2021 Ford Expedition vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a design that was somewhat unremarkable from the side, with a few updates from the previous model year, such as a more 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. Most trims, except the base L, featured projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, with the higher trims, Limited and Platinum, boasting prettier LED running lamps and new 20-inch wheels. The interior of the Highlander was where it truly shined, with quality fit and finish, silver-painted accents, and a multi-layered dash with an 8-inch touchscreen. The Limited trim had a three-tone interior with padded surfaces and rich textures, making it one of the nicest interiors in its class.

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum was a sight for sore eyes after a long flight, offering a plush and roomy interior. The Platinum trim was the most luxurious version, capping a lineup that started with the XL STX and included the XLT, Limited, and King Ranch. The test vehicle had Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, and second-row captain’s chairs, totaling $80,510. Despite its luxurious features, the Expedition struggled to accommodate all the luggage, highlighting the utility of minivans. The Expedition Platinum had a bold presence with an intricately detailed chrome grille, massive 22-inch wheels, and brightwork all around. The ride quality was affected by the 22-inch wheels, but the adaptive damping suspension and four-wheel independent suspension kept it stable on the road.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in either FWD or AWD. This engine delivered 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration without labor. 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 had loose steering and a soft suspension, which made it feel like an older Buick at speed. However, it offered a wonderfully isolating experience, calming drivers on long road trips. The Limited and Platinum trims included torque vectoring on the rear axle for AWD models and selectable driving modes. Fuel economy was impressive, with the FWD model rated at 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined, while the AWD model achieved 20/27/23 mpg.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and RWD or 4WD. The engine produced 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with the Platinum trim getting a boost to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, and the Expedition offered Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology. The twin-turbo V6 provided impressive acceleration, even with a full load, and the transmission operated smoothly. The Platinum’s 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, but the adaptive damping suspension and four-wheel independent suspension kept it stable. The Expedition averaged 17.1 mpg on the evaluation loop, with the EPA rating the 4WD model at 19 mpg combined.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander seated eight or seven with the second-row captain's chairs, standard on Limited and Platinum trims. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous adjustments 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 generous, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second, and 84 cubic feet when both were folded. The Highlander also featured eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash. The controls were simple and legible, with an easy-to-use infotainment interface.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, with large, wide seats for every passenger, including adults in the third row. The independent rear suspension ensured comfort in every seating position. Storage was plentiful, with cargo volume expanding from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded down, and a maximum volume of 104.6 cubic feet behind the front seats. The Expedition MAX offered even more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. However, the cargo floor’s liftover height was high, making it challenging to load heavy items.

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. However, the Highlander came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. Upper trims featured a 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster. The semi-automated driving system was effective, and the optional JBL audio system had 11 speakers. Standard features included SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports, along with a one-year trial for Safety Connect.

The 2021 Ford Expedition’s Sync 3 infotainment system was aging, with a small 8-inch touchscreen display that was sometimes slow to respond. However, it offered Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. The voice recognition system was enhanced for 2021, responding to basic commands but requiring specific language for more complicated requests. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. An available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system included dual viewing screens, a DVD player, gaming system inputs, and the ability to stream content from a mobile device.

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 IIHS awarded it a 2020 Top Safety Pick, and it scored top ratings in all six crash tests.

The 2021 Ford Expedition had a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, though the RWD model had a three-star rollover-resistance rating, and the 4WD model had a four-star rating. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Starting with Limited trim, the Expedition offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.