Compare the2025 Ford ExplorerVS 2024 Lexus TX

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 TX doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Explorer has standard Cross Traffic Alert with Cross Traffic Braking, systems which detect vehicles approaching from the sides and can automatically apply the brakes to prevent a collision. Only the TX Premium/Luxury offers Parking Support Brake.

Both the Explorer and the TX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the TX:

The Ford Explorer has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2024 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The TX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2024.

There are almost 12 times as many Ford dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

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 TX 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 rated the Explorer second among midsize suvs in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The TX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Explorer has more powerful engines than the TX:

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer gets better mileage than the TX running its gasoline engine:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Explorer uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The TX requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Explorer 2.3-liter’s standard fuel tank has 3.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 550h+’s standard fuel tank (17.9 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 350’s standard fuel tank (20.2 vs. 17.8 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 TX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

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 TX.

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

The Explorer stops much shorter than the TX:

For better traction, the Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the TX (275/45R21 vs. 255/55R20).

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 TX doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

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 TX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the TX (119.1 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the TX’s (53.1% to 46.9%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .86 G’s, while the TX 500h F Sport Performance Luxury 4dr Sport Utility pulls only .85 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the TX 350 Luxury 4dr Sport Utility (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer Platinum has a greater minimum ground clearance than the TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium 4dr Sport Utility (8.2 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Explorer is 4.4 inches shorter than the TX, making the Explorer easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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 TX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Explorer has 1.4 inches more front legroom, 2.7 inches more front hip room, 1.8 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room, 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room and 1.7 inches more third row headroom than the TX.

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

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 TX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The TX Luxury/F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Explorer Platinum’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Explorer (except Active) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the TX.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Lexus TX by almost 23 to one during 2023.