The Highlander Limited's optional pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Explorer doesn't offer pre-crash pretensioners.

The Highlander has standard Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash Injury Lessening Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Explorer doesn't offer a whiplash protection system.

The Highlander Limited offers optional Pre-Collision System, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn't react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Explorer offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature which would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Toyota Highlander has Daytime Running Lights to help keep it more visible under all conditions. Canadian government studies show that driving with lights during the day reduces accidents by 11% by making vehicles more conspicuous. The Explorer doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

Both the Highlander and the Explorer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Ford Explorer:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Explorer:

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Toyota Highlander is safer than the Ford Explorer:

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Highlander its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2016, a rating granted to only 73 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Explorer is not even a standard “Top Pick” for 2016.

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Highlander for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn't pay scheduled maintenance for the Explorer.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without their vehicle while it's being repaired. Consumer Reports predicts that the Highlander's reliability will be 37% better than the Explorer.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota 9th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 12th.

J.D. Power and Associates' 2015 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota third in reliability, above the industry average. With 77 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 24th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Toyota Highlander V6 is faster than the Ford Explorer V6:

On the EPA test cycle the Highlander gets better fuel mileage than the Explorer:

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Explorer with the 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Explorer:

The Highlander XLE AWD handles at .81 G's, while the Explorer XLT 4WD pulls only .77 G's of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Highlander XLE AWD executes Motor Trend's “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Explorer Limited (27.8 seconds @ .62 average G's vs. 29.2 seconds @ .56 average G's).

For better maneuverability, the Highlander's turning circle is .2 feet tighter than the Explorer 4WD's (38.7 feet vs. 38.9 feet). The Highlander's turning circle is 1.1 feet tighter than the Explorer Sport's (38.7 feet vs. 39.8 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Highlander has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Explorer (8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Highlander to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Toyota Highlander may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the Ford Explorer.

The Highlander is 6 inches shorter than the Explorer, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Explorer can only carry up to 7.

The Highlander has 1.1 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more rear hip room, 4.9 inches more third row hip room and 4.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Explorer.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Highlander's middle and third row seats recline. The Explorer's third row seats don't recline.

The Highlander's cargo area provides more volume than the Explorer.

The Highlander's optional rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Explorer's rear cargo window doesn't open.

The Highlander's standard front power windows open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Explorer's standard passenger windows don't open or close automatically. The Highlander Limited/Platinum's front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches. With the Explorer XLT/Limited/Sport's power windows, only the front windows open or close automatically.

The Highlander has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent vandalism, such as sugar in the tank and fuel theft. The Explorer doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports rated the Highlander's headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Explorer's headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

The Highlander's standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the Explorer XLT/Limited/Sport.

Bluetooth wireless connectivity is standard on the Highlander, connecting the driver and passenger's cell phones to the vehicle systems. This allows them to use the vehicle's stereo and hand controls to place calls safely and easily. Bluetooth costs extra on the Explorer.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $285 to $1685 less than the Explorer over a five-year period.

The Highlander will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the Highlander will retain 58.27% to 61.09% of its original price after five years, while the Explorer only retains 48.22% to 52.36%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $4795 to $7166 less than for the Ford Explorer.

The Toyota Highlander has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Highlander second among midsize SUVs in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner's expectations. The Explorer isn't in the top three.