2021 Ford Explorer vs Toyota Highlander

The three-row SUV is one of the most popular vehicles that you’ll see regularly on American roads. Perfect for medium to large families, the SUV is a practical and safe choice that looks great. Budget is a vital consideration for anyone in the SUV market, and the Ford Explorer and Toyota Highlander are both solid choices that should fall within most budgets. This article takes a look at a comparison between the 2021 Ford Explorer and 2021 Toyota Highlander. You’ll find out about the features of each, the performance specs, and much more.

Trims

Image via Flickr by Rutger van der Maar

The trim level selection for the newest Ford Explorer model is comprehensive without feeling overwhelming. There are five trims to select from: base, XLT, Limited, ST, and Platinum. The base trim’s exterior highlights include auto high beams, LED taillamps, and a chrome liftgate applique. Expect a more comprehensive range of exterior style elements with higher trim levels. For example, if you choose the Ford Explorer XLT, you get LED signature lighting, a black mesh insert with chrome bars, roof rack side rails, and available dual chrome exhaust tips. The top-tier Platinum trim enhances the Explorer’s look with a satin aluminum grille and quad chrome exhaust tips.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander comes in six trims: L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum. The base trim level’s exterior includes features such as LED projector headlights with Daytime Running Lights, 18-inch painted alloy wheels, a front grille with a painted silver surround, rear spoiler, and a rear black lower bumper. Opting for higher trim levels adds a range of more stylish touches to the exterior, including high-output LED fog lights, larger 20-inch alloy wheels, a front grille with a chrome-plated surround, a panoramic view moonroof, and a rear bumper in a silver finish.

Performance Specs

The 2021 Ford Explorer comes with a range of excellent engine choices. The standard engine is a 2.3-liter EcoBoost engine. This zippy engine produces 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. An EcoBoost engine is a proprietary Ford design that uses advanced engine design in an effort to deliver maximum efficiency and performance. You can expect a combined fuel economy rating of 24 mpg on city and highway roads. 

The second available engine choice is a larger 3.0-liter EcoBoost V-6. With greater size comes more power — expect to get incredible maximum power output ratings of 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The third and final powertrain for the 2021 Ford Explorer moves into hybrid territory. Ford combines an electric motor with a 3.3-liter V-6 engine to give you 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque.  The 2021 Ford Explorer has an impressive maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, which is more than enough for the toughest of towing jobs that any SUV needs to complete.

The standard engine on the 2021 Toyota Highlander is a 3.5-liter V-6 engine that outputs slightly less power than the Explorer’s base engine at 295 horsepower. A hybrid powertrain model combines two electric motors with a 2.5-liter engine for a combined 243 horsepower, which is again less powerful than the equivalent powertrain in the 2021 Ford Explorer.  The fuel economy on the Highlander’s base model is the same as the Explorer at 24 mpg on city and highway surfaces combined.

Interior

The interior of an SUV is an important factor in most customers’ buying decisions. Ample legroom, comfort levels, and cargo space are key things to note. The 2021 Ford Explorer has seating for seven people spread across three rows. If you choose second-row captain’s chairs, the maximum number of passengers reduces to six.

Behind the third row of the Explorer, you’ll find 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space, which should provide ample room to store any necessities. By folding the third row down and carrying fewer passengers, you can increase your storage capacity to 47.9 cubic feet. Front legroom is an impressive 43 inches while third-row passengers get 32.2 inches of legroom.

The Toyota Highlander has room for eight people in total at the lower range L and LE trims. Opt for any higher trims and your seating capacity reduces to seven people. Behind the third row of the latest Highlander, you get 16 cubic feet of cargo space. You can increase the available cargo room to 48.4 cubic feet by folding the third row down. Front legroom is 42 inches per passenger, which decreases to 27.7 inches in the third row.

Safety and Tech Features

Both the 2021 Toyota Highlander and 2021 Ford Explorer provide owners with a plethora of excellent safety and technology features, even at base trim levels. You get four USB ports with the Explorer, in addition to modern safety features that include blind-spot monitoring, driver drowsiness monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts. The Highlander has five USB ports, adaptive cruise control, lane trace assist, and traffic sign recognition. Both SUVs come with a modern infotainment system that includes integration with the popular Android Auto and Apple CarPlay driver apps. You can use these apps to access key phone functions from the dashboard.

Similarities

Other than the obvious fact that they are both SUVs, the similarities between the Ford Explorer and the Toyota Highlander stretch into key areas like performance and infotainment. Both vehicles offer a similar depth in terms of trim level choice; the Explorer has five to select from while the Highlander has six. Another similarity is that both the 2021 Explorer and the 2021 Highlander come with an impressive suite of technology and safety features.

2021 Explorer Key Advantages

The main advantages of the 2021 Ford Explorer are the more powerful engine, a more enjoyable drive, impressive interior space, and more cargo storage. These advantages are sure to make the Explorer a popular option at Ford dealerships. 

If you conclude from his article that the Ford Highlander is the right option for you, Oxmoor Ford is the best place to buy your brand new Ford vehicle. At Oxmoor Ford, you get the best range of brand new Ford vehicles and a level of service that’s tough to find anywhere else. Check our new Ford vehicles for sale today.