2020 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2020 Ford Explorer was a striking vehicle, boasting a refined, upscale design that was more handsome than its competitors. Its athletic appearance was enhanced by widened headlights, a large grille, and distinctive "Explorer" lettering. The ST version, with its blacked-out trim and sporty features, was particularly eye-catching. However, the interior did not match the exterior's appeal. Despite its high price, the materials felt subpar, with low-grade vinyl and hard plastics dominating the cabin. The Explorer's interior lacked the luxury expected at its price point, making it feel overpriced compared to competitors like the Kia Telluride and Toyota Highlander.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Forester maintained a more traditional SUV look with its boxy, upright shape. While its styling was not groundbreaking, it appealed to those seeking a clean and unpretentious design. The Forester Sport model added some flair with orange accents and black alloy wheels, enhancing its visual appeal. Inside, the Forester's no-nonsense interior was built to withstand wear and tear, with practical materials and a splash of color in the Sport trim. The Forester's interior was functional, if not luxurious, offering a straightforward and durable environment for everyday use.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered a range of powerful engines, with the ST trim featuring a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, delivered smooth and addictive power. The Explorer's rear-wheel-drive chassis provided excellent handling, with precise steering and flat cornering. The Explorer also offered a 2.3-liter turbo inline-four engine with 300 horsepower and a hybrid option with 318 horsepower. Towing capacity varied from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the engine. The Explorer's performance was impressive, especially in the ST trim, making it a standout in its class.

The 2021 Subaru Forester, on the other hand, was equipped with a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. While adequate for most situations, the engine lacked the power needed for confident highway merging and overtaking. The Forester's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with noticeable body roll in corners. However, its standard all-wheel-drive system and X-Mode provided good traction on various surfaces. The Forester's towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, making it less suitable for heavy-duty tasks compared to the Explorer.

The 2020 Ford Explorer excelled in interior space, offering ample room for passengers and cargo. The second row felt luxurious with air vents, USB ports, and a panoramic moonroof. The third row accommodated adults for short trips, though the bench was flat. Cargo space was generous, with 18 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second, and 88 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Explorer's controls were intuitive, with physical knobs and switches, though visibility was hindered by thick D-pillars and fuzzy cameras.

The 2021 Subaru Forester provided above-average headroom and legroom, thanks to its tall roofline. The cabin felt airy, with excellent visibility, though sunlight could raise the temperature. Cargo space was generous, with 35.4 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded. While it lacked a sliding second-row bench, a power liftgate was available on higher trims. The Forester's interior was practical, with well-sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was small, and wireless charging was unavailable.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi. Higher trims offered a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. While the interface was user-friendly, it lacked innovation, and system updates required an external WiFi connection. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ system offered semi-automated driving features, though it was not as refined as competitors' systems.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured the Starlink infotainment system with a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Bluetooth. Higher trims added an 8-inch touchscreen, Harman Kardon audio, and navigation. The system was easy to use, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, though the screen was slow to boot up. Additional displays showed secondary information, but the setup felt overly complex, with redundant information across screens.

The 2020 Ford Explorer included Ford Co-Pilot 360 as standard, with features like forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keep assist. The Assist+ option added adaptive cruise control and reverse braking, though the latter could activate falsely. The Explorer received an "Acceptable" rating in the IIHS small overlap test on the driver's side, but NHTSA ratings were not available.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the IIHS "Top Safety Pick+" award with top ratings in all crash tests. NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating. The Forester came standard with EyeSight, a camera-based driver-assist system, and offered a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus. EyeSight included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and reverse automatic braking.