2020 Ford Explorer vs 2019 Toyota RAV4

The first thing one would have noticed about the 2019 Toyota RAV4 was its striking look. Its big, chunky design, along with sharp edges, clearly drew inspiration from the Toyota Tacoma pickup. This aggressive and futuristic design conveyed a certain strength, visible throughout its side-profile styling and rear sections where Lexus-inspired taillights could be seen. The RAV4 also featured a character line that broke up the rear C-pillar, a common but sometimes unappealing design trait. For the two-tone color schemes, which were available in seven options with either gray or black roofs, the design made sense. However, in monotone color schemes, this black strip across the rear pillar came off as unnecessary clutter.

Contrasting the robust exterior, the RAV4’s cabin was simple and elegant. It integrated many features into the new floating touch screen, while other controls were packaged in a distinctive "pod" extending from the center dash to the cupholders. Available trims included LE, XLE, XLE Premium, Adventure, and Limited, with each offering its unique features. For instance, the LE came with steel 17-inch wheels, LED lighting, and power side mirrors, among other standard features. The XLE trim, recommended by CarGurus, added 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic high beams, integrated fog lights, and sport bucket seats, among others.

The XLE Premium further added 19-inch alloy wheels, a power rear liftgate, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Adventure trim turned more rugged with unique 19-inch wheels, a distinct grille, black fender cladding, and orange interior accents. The range-topping Limited trim aimed for an upscale look with chrome alloy wheels, puddle approach lights, and options for more luxurious features like heated/ventilated seats and a panoramic moonroof.

The 2020 Ford Explorer, in contrast, refined an already handsome look that drew design elements from the upscale, utilitarian Land Rover Discovery. With its widened headlights and bold, extra-large grille, the Explorer cast a prominent face, accentuated further in the ST version with black 21-inch rims, red brake calipers, and quad exhaust pipes. Losing some of its excess body fat, especially in the rear, gave it a lower, more athletic stance.

Inside, though, the Explorer did not fare as well aesthetically. The interior, despite the considerable cost, failed to align with luxury standards offered by competitors like Mercedes or Lexus. Materials felt subpar, with leather resembling low-grade vinyl, rough-grained plastics on door panels, and hard plastics framing the vents and console. While the dashboard featured some padding and the switchgear felt solid, these elements couldn't compensate for the overall lack of refinement. The predominant all-black interior in ST models contributed to a less-than-luxurious feel, despite splashes of white stitching and aluminum speaker covers attempting to break the monotony.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 was powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, delivering 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission. This setup drove either the front wheels or an optional all-wheel drive (AWD). For AWD, there were two options: the base AWD found in most trims and a more advanced torque-vectoring AWD exclusive to the Adventure and Limited trims. The XLE test model featured the base AWD, offering Snow, Sand & Mud, and Rock & Dirt drive modes. The torque-vectoring AWD went further, actively distributing engine power to the wheels in real-time, enhancing off-road capability.

While the 2.5-liter engine was adequate for highway driving, it showed weak points in low-end power and became noisy during acceleration or stop-and-go traffic. Ride quality was decent, but steering felt twitchy and body roll noticeable, contributing to an awkward driving experience, especially through fast corners. Even with a heavy rear feel, the RAV4 managed to preserve some off-road prowess, thanks to the Adventure trim and torque-vectoring AWD, traits its rivals largely lacked.

The RAV4's fuel economy was commendable, with the front-wheel-drive version delivering 26 mpg city and 35 highway. The AWD version offered 27 city and 34 highway, and even the more capable torque-vectoring AWD returned a respectable 25 city and 33 highway.

The 2020 Ford Explorer featured a robust lineup of engines. The ST trim boasted a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided smooth, uninterrupted power with impressive handling thanks to a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) chassis. Cornering was flat, and brake feel was superb, showcasing a nimble machine despite its size.

Additionally, the Explorer offered a 2.3-liter turbo inline-four engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque as standard on most models. A hybrid option combined a 3.3-liter V6 with an electric motor for a total of 318 horsepower, though it didn't deliver a significant fuel economy benefit. The V6 engines required more frequent fuel stops, with the ST and Platinum trims with AWD achieving 18 mpg city, 24 highway. Towing capacities varied from 5,000 pounds for the hybrid to 5,600 pounds for the V6 AWD models.

Seven drive modes in the Ford, including ones for rocks, sand, snow, and towing, adjusted various vehicle settings for optimal performance.

The cabin of the 2019 Toyota RAV4 aimed for both practicality and an upscale feel. The center stack pod housed climate controls, a large tray for personal items, drive-mode controls, and a stocky shifter. The interior offered plenty of storage options, including a deep center console bin and a dash tray on the passenger side. Cargo space was ample with 37.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. Although slightly down from the previous model year, it still surpassed competitors like the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee, though not the Honda CR-V or Subaru Forester.

The 2020 Ford Explorer showcased remarkable interior space. On a family road trip, it provided ample room for passengers and luggage, with air vents, USB ports, and an expansive moonroof enhancing the experience. The third row, now more spacious, could accommodate six-foot-tall adults for short journeys, and the second-row captain's chairs facilitated easy exit. Despite cutting down on cargo space behind the third row to 18 cubic feet, the overall cargo space improved significantly with 48 cubic feet behind the second row and 88 cubic feet with all seats folded, outclassing many competitors in its segment.

Practical features like physical knobs and switches for major controls were a relief after previous touch-sensitive disasters, though thick D-pillars caused some visibility issues.

In the 2019 Toyota RAV4, the LE trim started with a 7-inch touchscreen running Entune 3.0, which included Apple CarPlay but not Android Auto. Standard tech features encompassed Bluetooth, one USB port, and a WiFi hotspot. The XLE trim bumped this up to five USB ports distributed across the cabin. Higher trims like the Adventure and Limited offered advanced features such as a panoramic reversing camera, a 7-inch instrument panel display, and an upgraded JBL stereo system. Despite Toyota's previous reluctance to integrate CarPlay, the simple yet functional layout of the new system was a win for users.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring Sync 3, supporting both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard features included keyless entry, remote start, 3-zone climate control, and SiriusXM. The keyless entry keypad allowed users to lock valuables inside the car and access them later with a code. Higher trims offered a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, though the customization options were limited and some features felt incomplete. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ included semi-automated driving capabilities, though its lane-tracking performance trailed behind competitors.

The 2019 Toyota RAV4 came standard with a comprehensive safety suite called Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, and dynamic radar cruise control. Additional features included traffic-sign detection and Lane-Tracing Assist, which kept the vehicle centered in its lane. Standard safety equipment also included a full array of airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

The 2020 Ford Explorer was equipped with Ford Co-Pilot 360, providing forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, auto high beams, and lane-keep assist. The Assist+ option added features like adaptive cruise control with steering assist and reverse braking. Standard safety also included a passenger front knee airbag. While the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration hadn't yet tested the 2020 Explorer, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety had given it an Acceptable rating on the small overlap driver's side test.