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 Flex 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 Flex 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 Flex offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature which would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

When descending a steep, off-road slope, the Highlander AWD's standard Downhill Assist Control allows you to creep down safely. The Flex doesn't offer Downhill Assist Control.

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 Flex doesn't offer Daytime Running Lights.

The Highlander Limited's optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The Flex doesn't offer a lane departure warning system.

Both the Highlander and the Flex 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, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

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 Flex:

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 Flex 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 Flex.

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 36% better than the Flex.

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.

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

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Toyota Highlander uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Flex Limited requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Highlander stops much shorter than the Flex:

For better traction, the Highlander has larger tires than the Flex (245/60R18 vs. 235/60R18).

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Highlander has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the Flex SE.

The Highlander's front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Flex's (55.3% to 44.7%). This gives the Highlander more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Highlander's turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Flex's (38.7 feet vs. 40.7 feet).

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

The Highlander is 10.7 inches shorter than the Flex, making the Highlander easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

To almost totally eliminate engine vibration in the passenger area, the Highlander has liquid-filled engine mounts. The liquid helps further dampen engine harshness. The Flex uses conventional solid rubber engine mounts.

The Highlander has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Flex can only carry 7.

The Highlander has 3.4 inches more front legroom, 1.7 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 2.1 inches more rear hip room, 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room, 4.5 inches more third row hip room and 4.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Flex.

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

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

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

Maximum trailer towing in the Ford Flex is limited to 4500 pounds. The Highlander offers up to a 5000 lbs. towing capacity.

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 Flex's 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.

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 Flex doesn't offer a locking fuel door.

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

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Highlander Limited detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Flex doesn't offer automatic dimming high beams.

Insurance will cost less for the Highlander owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Highlander will cost $360 less than the Flex 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 Flex only retains 44.16% to 46.27%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Toyota Highlander will be $6142 to $7357 less than for the Ford Flex.

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 Flex isn't in the top three.