Compare the2023 Ford ExplorerVS 2022 Toyota Highlander

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and second-row seat shoulder belts of the Ford Explorer have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Toyota Highlander doesn’t offer pretensioners for its second-row seat belts.

The Ford Explorer has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Highlander doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The Explorer has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers a blind spot warning system.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Explorer has standard Cross Traffic Alert to warn the driver of approaching traffic and automatically engage the brakes to help avoid a collision. Only the Highlander LE/XLE/XSE/Limited/Platinum offers Rear Cross Traffic Alert.

Both the Explorer and the Highlander have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Toyota Highlander:

	Explorer	Highlander
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	125	292
Neck Injury Risk	26.3%	38.2%
Neck Stress	167 lbs.	347 lbs.
Neck Compression	26 lbs.	55 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	230/210 lbs.	321/243 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	318	328
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Leg Forces (l/r)	380/405 lbs.	545/323 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Toyota Highlander:

	Explorer	Highlander
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	224 lbs.	300 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	86	114
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	15 inches
HIC	288	366
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	41 G’s
Hip Force	573 lbs.	664 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Explorer is 1.3% to 2.2% less likely to roll over than the Highlander.

Warranty

There are over 2 times as many Ford dealers as there are Toyota dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

Reliability

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Highlander doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Ford vehicles are better in initial quality than Toyota vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Ford above average in initial quality. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Toyota is rated lower.

Engine

The Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder produces 5 more horsepower (300 vs. 295) and 47 lbs.-ft. more torque (310 vs. 263) than the Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Explorer’s optional 3.3 DOHC V6 hybrid produces 23 more horsepower (318 vs. 295) and 59 lbs.-ft. more torque (322 vs. 263) than the Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6. The Explorer’s optional 3.0 turbo V6 produces 105 more horsepower (400 vs. 295) and 152 lbs.-ft. more torque (415 vs. 263) than the Highlander’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the Toyota Highlander:

	Explorer	Highlander
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7.4 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.7 sec

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer gets better mileage than the Highlander:

			MPG
Explorer
	RWD	3.3 V6 Hybrid	27 city/28 hwy
		Platinum 3.3 V6 Hybrid	25 city/26 hwy
	AWD	3.3 V6 Hybrid	23 city/26 hwy
Highlander
	FWD	3.5 DOHC V6	21 city/29 hwy
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	20 city/27 hwy

The Explorer can travel with zero emissions on a full charge for 3 miles. The Highlander can’t move without running its internal combustion engine.

Regenerative brakes improve the Explorer Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Highlander doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the Highlander (20.2 vs. 17.9 gallons).

The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The Highlander doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the Highlander.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Explorer’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Highlander:

	Explorer	Explorer ST	Highlander
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	14.3 inches	13.3 inches
Rear Rotors	12.4 inches	13.8 inches	13.3 inches

The Explorer stops much shorter than the Highlander:

	Explorer	Highlander
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	141 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Explorer has larger standard tires than the Highlander (255/65R18 vs. 235/65R18). The Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Highlander (275/45R21 vs. 235/65R18).

The Explorer’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Highlander XSE/Limited/Platinum’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Explorer offers optional 21-inch wheels. The Highlander’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The Highlander doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Explorer has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Highlander doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Highlander doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 6.9 inches longer than on the Highlander (119.1 inches vs. 112.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Explorer is 1.6 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Highlander.

The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the Highlander’s (55% to 45%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .85 G’s, while the Highlander Platinum AWD pulls only .79 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the Highlander Platinum AWD (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.7 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer Timberline has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Highlander (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The front grille of the Explorer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Highlander doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Explorer Hybrid uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Highlander doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Explorer has 11.4 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Highlander (152.7 vs. 141.3).

The Explorer has 1 inch more front legroom, 2 inches more front hip room, 2.8 inches more front shoulder room, 1.1 inches more rear headroom, 2.1 inches more rear hip room, 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.8 inches more third row headroom and 4.5 inches more third row legroom than the Highlander.

Cargo Capacity

The Explorer’s cargo area provides more volume than the Highlander.

	Explorer	Highlander
Behind Third Seat	18.2 cubic feet	16 cubic feet
Second Seat Folded	87.8 cubic feet	84.3 cubic feet

The Explorer’s cargo area is larger than the Highlander’s in every dimension:

	Explorer	Highlander
Length to seat (3rd/2nd/1st)	20.8”/49.8”/83.9”	17.8”/48”/80.7”
Max Width	59”	50”
Min Width	48.1”	45.8”
Height	33.7”	31”

The Explorer has a standard third row seat which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Highlander doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

Pressing a button automatically lowers or raises the Explorer’s (except Base/XLT/ST-Line) optional third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Highlander doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Towing

Maximum trailer towing in the Toyota Highlander is limited to 5000 pounds. The Explorer offers up to a 5600 lbs. towing capacity.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Explorer is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Highlander. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Explorer (except Base/XLT)’s optional easy entry system raises the steering wheel and glides the driver’s seat back when the door is unlocked or the ignition is switched off, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The Highlander doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Highlander doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Explorer’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Highlander’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Explorer’s optional rear and side view mirrors have an automatic dimming feature. These mirrors can be set to automatically darken quickly when headlights shine on them, keeping following vehicles from blinding or distracting the driver. The Highlander offers an automatic rear view mirror, but its side mirrors don’t dim.

The Explorer ST/King Ranch/Platinum offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Highlander.

The Explorer ST/Platinum’s optional Active Park Assist 2.0 can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Highlander doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Explorer is less expensive to operate than the Highlander because typical repairs cost much less on the Explorer than the Highlander, including $295 less for a starter, $250 less for fuel injection, $106 less for a fuel pump and $929 less for a timing belt/chain.