2020 Ford Expedition vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a design that was more refined compared to its predecessor, with a slanted tailgate glass and more pronounced body panel creases. The trapezoidal theme was evident in various parts of the vehicle, including the tailgate's license plate cutout, rear bumper, headlights, grille, and lower front bumper. Higher trims featured projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, with 20-inch wheels available on the Limited and Platinum trims. The interior was where the Highlander truly shined, with quality fit and finish, silver-painted accents, and a multi-layered dash. The Limited trim boasted a three-tone interior with padded surfaces and rich textures, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class.

The 2020 Ford Expedition, last redesigned in 2018, had a clean and somewhat boring design that aged well. The King Ranch model stood out with 22-inch aluminum wheels, a mesh grille insert, LED headlights, and exclusive gray-painted lower exterior trim. The interior featured special Del Rio leather in Mesa over Ebony, with numerous King Ranch cattle-brand logos. While the cabin was nice, there was a noticeable amount of hard plastic, especially in the lower-level XLT trim. The King Ranch and Platinum trims, priced upwards of $75,000, offered a more luxurious experience, but the Lincoln Navigator was a better option for those seeking higher quality.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). This engine delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The eight-speed automatic transmission made full use of the engine's power, though it required a heavy foot to initiate a kickdown. The Highlander's steering was loose, and the suspension was soft, leading to a ride that felt like an older Buick. However, the vehicle's cushy nature made for a relaxing driving experience, especially on long road trips. Fuel economy was impressive, with the FWD model achieving 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined, while the AWD model managed 20/27/23 mpg.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The 10-speed automatic transmission provided smooth power delivery to the rear wheels or the optional four-wheel-drive (4WD) system. The Expedition had a ground clearance of 9.8 inches (9.7 inches for the MAX 4WD) and impressive towing capacities of 9,300 pounds for the standard rear-drive model and 9,200 pounds for the 4WD model. The adaptive damping suspension on the King Ranch trim helped control ride motions, though the 22-inch wheels sometimes made the ride busy on imperfect pavement. Fuel economy was decent, with an average of 17.7 mpg in the King Ranch RWD, slightly below the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander could seat eight or seven with the second-row captain's chairs, standard on Limited and Platinum trims. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous legroom and easy access to the third row. The Highlander offered three-zone climate control, a 120-volt outlet, side window shades, and a heated second row on upper trims. Cargo space was ample, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. The interior featured eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash for additional storage.

The 2020 Ford Expedition excelled at towing, carrying cargo, and hauling people. The King Ranch model featured power running boards for easy access, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain's chairs provided first-class accommodations, with easy access to the third-row bench. The third-row seat was genuinely comfortable for adults, thanks to the independent rear suspension. The standard-length Expedition offered 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, while the long-wheelbase MAX version provided 34.3 cubic feet. With the third row folded, the Expedition offered 57.5 cubic feet (73.3 with the MAX) and 104.6 cubic feet (121.5 with the MAX) with the second row folded.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander featured an outdated infotainment system with low-resolution screens and a convoluted process for using onboard apps. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum, had limited usable area due to constant display of climate and fuel economy information. However, the Highlander came with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. Upper trims featured a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch instrument cluster display. The semi-automated driving system, adaptive cruise control, road sign detection, and automatic high beams were standard. The optional JBL audio system had 11 speakers, and the vehicle included SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports.

The 2020 Ford Expedition's 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system felt inadequate for such a large and expensive SUV. The Sync 3 system was easy to use but sometimes slow to respond. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Other highlights included a navigation system, an available Bang & Olufsen premium sound system, a rear-seat entertainment system, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The trailer technology was particularly helpful for frequent towing, providing a knob on the dashboard to control the SUV's steering while reversing a trailer.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. The Highlander had a driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it a 2020 Top Safety Pick, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not yet rated it.

The 2020 Ford Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Expedition's advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) worked smoothly and accurately. In NHTSA crash tests, the Expedition earned 5-star ratings in every test and a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the Expedition at the time of the review.