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Suv Showdown: Ford Explorer Vs Toyota Grand Highlander – Which Reigns Supreme?

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to...

What To Know

  • The Ford Explorer comes standard with a variety of features, including a touchscreen infotainment system, a rearview camera, and a blind-spot monitoring system.
  • However, the Grand Highlander offers more standard features than the Explorer, including a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, and a wireless charging pad.
  • If you’re looking for an SUV with excellent fuel efficiency and a long list of standard features, the Toyota Grand Highlander is a great choice.

The Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander are two of the most popular three-row SUVs on the market. They both offer a spacious interior, plenty of features, and a comfortable ride. But which one is the better choice for you? In this blog post, we’ll compare the Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander in terms of price, performance, fuel efficiency, features, and safety. We’ll also provide our recommendation for which SUV is the best overall value.

Price

The Ford Explorer has a starting price of $33,245, while the Toyota Grand Highlander starts at $36,420. This means that the Explorer is the more affordable option, but the Grand Highlander offers more standard features for the price.

Performance

The Ford Explorer is powered by a 2.3-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that produces 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. The Toyota Grand Highlander is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque. Both SUVs come standard with all-wheel drive.

In terms of performance, the Explorer has a slight edge over the Grand Highlander. It’s faster and more powerful, and it handles better. However, the Grand Highlander is still a capable SUV, and it’s more fuel-efficient than the Explorer.

Fuel Efficiency

The Ford Explorer gets an EPA-estimated 21 MPG in the city and 28 MPG on the highway. The Toyota Grand Highlander gets an EPA-estimated 20 MPG in the city and 27 MPG on the highway. This means that the Grand Highlander is slightly more fuel-efficient than the Explorer.

Features

The Ford Explorer comes standard with a variety of features, including a touchscreen infotainment system, a rearview camera, and a blind-spot monitoring system. The Toyota Grand Highlander also comes standard with a touchscreen infotainment system, a rearview camera, and a blind-spot monitoring system. However, the Grand Highlander offers more standard features than the Explorer, including a sunroof, a heated steering wheel, and a wireless charging pad.

Safety

The Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander both received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Explorer received a five-star rating in all crash tests, while the Grand Highlander received a four-star rating in the rollover test.

Both SUVs come standard with a variety of safety features, including airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control. The Explorer also offers a number of available safety features, including adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Grand Highlander offers a similar range of available safety features.

Which One Should You Choose?

The Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander are both excellent three-row SUVs. The Explorer is the more affordable option, and it offers a more powerful engine and better handling. The Grand Highlander is more fuel-efficient and offers more standard features.

Ultimately, the best SUV for you depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you’re looking for an affordable SUV with plenty of power and good handling, the Ford Explorer is a great choice. If you’re looking for an SUV with excellent fuel efficiency and a long list of standard features, the Toyota Grand Highlander is a great choice.

Seeking More Information

If you’re still not sure which SUV is right for you, we recommend doing some additional research. You can read reviews from other consumers, compare prices from different dealerships, and even test drive both SUVs before making a decision.

Top Questions Asked

1. Which SUV has more cargo space?

The Toyota Grand Highlander has more cargo space than the Ford Explorer. The Grand Highlander has 16.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row of seats, while the Explorer has 18.2 cubic feet.

2. Which SUV has a better infotainment system?

The Toyota Grand Highlander has a better infotainment system than the Ford Explorer. The Grand Highlander’s infotainment system is more user-friendly and has a larger touchscreen.

3. Which SUV is more reliable?

The Toyota Grand Highlander is more reliable than the Ford Explorer. The Grand Highlander has a lower repair frequency and a higher predicted reliability rating from J.D. Power.

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Mike Sullivan

Mike has spent over 15 years working in the automotive industry and is a lifelong Ford truck guy. He currently drives a 2018 Ford F-150 Lariat that he enjoys customizing on the weekends. As editor of wheelsgeeks.com, Mike focuses on sharing his passion for Blue Oval vehicles through reviews, how-to guides and industry news updates. When he's not writing about Ford, you can find Mike cheering on his favorite NFL team at the local pub on game days.
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