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’ll want to make the best decision for you and your lifestyle.
So, which one is a better fit? The team at Five Star Ford Dallas is here to compare the Explorer and the Highlander for our friends and families near Dallas, Plano, and Richardson.
MAXIMUM HORSEPOWER
MAXIMUM TOWING CAPACITY
MAXIMUM SPEAKERS
The Ford Explorer and the Toyota Highlander can do anything. These superhero SUVs have robust engines under the hood to get you from Point A to Point B and to help elevate your next adventure.
Burly SUVs like the Explorer and the Highlander need to have a lot of power 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:
- 2.4L 4-cylinder: 265 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque
- Hybrid 2.5L: 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’s more room for customization:
- 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4: 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque
- 3.0L EcoBoost® V6: 400 horsepower and 415 lb-ft of torque
- 3.3L Hybrid: 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.
If the Explorer has more power under the hood, does it also have greater hauling capabilities? Yes! When properly equipped, the Ford can tow up to 5,600 pounds worth of equipment, whereas the Toyota can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Despite this 600-pound difference, both models will easily be able to tow a small recreational boat, a pop-up camper, an ATV, a small hard-side RV, and more!
You’ve got a long commute ahead. How do you pass the time? Digging into a new audiobook? Tuning in to your favorite podcast? Queuing up some of your favorite music? With standard smartphone integration and impressive sound systems, the Explorer and the Highlander will help you make the most of the miles.
Few feelings are better than rolling down the windows on a nice day while the breeze flows through your hair and your favorite music is blaring through the speakers. The Explorer and the Highlander set themselves apart from the competition in this regard, as they both offer standard Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ capabilities.
What’s really important, though, is having a premium audio experience. They both come standard with six speakers, but the Ford has an available 14-speaker B&O® Sound System by Bang & Olufsen®, whereas the Toyota offers an optional 11-speaker system from JBL®.
The Ford’s three additional speakers offer a more immersive and wraparound experience.
While you’re driving, danger can strike at any moment. However, the Ford and the Toyota help provide 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
- Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control
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 can’t compare.
The Ford Explorer and the Toyota Highlander are neck and neck, but the team at Five Star Ford Dallas believes the Ford Explorer is the superior vehicle based on its engine options, specs, infotainment, and safety features.
Are you interested in taking the Explorer out for a test drive on the streets around Dallas, Plano, or Richardson? Contact us today for an appointment!
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