2022 Ford Explorer vs. Toyota Highlander: Almost Impossible To Choose

SUVs dominate the U.S. car market, and two of the best-selling models are none other than the Ford Explorer and the Toyota Highlander. Take a look to see how the two compare.
Written by Hannah DeWitt
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Ford
has long reigned supreme in the world of SUVs. Despite some critical reviews, the Ford Explorer remains one of the most popular crossover SUVs. While the Explorer was king of the ‘90s, Toyota has been able to make a popular 3-row SUV of their own in the Highlander. 
For families who want something a little more rugged than a minivan, they often compare the Explorer to the Highlander.
J.D. Power
recently did a comparison of their own, and these two vehicles are nearly equal in every measurement. 

Explorer vs Highlander: the specs

Before conducting an Explorer vs. Highlander analysis, we have to address the elephant in the room. Both of these models have a ton of trims to choose from. The Explorer offers 12 total trims, and the Highlander has 11. To keep everything apples to apples, we'll look at the mid-tier trims of each vehicle. 
The Ford Explorer Timberline has a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that can produce 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. It has a raised suspension of 8.7 inches versus 8 inches on other trims. It comes standard with four-wheel drive, and other trim options come with all-wheel drive.
All non-hybrid Highlanders come stock with a V6 engine. However, the Highlander's engines aren't turbocharged, limiting them to 295 hp and 263 lb-ft of torque. This is slightly weaker than the Explorer Timberline, but mostly unnoticeable. Regardless of trim, every Highlander only offers 8 inches of ground clearance. 
In terms of specifications, the Explorer Timberline has a slight edge over the Highlander. 
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Explorer vs Highlander: Which is the better value?

When comparing warranties between cars, most researchers need to build several spreadsheets. But that's not the case when comparing Explorer vs. Highlander warranties. The two cars have nearly identical warranties regardless of trim, with two notable examples: hybrids and roadside assistance. 
The Highlander hybrid has a slightly better battery warranty of 10 years/150,000 miles compared to the Explorer's warranty of 8 years/100,000 miles. Both hybrids have the same system warranty of 8 years/100,000 miles. As for roadside assistance, Ford will give you 5 years/60,000 miles and Toyota offers 2 years with no mileage limitation. 
Pricing between the two is also similar. The Ford Explorer is a little cheaper with a price range of $33,745 to $53,995. The cost of a Toyota Highlander will set you back anywhere from $35,405 to $47,560. 
MORE: Recall Alert: 661,000 Ford Explorers Could Be Prone To Runaway Roof Rail Covers

How to choose the right SUV

Clearly, the comparison between the Explorer and the Highlander is neck and neck. There's a reason these two SUVs have been so popular over the past decade or so. Both carmakers have maximized the features that are important to drivers. To tell which one is better is really a matter of taste, and can probably only be determined after a test drive. 

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