 / 34 / 30
Range (city/hwy):
400 / 503 miles
Recommended Fuel Type:
Regular Unleaded
Engine Specifications
Engine Size:
3.5 liters
Engine Configuration:
V
Number of Cylinders:
6
Transmission:
Automatic
Standard/Optional Drivetrain Type:
FWD / AWD
EPA Fuel Economy
(City/Highway/Combined MPG):
Not yet available
Range (city/hwy):
Not yet available
Recommended Fuel Type:
Not yet available
Standard/Optional Features
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Standard
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Available
Alloy wheels:
Available
Automatic Parking:
Available
Heated Seats
Available
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
N/A
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
N/A
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
N/A
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
N/A
Roadside assistance:
N/A
Standard/Optional Features
Android Auto:
Standard
Apple CarPlay:
Standard
Bench Seats:
Standard
Bluetooth:
Standard
Internet Radio:
Standard
Keyless Entry:
Standard
Keyless Ignition:
Standard
Power outlet:
Standard
Voice Recognition:
Standard
Wifi:
Available
Adaptive Cruise Control:
Standard
Alloy wheels:
Standard
Automatic Parking:
N/A
Heated Seats
Standard
Heated Steering Wheel:
Available
Leather Upholstery:
Available
Navigation System:
Available
Parking Sensors:
Available
Power Lift Gate:
Available
Roof Rack:
Available
Satellite radio:
Available
Sunroof/Moonroof:
Available
Trailer Hitch:
Available
Wireless Smartphone Charging:
Available
Air Suspension:
N/A
Captain's seat:
Available
Cooled/Ventilated Seats:
Available
Front Bench Seats:
N/A
Massage Seats:
N/A
Paddle Shifters:
Standard
Panoramic Sunroof/Moonroof
N/A
Quad Seats:
Available
Roadside assistance:
Standard
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
Available
Rear Seat Reminder:
N/A
Safety Features
Backup camera:
Standard
Blind Spot Monitoring:
Standard
Driver Attention Monitoring:
Standard
Forward Collision Warning:
Standard
Lane Departure Warning:
Standard
Lane Keeping Assist:
Standard
Pedestrian Detection:
Standard
Rear Cross-Traffic Alert:
Standard
360-Degree Camera:
N/A
Rear Seat Reminder:
Standard
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40 inches
Front Leg Room:
42.4 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
57.6 inches
Rear Head Room:
39.3 inches
Rear Leg Room:
40.7 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
56 inches
Cargo Space:
37.5 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
65.4 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
137.5 cubic feet
Interior Dimensions
Front Head Room:
40.5 inches
Front Leg Room:
41 inches
Front Shoulder Room:
61.9 inches
Rear Head Room:
40.2 inches
Rear Leg Room:
40.8 inches
Rear Shoulder Room:
61.7 inches
Cargo Space:
18.6 cubic feet
Cargo Space, 2nd-row seat folded down:
87 cubic feet
Overall Interior Volume:
177.0 cubic feet
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
3291 lbs
Width:
85.6 inches
Height:
66 inches
Length:
180.1 inches
Wheelbase:
106.7 inches
Ground Clearance:
7.5 inches
Exterior Dimensions
Curb Weight:
4313 lbs
Width:
78.5 inches
Height:
71 inches
Length:
199.9 inches
Wheelbase:
113.8 inches
Ground Clearance:
7.3 inches
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
17.0 x 7.0 inches
Wheel Type:
steel
Tire Size:
225/65R17
Standard Wheel/Tire Information
Wheel Size:
20.0 x 8.0 inches
Wheel Type:
painted aluminum alloy
Tire Size:
255/50R20
Exterior Colors
Black
Agate Black
Blue
Vapor Blue
Gray
Carbonized Gray
Red
Race Red
Silver
Iconic Silver
White
Oxford White
Exterior Colors
Black
Crystal Black Pearl
Blue
Obsidian Blue Pearl
Gray
Sonic Gray Pearl
Red
Radiant Red Metallic II
Silver
Lunar Silver Metallic
White
Platinum White Pearl
Interior Colors
Black
Ebony
Interior Colors
Black
Black
