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Even if you owned or drove a Toyota or Ford SUV before, you may not know how the 2022 Toyota Highlander and the 2022 Ford Explorer measure up. For drivers near Saco, Portland, and Scarborough, Maine, we created this comparison to either confirm or upend your decision.
After you’ve done some soul searching, we welcome you to come to Ira Toyota Saco to test drive a Toyota. An in-person experience can be the icing on the cake when deciding.
So many similar elements appear in both vehicles. Once you dig in, though, you’ll see a few items that make a difference. The following is similar between the Toyota and Ford SUVs:
In the Highlander, you can also upgrade to a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a 4-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat.
Now, we’ll look at the dimensional differences:
| Third-Row Dimensions | Toyota Highlander | Ford Explorer |
| Hip Room | 45.6 inches | 40.9 inches |
| Shoulder Room | 55 inches | 54.6 inches |
In addition, the legroom in the Toyota stretches out to 41 inches in the second row, while the second-row legroom in the Ford reaches 39 inches.
More first-row headroom in the Highlander tops the Explorer. With the Toyota, it extends to 41.2 inches of front headroom, while the Ford gives you 40.7 inches of front headroom.
Again, you’ll see several similar safety systems in each SUV. Toyota provides Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+, or you can get Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ in the Explorer. Here, you’ll see how the systems compare:
| Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ | Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ |
| Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection | Pre-Collision Assist |
| Road Sign Assist | Speed Sign Recognition |
| Full-Speed Range Dynamic Radar Cruise Control | Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control |
However, there is a difference. Toyota Safety Sense™ 2.5+ comes standard in every trim. Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ does not come standard in every Explorer.
To get a bite-sized snapshot of your car’s operations, the optional 10-inch Head-Up Display in the Highlander projects that information onto the windshield. Unfortunately, no Head-Up Display surfaces in the Explorer.
How do you manage your drives in rough terrain or wild weather? If you opt for the Toyota, you’ll have either front-wheel drive (FWD) or available all-wheel drive (AWD) to conquer the road.
With the Ford, it supplies you with either rear-wheel drive or optional 4-wheel drive. It’s really up to your personal driving style to see what works better for you.
Both give you satisfying fuel efficiency, whether you’re driving far away from home or just around the corner. The Toyota Highlander achieves an EPA-estimated 21 city/29 highway MPG.1
If you’re considering the Ford Explorer, it achieves an EPA-estimated 20 city/28 highway MPG. While this comes close, that extra mile could make a difference.
Maybe you once owned or drove a Toyota or Ford SUV, but do you know if the 2022 Toyota Highlander or 2022 Ford Explorer suits you best? We hope this comparison can help shoppers around Saco, Portland, and Scarborough, ME, decide.
Schedule a test drive by contacting Ira Toyota Saco online.
1 EPA-estimated 21 city/29 highway/24 combined MPG rating for 2022 Highlander L FWD, LE FWD, XLE FWD, XSE FWD, Limited FWD, and Platinum FWD; EPA-estimated 20 city/27 highway/23 combined MPG rating for 2022 Highlander L AWD, LE AWD, XLE AWD, Limited AWD, and Platinum AWD. Use for comparison purposes only. Your mileage will vary for many reasons, including your vehicle’s condition and how/where you drive. See www.fueleconomy.gov.
