2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. It stood out with its wide headlights, long hood, and assertive trapezoidal grille. The character line along its side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and taillights that seemed borrowed from a Lexus model, gave it a distinctive look. The Highlander XSE trim added a more aggressive front end, 20-inch wheels with black accents, and a unique front fascia, making it appear sportier. The Limited trim, with chrome roof rails and accents, looked upscale and luxurious, especially on the inside with its near-flawless fit and finish, tan leather seats, and wood details.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted us with its plush and roomy interior after a long flight. The Platinum trim, the most luxurious in the lineup, featured Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, and a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package. Despite its impressive exterior with a chrome grille and 22-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, the Expedition struggled to accommodate all our luggage. The extended-length Expedition MAX would have been a better fit for our needs. Inside, the Expedition's leather-lined cabin and large, wide seats provided comfort, although the use of hard plastic reminded us of its origins.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered smooth and predictable operation, making it a reliable family car. While it wasn't designed for drag races, it handled highway merging with ease. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar, enhancing driving excitement without turning it into a track beast.

The 2021 Ford Expedition, on the other hand, boasted a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine with 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, upgraded to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft in the Platinum trim. Its 10-speed automatic transmission and 4WD provided impressive acceleration, even with a full load. The Expedition's towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, and it featured Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology. The Platinum's 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, but the adaptive damping suspension and four-wheel independent suspension kept it stable. The FX4 Off-Road Package added off-road capabilities, although our test vehicle didn't include it.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and functionality. It featured large shelves ahead of the front seats for cell phones and a wireless charging pad in the center console. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom, with seats that moved forward and backward. However, the third row was cramped for adults. Cargo space behind the third row was 16 cubic feet, expanding to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded and 84.3 cubic feet with both rows down.

The 2021 Ford Expedition offered large, wide seats for all passengers, including adults in the third row. The independent rear suspension ensured comfort, and storage for odds and ends was plentiful. Cargo volume expanded from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 104.6 cubic feet with all seats down. The Expedition MAX provided even more space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with it folded, and 121.5 cubic feet with all seats down.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims, while the Limited trim offered a 12.3-inch touchscreen as an option. The Platinum trim had the 12.3-inch screen standard. Both systems were user-friendly, with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across the lineup. The JBL audio system sounded good, but the navigation system struggled with points of interest.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen. While the interface was user-friendly, the display felt small and sometimes slow to respond. Sync 3 included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, FordPass Connect, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and navigation. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system and wireless smartphone charging. An available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system offered additional entertainment options.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, road-sign assist, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams. The NHTSA awarded it five stars, and the IIHS named it a Top Safety Pick+.

The 2021 Ford Expedition, with its substantial curb weight, earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA. However, its rollover-resistance rating was three stars with RWD and four stars with 4WD. Standard safety features included Ford Co-Pilot360, with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high beams. Limited trim and above offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, semi-autonomous parking assistance, and a 360-degree camera system.