Ford Explorer vs Toyota Highlander

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Are you ready for new and exciting adventures? The Ford Explorer and the Toyota Highlander are here to take you anywhere your heart desires. Either one of these amazing SUVs would be a great choice, but you want to make the best decision for you and your lifestyle.

So, which one is a better fit? Russell & Smith Ford is here to compare the Explorer and the Highlander for our friends and family near Houston, Sugarland, and Missouri City, Texas.

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Explorer vs Highlander: Engine Options & Specs

Burly SUVs like the Explorer and the Highlander need to have a lot of power flowing through them in order to perform at their best. Thankfully for drivers of these amazing sets of wheels, you’ll get exactly that. Let’s start by taking a look at the engines in the Toyota:

• 3.5L V6: produces 295 horsepower and 263 lb-ft of torque
• Hybrid 2.5L: produces 243 combined net horsepower, with a combustion engine that produces 186 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque

While that’s certainly a lot of power, the Ford has more to say. With three available engines, there is more room for customization:

• 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4: produces 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque
• 3.0L EcoBoost® V6: produces 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque
• 3.3L Hybrid: produces 318 horsepower and 322 lb-ft of torque

As you can see, not only do you have more engine options with the Explorer, but you’ll also have access to more power.

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Ford Explorer vs Toyota Highlander: Infotainment

There are few feelings that are better than rolling down the windows on a nice day while the breeze flows through your hair and your music is blaring through your speakers. The Explorer and Highlander set themselves apart from the competition in this regard, as they both offer standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ capabilities. Both SUVs can also interact with Amazon’s Alexa!

What’s really important, though, is having a premium audio experience. They both come standard with six speakers, but the Ford has an available 12-speaker B&O Sound System by Bang & Olufsen, whereas the Toyota offers an optional 11-speaker system from JBL.

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Ford vs Toyota: Safety Features

While you’re driving, danger can strike at any moment. However, the Ford and the Toyota give you the confidence that you can avoid an incident altogether with many amazing safety features and technologies.

Both sets of wheels come with similar features that include:

• BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert
• Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking
• Lane-Keeping System
• Auto High-Beam Headlamps
• Rear View Camera

Parking is also a breeze in both the Ford and the Toyota, as they both offer available front and rear parking assist features with audio alerts that occur more frequently the closer you get to an object. However, the parking feature in the Ford, Active Park Assist 2.0, can locate a space for you—and, with the push of a button, it can park itself!

Unfortunately, the parking feature in the Toyota doesn’t park itself.

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Ford Explorer vs Toyota Highlander: Winner