Compare 2021 Ford Explorer vs. 2021 Honda CR-V

Serving Maumee, OH

If you're in search of an SUV that can allow you to feel fully accommodated on the road, the 2021 Ford Explorer and the 2021 Honda CR-V are great options. As well-known rivals of one another, you can select which model fits your lifestyle and driving needs after reviewing a few main comparisons. An online test drive at Brondes Ford Maumee will also make it easier to make your selection.

Performance

The 2021 Ford Explorer is designed to offer an ample amount of power under the hood and comes standard with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, which generates 300 horsepower. Drivers can also choose to upgrade to a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine in the Platinum and ST trims. The SUV proves it can handle a lot of power and the car delivers strong acceleration with the base engine. The vehicle can even reach 60 mph in 5.5 seconds.

The 2021 Honda CR-V boasts a standard turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which delivers 190 horsepower. The car doesn't accelerate as quickly as the Ford Explorer, which prevents it from feeling power full and robust while driving up hills. Front-wheel drive comes standard, and all-wheel-drive is optional. The acceleration tends to build steadily and requires some patience when you're trying to get up to speed.

Safety

Not only is the 2021 Ford Explorer powerful, but it delivers a high level of safety. Some of the standard safety features that are included are driver drowsiness monitoring, a rearview camera, pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, and lane keep assist. Additional safety features are available, allowing consumers to select traffic sign recognition, adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, a surround-view parking camera system, and reverse brake assist.

The standard safety features you'll find in the 2021 Honda CR-V include road departure mitigation and automatic emergency braking. The car also offers automatic high-beam headlights and a rearview camera for improved visibility. Some of the optional safety features include rear cross traffic alert, rain-sensing windshield wipers, rear parking sensors, blind spot monitoring. Many of the features lag and don't respond quickly to commands. The infotainment system also has a lack of controls and doesn't include an auxiliary input, which can be found in the Ford Explorer and offers more versatility.

Comfort

The layout of the dashboard is clean and doesn't look cluttered or distracting. The car's spacious seats offer a high level of comfort with enough support provided. Each row also offers more than enough head and legroom, making the car feel spacious for tall passengers in the front or back. The outward visibility is also excellent because of the SUV's large windows on each side of the vehicle. It's easy to stretch out in any row without feeling cramped, which makes this car suitable for longer driving distances, especially when you plan to use it as a family car.

With five seats in the Honda CR-V, the car delivers comfort and comes standard with cloth upholstery. Drivers have to spend more to get extra bells and whistles like heated front seats, leather upholstery, a heated steering wheel, a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat, as well as driver's seat memory settings. The vehicle doesn't feel as roomy and spacious as the Ford Explorer and doesn't feel like it sits as high off the ground. This affects the view that is provided and makes it less easy to see cars up ahead on the road. A few extra blind spots are also present on the Honda CR-V, which can affect the confidence of the driver while operating the SUV.

Visit our virtual test drive page to take an online test drive and to discover how the two models compare to one another. Our team is happy to provide you with assistance and additional information to ensure you can make an educated decision after an Online Test Drive 2021 Ford Explorer.

*All figures are EPA estimates. Actual mileage may vary.