2022 Toyota Highlander vs 2021 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Explorer had a design philosophy that embraced a consistent family resemblance among Ford's SUV lineup, harking back to the days when brand loyalty meant climbing a familiar price ladder. The exterior of the Explorer was sleek and sporty, with athletic lines and a bold front face that made it distinct within the Ford brand. Depending on the trim level, the Explorer displayed various grille designs ranging from austere black to dazzling full chrome, heightening its visual appeal as one ascended through its six trims: Base, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, ST, and Platinum. Starting at $32,925 and climbing to $52,730, each trim incrementally improved in both exterior and interior quality.

Inside, the Explorer boasted a standard three-row configuration with seating for seven in the base model, which had cloth upholstery. As one moved up the trims, finishing details improved significantly, with leather seats and additional real estate in the second row, albeit at the expense of third-row comfort for adults. The dashboard was organized, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen and a selection of large knobs and buttons for essential controls. Most buyers favored the XLT trim, which offered worthwhile upgrades like a power-adjustable front passenger seat and better finishes.

Conversely, the 2022 Toyota Highlander presented a more modern and aggressive front-end design, complemented by flared fender arches and distinctive glasswork around the third row. This design cleverly concealed its spacious interior. The variety of trims—L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, and Platinum—each brought forth specific features, enhancing the vehicle's appeal for different buyers at different price points.

The Highlander XSE, particularly, benefited from a sportier look with 20-inch alloy wheels, unique bumpers, and dual exhaust tips. Its interior startled with an optional bold red leather package set against a navy blue exterior. Most trims surpassed the Explorer in standard feature offerings like a pushbutton start, proximity keyless entry, and standard three-zone climate control from the base model upwards.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, despite its weight of 4,345 pounds at its lightest, came with a base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. Although seemingly underwhelming on paper, this engine performance was quite robust compared to its class competitors like the Kia Telluride. The same 10-speed automatic transmission paired across all trims provided a consistent driving experience. The engine lineup also included a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 in higher trims like the ST, which maxed out at 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, offering an engaging driving experience unprecedented for a three-row SUV.

On towing capacity, the Explorer excelled with ranges between 5,000 to 5,600 pounds across different configurations, making it a reliable choice for moderate towing needs, although it fell short compared to heavy-duty options like the Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander equipped itself with a 3.5-liter V6 engine generating 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. Coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, this engine catered to both front-wheel drive and available all-wheel drive configurations. The Highlander impressed with its drive mode options, including Sport, Normal, and Eco, as well as unique AWD system modes like Mud/Sand and Rock, enhancing its adaptability to various road conditions. Despite its 5,000-pound towing capacity, which was on par with the Explorer’s lower end, the Highlander delivered a more refined and balanced driving experience, particularly with the XSE's sport-tuned suspension that offered a pleasant mix of firmness and comfort.

The interior space of the 2021 Ford Explorer accommodated seven passengers in its base form, with subsequent trims opting for second-row captain's chairs that reduced capacity to six. The second row boasted 39-inch legroom, making it slightly more accommodating than average, but the third row remained less ideal for adults. With all seats active, the Explorer provided 21 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 81 cubic feet with both rear rows folded – a measure albeit lower than some smaller SUVs.

In comparison, the 2022 Toyota Highlander shone with its flexible seating arrangements. The second and third rows folded easily to unveil 84.3 cubic feet of cargo space, and even with the third row upright, it offered 16 cubic feet of storage. This utility was complemented by thoughtful design details such as deep cargo pockets, an array of storage compartments, and several cupholders, ensuring practicality during any journey.

Tech-wise, the 2021 Ford Explorer started strong with an 8-inch touchscreen featuring Ford's Sync 3 system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a 4G WiFi hotspot. Higher trims like the Limited pushed boundaries with a premium 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and options for a larger 10.1-inch touchscreen. Charging needs were met through multiple USB ports and 12-volt outlets, with the inclusion of a 110-volt outlet starting from the ST trim.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander matched the Explorer with an 8-inch screen on its base model, offering the same trio of Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Alexa integrations. It combined screen functionality with physical buttons, providing an interface that was still user-friendly. Higher trims could upgrade to a larger 12.3-inch screen, although it lacked some of the ease of use found in the base version. The Highlander also boasted several USB and USB-C ports, and wireless charging was a notable added convenience on mid-level trims.

Safety was a key strength for both vehicles. The 2021 Ford Explorer achieved a Top Safety Pick+ from IIHS with high ratings across crash tests. Standard safety features in Ford's Co-Pilot360 suite included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and forward-collision warning. However, advanced features like adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist required higher trims to access Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+.

The 2022 Toyota Highlander was rich in standard safety features with its Safety Sense suite, inclusive of forward-collision avoidance, emergency braking, pedestrian detection, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered even more advanced options like surround-view parking monitors and adaptive headlights, though its lane-keeping system was sometimes overly assertive.