Ford Explorer vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was part of Toyota's extensive lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering both all-gas and hybrid options. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with models like the Highlander and RAV4, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 201.4 inches and a wheelbase of 116.1 inches, it provided a spacious interior, surpassing competitors like the Kia Telluride. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the 4Runner. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather.

The 2025 Ford Explorer continued its sleek design with a rear-wheel-drive platform, offering balanced proportions and a refreshed front end. The new LED taillights and various wheel designs enhanced its rugged appearance. Inside, the Explorer saw significant improvements in materials and design, making it competitive in its segment. Ford reduced the trim levels to four, including the new base trim Active, sporty ST-Line, luxurious Platinum, and performance-tuned ST. Prices ranged from $39,755 to $55,505. During a driving event, the ST-Line with RWD and additional packages showcased its features and performance.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options. The 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder produced 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. A 2.5-liter hybrid option delivered 245 combined horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain generated 362 horsepower and 400 lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with FWD and AWD, while the Hybrid Max was AWD only. The Hybrid Max boasted a 0-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander excelled in road manners, though it felt large and less maneuverable than its smaller counterpart. The brakes were solid, and acceleration was adequate, with three drive modes available: Sport, Eco, and Normal.

The 2025 Ford Explorer featured two EcoBoost engines. The turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder offered 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, while the twin-turbo 3.0-liter V6 provided 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque, standard on the ST and optional on the Platinum. All models had a 10-speed automatic transmission with RWD, and 4WD was optional. The Explorer's turbo four delivered quick acceleration, and the 10-speed automatic provided decisive shifts. The ST-Line's performance was enhanced with larger wheels and performance brakes. The Explorer handled well on winding roads, and the V6 engine offered fast acceleration and a pleasant sound.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its rivals, with a length of 201.4 inches and a wheelbase of 116.1 inches. It offered 97.5 cubic feet of cargo space, with 57.9 cubic feet behind the second row and 20.6 cubic feet with all seats up. The interior was spacious and comfortable, with ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row.

The 2025 Ford Explorer seated six in its standard configuration, with an optional second-row bench seat increasing capacity to seven. The ST-Line featured heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a Premium Package with additional comforts. The second-row captain’s chairs were comfortable, but the third row was less so for adults. Cargo space measured 16.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet behind the second row, and 85.8 cubic feet maximum.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. It included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. An intelligent assistant and cloud-based navigation were available via subscription. The 11-speaker JBL stereo was standard on higher trims.

The 2025 Ford Explorer introduced the Ford Digital Experience with a 13.2-inch touchscreen. It featured Google Built-in, Amazon Alexa, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. A 5G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot and B&O sound systems were available. The system was user-friendly, with Google Maps and Google Assistant integration.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander included Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring. Adaptive cruise control with four following-distance settings was also standard.

The 2025 Ford Explorer came with Ford CoPilot 360+, including adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assist. ST-Line and higher trims featured BlueCruise, Ford’s hands-free highway driving system. The Explorer had not been fully rated by NHTSA, but it earned five-star side-impact and four-star rollover resistance ratings.