2021 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Toyota 4Runner

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner had a timeless design characterized by tall slab sides, a high beltline, short overhangs, and a near-vertical front fascia. Its utilitarian attitude was reminiscent of an XJ Jeep Cherokee, with flared wheel wells designed to accommodate bulky off-road tires and short overhangs for tackling steep pitches and sharp declines. The hood scoop, a visual cue for the off-road-focused TRD trim, was one of the few non-functional elements. Small, angular headlights highlighted the front end, and the grille varied by trim, with body-color bars on most trims and blacked-out accents on the TRD Pro. The Limited trim featured bright chrome accents.

The 4Runner's trim lineup included SR5, SR5 Premium, TRD Off-Road, TRD Off-Road Premium, TRD Pro, and Limited, with the Nightshade Special Edition and Venture Special Edition trims adding a stealth aesthetic and off-road capabilities, respectively. The Limited trim, aimed at comfort-focused shoppers, featured leather upholstery and an 8-inch touchscreen. Despite the chrome and leather, the 4Runner Limited's utilitarian DNA was evident, with plenty of plastic and a seating position designed for off-roading rather than highway cruising.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had a family resemblance to other Ford SUVs, with a sporty, raked beltline and squinting visages. Depending on the trim, the grille varied from black to chrome, with six trim levels ranging from the base to the Platinum. Prices ranged from $32,925 to $52,730, with exterior and interior quality improving as you climbed the trim ladder. Inside, the Explorer offered three rows of seats as standard, with cloth upholstery on the base model. The dash was clean, with familiar gauges and an 8-inch LCD touchscreen dominating the center stack. The center console housed a rotary gearshift, freeing up space for storage.

Most consumers opted for the XLT trim, which offered better equipment like a power front passenger seat and nicer finishes. Leather upholstery was standard on the Limited, ST, Platinum, Timberline, and King Ranch models. The Explorer's interior was designed for comfort, with three rows of seats and a clean, functional dashboard.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured a 4-liter V6 engine with 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, managed by a 5-speed automatic transmission. This engine was designed for durability and off-road capability rather than fuel efficiency, with an EPA estimate of 16 mpg city, 19 highway, and 17 combined. The 4Runner's towing capacity was up to 5,000 pounds, and its body-on-frame construction made it ideal for off-road adventures. The 4Runner's steering was heavy and vague, with significant body roll in corners. The full-time 4WD system on the Limited trim was better suited for maintaining forward progress, while the part-time system in the TRD models excelled at crawling up boulders. Advanced traction systems like Toyota's CRAWL control and Multi-Terrain Select enhanced the 4Runner's off-road performance.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, at its lightest, weighed 4,345 pounds and featured a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The Limited Hybrid offered a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, delivering 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, with the sport-oriented Explorer ST offering 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. All trims were equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Explorer's towing capacity ranged from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and engine. While the Explorer's performance was more about towing power, the ST trim provided the most engaging driving experience.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner offered excellent outward visibility and a relatively tidy turning radius of 18 feet, 7 inches. The dashboard featured large, chunky knobs for HVAC controls and slightly smaller knobs for the stereo. The steering wheel had an array of buttons for various functions, but they were not illuminated, making them difficult to use in the dark. The 4Runner's tall seating position and power-retractable running boards made it easy to climb in and out. The optional third row of seats in non-TRD and non-Venture trims was best suited for short and occasional use, with narrow and thin jump seats that folded toward the floor when not in use.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had seating for seven in the base trim, with captain's chairs in the second row for other trims, reducing seating capacity to six. The Explorer offered 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, putting it ahead of some competitors but behind others like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. With the third row deployed, the Explorer provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space, but overall cargo volume with the rear seats folded was 81 cubic feet, comparable to smaller SUVs.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. Toyota's proprietary system was not difficult to understand, but the onboard navigation system was less user-friendly than Google Maps. The 4Runner also offered Amazon Alexa compatibility, Bluetooth connectivity, a single USB media port, and various subscription services. Higher trims included features like a JBL stereo and navigation system. While the 4Runner had advanced off-road features, its infotainment system lagged behind competitors in total features and usability.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, with AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, and a six-speaker audio system. The Limited trim added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio, with higher trims offering a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers. The Explorer provided multiple charging options, including USB ports and 12-volt power points, with the ST trim featuring a 110-volt AC power outlet.

The 2020 Toyota 4Runner came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), which included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure alert, a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, and automatic high beams. The 4Runner also had eight standard airbags. The NHTSA awarded the 4Runner four out of five stars overall, with three out of five in the rollover test. The IIHS gave the 4Runner a Good rating in most crash tests, except for a Marginal rating in the small overlap front: driver-side test. The adaptive cruise control worked well, but the high center of gravity and imprecise steering made a more active lane-keeping assist system desirable.

The 2021 Ford Explorer was rated as a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, with top "Good" scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer's base trim included the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, with features like auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Higher trims included the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite, with adaptive cruise control, lane centering, evasive steering assist, a forward sensing system, rain-sensing wipers, and speed sign recognition.