2022 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Toyota Highlander was anything but boring. It stood out among midsize SUVs with its wide headlights, long hood, and assertive trapezoidal grille. The character line along its side, reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and Lexus-like taillights added to its distinctive look. The Highlander XSE trim, with its aggressive front end and 20-inch wheels, aimed to blend sportiness with practicality, though it leaned more towards luxury, especially in the Limited trim with its upscale chrome accents and near-flawless interior fit and finish.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Explorer King Ranch, while visually appealing with its King Ranch emblems, shiny 20-inch wheels, and quad exhaust outlets, didn't stand out as much from other Explorer models. Its rear-drive platform allowed for a long and tall hood, giving it a taut, athletic appearance. Inside, the King Ranch featured exclusive Del Rio leather seating and a mix of quality and questionable materials. The Explorer's cabin, while mostly worthy of its price point, occasionally reminded drivers of its base trim 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 both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. While not designed for drag races, the Highlander provided smooth and predictable operation, making it a reliable family car. The XSE trim added higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, power steering, and a rear stabilizer bar for a slightly sportier feel, though it remained more comfortable than sporty.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine generating 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid drivetrain, available for the Limited and Platinum trims, combined a 3.3-liter V6 engine with an electric motor for a total of 318 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. The top-tier ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims featured a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine producing 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque. The King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg and provided robust performance, though the hybrid powertrain offered a better blend of power, efficiency, and capability.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander excelled in interior space and comfort. It featured large shelves ahead of the front seats, a wireless charging pad, and plenty of legroom for second-row passengers. The third row, while accommodating adults with the second row moved forward, was best suited for children. Cargo space was 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 84.3 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2022 Ford Explorer King Ranch offered comfort for families of four, with heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row captain’s chairs, and massaging front seats. However, the third-row seat was difficult for adults to access and lacked legroom. Practical storage space within the cabin was limited, though the King Ranch featured a hands-free power liftgate and 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row. Folding the third row down provided 47.9 cubic feet, and folding both rear rows down offered 87.8 cubic feet of cargo volume.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came with an 8-inch touchscreen on lower trims and a 12.3-inch touchscreen on the Limited and Platinum trims. Both systems were user-friendly, with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The 12.3-inch screen was bright and crisp, though it only displayed certain apps in full width. The JBL audio system was good but not exceptional.

The 2022 Ford Explorer featured two versions of its Sync 3 infotainment system: an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.1-inch portrait-style touchscreen. The King Ranch trim included FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. It also had a wireless smartphone charging pad, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. However, the Sync 3 system struggled with voice recognition and navigation, highlighting the need for an upgrade to Sync 4.

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

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. It came with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also featured post-collision braking and MyKey programmable vehicle functions.