2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Ford Explorer presented a cohesive design strategy that aligned with Ford's SUV lineup, characterized by its sporty, raked belt lines and distinctive front visage. Despite its resemblance to the Edge, the Explorer stood out with its six trim levels, each offering unique grille designs and escalating in luxury and price from the base model to the Platinum. Inside, the Explorer provided three rows of seating as standard, with the base model featuring cloth upholstery. The interior was designed for functionality, with a clean dashboard, an 8-inch LCD touchscreen, and a spacious center console. The XLT trim, favored by most consumers, offered enhanced features like a power front passenger seat and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen, while higher trims included leather upholstery.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 embraced a rugged exterior design, setting it apart from previous generations and other compact crossovers. Its aggressive styling, with boxy fender flares and a scowling front end, gave it a distinctive presence. Built on the Toyota New Global Architecture platform, the RAV4 shared its underpinnings with other Toyota models, offering a solid foundation. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road models added unique styling elements and off-road capabilities. Inside, the RAV4 featured functional touches like large rubberized knobs and door handles, with material quality varying across trims. The TRD Off-Road model included SofTex upholstery, but real leather was not available, even on the top-tier Limited trim.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, weighing in at 4,345 pounds at its lightest, offered a range of powertrains. The base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivered 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, outperforming some competitors. The Limited Hybrid trim increased power to 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque, while higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, producing 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque. The sport-oriented Explorer ST offered the most engaging performance with 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque. The Explorer excelled in towing capacity, ranging from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 came with a single gasoline engine option, the "Dynamic Force" 2.5-liter four-cylinder, producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque. It was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and AWD optional. The RAV4 Hybrid and RAV4 Prime offered more power, with 219 hp and 302 hp, respectively. The Dynamic Force engine boasted 40% thermal efficiency, but the transmission struggled to keep up, and the steering lacked feel. The RAV4's off-road capabilities were enhanced in the Adventure and TRD Off-Road models, with features like a torque-vectoring rear axle and 8.6 inches of ground clearance. The TRD Off-Road model also had a 3,500-pound towing capacity.

The 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven in the base model, with captain's chairs in higher trims reducing capacity to six. It provided 39 inches of legroom for second-row passengers, surpassing some competitors. With the third row in use, the Explorer offered 21 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, this total cargo volume was less impressive compared to some rivals.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 featured a tall, upright roof, providing ample headroom and good visibility. Legroom was slightly behind competitors, and while the front seats were comfortable, the rear seats were less so. The RAV4 offered 37.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place, with a wide aperture for easy loading. The interior included oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls, but storage space on the console was limited.

The 2021 Ford Explorer came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen as standard, offering features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. Higher trims included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and an optional 10.1-inch touchscreen. Charging options included two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with a 110-volt AC power outlet available on higher trims.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 featured standard Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa compatibility. Most trims had a 7-inch touchscreen, with larger screens available on higher trims. The infotainment system was user-friendly but not particularly advanced. The RAV4 offered up to five USB ports and an optional JBL premium audio system.

The 2021 Ford Explorer received a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features was standard, including blind-spot monitoring and automatic emergency braking. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests but mixed headlight ratings. The NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall rating. The standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 bundle included features like forward-collision warning and lane-departure warning. Higher trims added features like blind-spot monitoring and a 360-degree camera system.