2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Explorer showcased Ford's traditional SUV designs, closely mirroring its "small, medium, large, XL" approach, which spanned models like the Escape, Edge, Explorer, and Expedition. This consistency in design lent the Ford SUV lineup a strong family resemblance. From the outside, the Explorer had a refined visual appeal, although it could be challenging to differentiate between an Edge and an Explorer at a quick glance. The Explorer's sportier raked belt lines and distinctive front end set it apart from other brands' SUVs.

Ford offered the 2021 Explorer in six distinct trims, each providing unique aesthetics and features. Starting with the base trim at $32,925, the lineup included the XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, the performance-oriented ST, and the high-end Platinum, which topped out at $52,730. The grille design varied by trim, featuring combinations of black, chrome, and more intricate details. Inside, the Explorer boasted three rows of seats as standard, with cloth upholstery in the base model. Higher trims introduced more premium materials, including leather in trims like Limited, ST, and Platinum. The XLT, the most popular trim, featured power-adjustable front seats, enhanced finishes, and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen. The dashboard was clean and user-friendly, dominated by an 8-inch LCD touchscreen and complemented by substantial knobs and buttons for the audio and climate systems.

Conversely, the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Limited presented a rather ordinary external appearance, even with its fully-loaded test vehicle status priced at $42,083. Its 18-inch wheels appeared bland and undersized, lacking the adventurous styling found in its non-hybrid Adventure trim. However, the RAV4 Hybrid maintained a robust aesthetic, which could have been enhanced with bolder wheels.

The interior of the RAV4 Hybrid was a mix of stylish and functional elements, although the quality was inconsistent, with both high-end materials and glossy hard plastics. Highlights included a comfortable eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, a heated steering wheel, and both heated and ventilated front seats. Rear-seat passengers benefited from decent legroom, good foot space, and reclining backrests. However, some aspects, such as a rattle from behind the front seats, detracted from the overall premium feel.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's performance metrics varied considerably across its trims. The base model, weighing in at 4,345 pounds, was powered by a 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing an impressive 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque despite its hefty weight. This engine outperformed competitors like the Kia Telluride's V6 engine. The Explorer's 10-speed automatic transmission, with SelectShift capability, was standard across all trims.

The Limited Hybrid trim introduced a V6 hybrid drivetrain delivering 310 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque. Higher trims featured a robust 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, offering between 365 to 400 horsepower and up to 415 pound-feet of torque, particularly in the performance-oriented ST trim. The Explorer excelled in towing capacity, handling between 5,000 and 5,600 pounds, depending on the trim and options, which, while solid, wasn't class-leading.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid combined a 2.5-liter four-cylinder gas engine with front and rear electric motors and a lithium-ion battery, collectively producing 219 horsepower. Despite being 83 horsepower shy of the RAV4 Prime, this hybrid powertrain delivered lively acceleration, thanks to instant electric-motor torque. The RAV4 Hybrid's Continuously Variable Automatic Transmission (CVT) operated smoothly, avoiding the common droning issues.

Weighing between 3,690 and 3,780 pounds, the RAV4 Hybrid offered a nimble and engaging driving experience, aided by multiple driving modes like Eco, Normal, Sport, Trail, and EV. This hybrid achieved an impressive EPA-rated 40 mpg in combined driving, with real-world tests averaging 39.7 mpg. Toyota's use of a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear suspension provided a comfortable ride, while an Active Cornering Assist system enhanced handling. However, the vehicle's all-season tires underperformed in terms of grip, limiting its cornering prowess.

The 2021 Ford Explorer's interior was designed with practicality in mind. The base model seated seven, while other trims reduced capacity to six due to the inclusion of captain's chairs in the second row. Second-row passengers enjoyed 39 inches of legroom, slightly ahead of competitors like the Nissan Murano and Buick Enclave, but trailing the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Despite its third-row seating, the Explorer offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats in use, expanding to 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid provided a comfortable and accommodating interior, featuring an eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel in our test model. Rear passengers benefited from decent legroom, good foot space, and reclining backrests, along with heated seats and air conditioning vents. The dashboard layout was intuitive, with oversized and grippy climate control and stereo knobs.

In terms of cargo capacity, the RAV4 Hybrid offered 37.5 cubic feet with the rear seats up and expanded to 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded, falling short of the Explorer's maximum cargo volume.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came well-equipped with technology. The base model featured an 8-inch touchscreen, AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford's Sync 3 infotainment system, and a six-speaker sound system. Higher trims like the Limited added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio, with even higher trims providing an upgrade to a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers in the B&O sound system. The Explorer offered multiple USB ports and 12-volt power points, with the ST trim including a 110-volt AC power outlet.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid featured several infotainment options, with either a 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen display. All systems included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and SiriusXM satellite radio. Our test vehicle's premium setup included an 11-speaker JBL audio system, dynamic navigation, and robust connected services with multiple trial subscriptions. The RAV4 Hybrid's 8-inch display was user-friendly, offering dynamic voice recognition and comprehensive camera-based technologies like a 360-degree surround-view system and rearview camera mirror.

The 2021 Ford Explorer excelled in safety, earning a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, thanks to "Good" scores across all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for its adaptive headlights. The base Explorer included the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite, featuring advanced safety features such as auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist and alert, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. The Limited trim and above added features like adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and speed sign recognition.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 (TSS 2.0), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, forward automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, lane-centering assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and road-sign recognition. Most trims also featured blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning. The Hybrid Limited trim added rear automatic braking. While TSS 2.0 was generally effective, some functions, like lane-centering and adaptive cruise control, exhibited occasional odd behavior in heavy traffic.

The RAV4 Hybrid earned favorable safety ratings, with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top marks from the IIHS, except for its headlights.