Ford Explorer vs Toyota Highlander
The Ford Explorer vs. Toyota Highlander choice comes down to who rides in the third row and how you split your miles between town and highway. At 24 Ford of Easton, we help families near Easton, Raynham, and Stoughton, Massachusetts, weigh those details with real numbers.
A family with teenagers in the way back, a commuter chasing fuel savings, and a weekend camper towing a small trailer will each lean a different way. Both are 3-row midsize SUVs with seating for up to seven or more, so space, power, and everyday tech decide it.
Key Takeaways
- The Explorer gives you more legroom in every row, so teens and adults can ride comfortably in the third row.
- Both tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, so your passengers and your commute decide it.
- A standard 300-hp EcoBoost, available Intelligent 4WD, and up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity make the Explorer ready for snowy winters and summer trailer trips.
See the Explorer and Highlander Specs
Curious how these two SUVs stack up once you set the brochures aside? The table below puts the specs that shape your daily drive side by side: engine power, real-world fuel economy, cabin space, and towing. Look at the passenger volume and third-row legroom first. That's where the Explorer gives your family room to stretch out on every trip:
| Spec | Ford Explorer | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Standard engine | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4, 300 HP / 310 lb.-ft. | 2.4L Turbo I-4, 265 HP / 310 lb.-ft. |
| Max towing (properly equipped) | 5,000 pounds | 5,000 pounds (3,500 Hybrid) |
| Third-row legroom | 31.8 inches | 28.0 inches |
| Max cargo volume | 85.3 cubic feet | 84.3 cubic feet |
If you fill all three rows most weekends, the Explorer's extra legroom and passenger volume pay off on every family trip to Gillette Stadium. If your week is mostly solo highway miles, the gas models finish within one MPG of each other, which leaves the Highlander Hybrid as Toyota's efficiency play.
Third-Row Room for Growing Families
If you use the third row often, the Explorer is the roomier pick, with 31.8 inches of third-row legroom compared with 28.0 inches in the Highlander.
That extra space matters as kids grow into teenagers, or when grandparents ride along for a Sunday drive to Borderland State Park. The Highlander counters with an available second-row bench that raises seating to eight on select grades. Cargo stays close behind the third row, at 16.3 cubic feet in the Explorer and 16.0 in the Highlander, while the Explorer's available PowerFold third-row seats drop at the push of a button.
Power and Fuel Economy for Daily Drives
The Explorer's standard 2.3L EcoBoost makes 300 horsepower, 35 more than the Highlander's gas engine, which helps when you merge onto Route 24 with a full cabin.
At the pump, the gas versions finish close. Edmunds lists EPA-estimated ratings of 20 city, 28 highway, and 23 combined MPG for the Explorer, against 21, 28, and 24 for the Highlander, and both carry a 17.9-gallon tank.
The Highlander includes all-wheel drive, while the Explorer offers available Intelligent 4WD. For more performance, the Explorer ST steps up to a 3.0L EcoBoost V6 with up to 400 hp. Both SUVs tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped
Tech and Driver Assistance Behind the Wheel
Every Explorer includes a 13.2-inch center display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Highlander comes with a standard 8.0-inch screen and an available 12.3-inch screen.
Edmunds scores the Explorer's in-cabin tech 9.7 out of 10, versus 7.6 for the Highlander. Comparing the Explorer Active with the Highlander XLE, Edmunds notes that the Explorer includes parking assistance as standard, while the Highlander XLE adds standard heated seats. Both include adaptive cruise control, with Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ on the Explorer and Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ on the Highlander.*
The Explorer adds available BlueCruise hands-free highway driving, which helps on a long I-495 run to Cape Cod with the family.
FAQs
Which has more third-row room, the Explorer or Highlander?
The Ford Explorer has more, with 31.8 inches of third-row legroom versus 28.0 inches in the Toyota Highlander. That added space makes the Explorer's third row more comfortable for teens and adults.
Does the Ford Explorer offer all-wheel drive?
Yes. The Explorer offers available Intelligent 4WD on most trims, and it comes standard on the Tremor. The system sends power where traction is needed for confidence on snowy New England roads.
Which SUV tows more, the Ford Explorer or the Toyota Highlander?
They tie at up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Highlander Hybrid drops to 3,500 pounds, so the Explorer offers more towing if you want the most efficient Highlander. Sources: Ford, Toyota
Test Drive the Ford Explorer in Easton
Your third-row passengers will feel the Ford Explorer vs. Toyota Highlander difference first, so bring them along. Load everyone into an Explorer at 24 Ford of Easton, drop the PowerFold seats, and try the 13.2-inch screen on a loop down Route 138.
Twenty minutes behind the wheel tells you more than any spec sheet about how the Explorer fits life near Easton, Raynham, and Stoughton, MA. Book your test drive today and bring the car seats.
*Source: Edmunds
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