2020 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Toyota RAV4

The 2020 Ford Explorer was noted for its handsome exterior, which outshone even the Land Rover Discovery. Ford refined the Explorer’s design to appear lower and more athletic, with widened headlights, an extra-large grille, and italic "Explorer" lettering giving it a prominent and recognizable face. Enhanced by black 21-inch rims, blacked-out trim, red brake calipers, rich Rapid Red paint, and quad exhaust pipes, the Explorer ST I tested was positively hot and garnered attention everywhere I drove.

However, the interior lacked the polish expected at its price point. The so-called leather felt like low-grade vinyl, and the door panels were dominated by hard, rough-grained plastic, reminiscent of municipal garbage cans. This unfortunate choice of materials extended to the air vents, center stack, and center console. While the padded top of the dashboard and aluminum speaker covers added a touch of sophistication, overall, the Explorer's interior felt cheap compared to competitors like the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander, despite its hefty price tag.

The 2020 Toyota RAV4, having undergone a bold redesign in 2019, flaunted a more angular and durable appearance. The TRD Off-Road trim I reviewed pushed the RAV4’s aesthetic appeal with unique matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, all-terrain tires, and Lunar Rock gray paint that concealed dirt effectively. Inside, rubber floor and cargo mats complemented the TRD logos, while quality construction was evidenced by plush padding and soft-touch upper door-panel trims, although some inexpensive-looking plastics were present.

In terms of performance, the 2020 Ford Explorer brought impressive options under the hood. It featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine delivering 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The rear-wheel-drive chassis, a significant upgrade over the previous front-wheel-drive platform, enhanced weight distribution and handling. The nimble and crisply turning ST trim, upgraded by Ford Performance engineers, provided a superb driving experience, from its brisk acceleration to precise steering and excellent brake feel.

Most Explorers came with a 2.3-liter turbo inline-four engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. A gas-electric hybrid option with a 3.3-liter V6 and single electric motor netting 318 horsepower was also available, though its fuel economy gains were marginal. Towing capacities ranged from 5,000 pounds with the hybrid to 5,600 pounds with the V6 AWD.

On the other hand, the 2020 Toyota RAV4 was powered by a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine yielding 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. The RAV4 Hybrid model, unavailable in TRD Off-Road trim, produced 219 horsepower and offered impressive fuel efficiency, up to 40 mpg combined. A forthcoming plug-in hybrid variant, the RAV4 Prime, promised even higher performance.

An 8-speed automatic transmission managed the non-hybrid RAV4's power, working well most of the time, though occasionally confused about gear selection. The TRD Off-Road trim featured a torque-vectoring AWD system with multi-terrain select settings, providing notable off-road capability with 8.6 inches of ground clearance. Yet, the RAV4 generally served typical urban needs effectively, with features like a 360-degree camera easing parking and a robust suspension absorbing urban imperfection gracefully.

The 2020 Ford Explorer excelled in passenger comfort and cargo space. On a road trip to Maine, the ample room for passengers and gear was evident. The second row offered first-class amenities like air vents, USB ports, a robust center console, and a panoramic moonroof. Ford enhanced third-row accessibility with easy-exit captain’s chairs. However, cargo space behind the third row was reduced to 18 cubic feet from 21. Nevertheless, larger totals behind the second row and with all seats folded—48 and 88 cubic feet, respectively—positioned the Explorer among the largest in its class.

Comparatively, the 2020 Toyota RAV4 was accessible, with convenient seating hip points and an 8-way adjustable driver's seat. While the front passenger's seat lacked height adjustment, it provided good support. The rear seats offered generous legroom and amenities like USB ports and air conditioning vents. The RAV4’s cargo space measured 37.6 cubic feet behind the rear seats, extending to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded down. An accommodating roof rack further enhanced storage capabilities.

The 2020 Ford Explorer featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi standard. The higher trims offered a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster, making map viewing easier and controlling features like massaging seats user-friendly. However, the infotainment system lacked innovation, as updates required an external WiFi connection.

In contrast, the 2020 Toyota RAV4’s technology was lauded for its ease of use. The infotainment system included a 7- or 8-inch touchscreen, the larger size benefiting the TRD Off-Road trim. Standard features encompassed Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and extensive connected services. The system was user-friendly, supported by shortcut buttons and climate controls separated from the screen. The optional Technology Package brought premium additions like wireless smartphone charging and a digital rear-view mirror.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came with Ford Co-Pilot 360, which included forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, auto high beams, lane-keep assist, and a front-passenger knee airbag. The Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control and reverse automatic braking, though it had some issues with false activation. The Explorer received an Acceptable rating in the small overlap crash test by the IIHS.

Toyota outfitted the 2020 RAV4 with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, featuring pre-collision with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, lane departure alert, front and rear parking assist, and blind-spot monitoring. These systems worked seamlessly. Toyota also provided a complimentary year of Safety Connect services. The RAV4 earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, given it had the full LED, curve adaptive headlights.