- [Narrator] For the past 20 years,
Highlander has been the go-to for families
and weekend adventurers alike,
thanks to its Toyota dependability, value and safety,
blending perfectly with its everyday utility and efficiency.
The story is no different for 2021,
with highlights that include seating for up to eight
and technological prowess both inside and out.
That said, the midsize SUV segment is about
as competitive as it gets,
and Ford's Explorer has seen many updates
since its launch as well.
So let's see how these two compare today.
With seating for up to eight,
convenient in dash storage, and an available 12.3-inch
touchscreen, Highlander's interior punches
well above its weight.
Highlander exemplifies Toyota's resale value reputation,
consistently winning value awards
and praise for its low ownership costs.
Traction is the name of the game for Highlander,
with a range of advanced drivetrain systems
including available Dynamic Torque Vectoring
All-Wheel Drive and Electronic On-Demand All-Wheel Drive.
Highlander brings a full suite
of state-of-the-art technology inside.
A standard eight- or available 12.3-inch touchscreen
offer standard compatibility for Apple CarPlay,
which connects drivers to Apple Music, Maps, Messages
and other favorite apps from your iPhone.
In addition, Android Auto compatibility
makes it easy to stay connected to Android devices,
while Amazon Alexa connectivity
keeps Amazon's digital assistant just a question away.
Plus there's a standard SiriusXM
three-month All Access trial subscription
to more than 300 radio channels accessible
throughout the country.
Explorer also offers a standard 8-inch touchscreen
but it's available touchscreen upgrade
can't match Highlander's.
And while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are supported,
there is no compatibility with Amazon Alexa.
That said, Explorer does come with a SiriusXM three month
All Access trial like Highlander.
Safety is a priority on every Highlander,
and it's standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+
makes that clear, offering advanced systems
like Lane Departure Alert with Steering Assist,
Dynamic Radar Cruise Control and Road Sign Assist.
TSS 2.5+ also includes intersection support enhancement,
a driver initiated emergency steering assist enhancement
and more.
Plus helpful convenience tech like Blind Spot Monitor
with Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Front and Rear Parking
Assist with Automatic Braking are also available.
Explorer comes standard with Ford Co-Pilot 360;
although without Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control
with Speed Sign Recognition or Evasive Steering Assist,
the suite can't match Highlander's.
Explorer does offer Blind Spot
Information System with Cross-Traffic Alert
and Reverse Sensing System as standard however.
Highlander comes with an available stout
and reliable V6 engine that offers 295 horsepower
and an EPA estimated 24 miles per gallon
combined rating on front-wheel-drive models.
Meanwhile, Highlander's available hybrid powertrain
has an impressive EPA estimated 36 miles per gallon
combined rating on front-wheel-drive models.
Explorer is equipped with a four-cylinder
turbocharged engine that offers similar power
and fuel economy as Highlanders V6,
but its hybrid powertrain option is only
available on the Limited grade and has an
EPA-estimated 27 miles per gallon combined rating.
Additionally, a twin turbocharged V6 engine is available
at extra cost, which offers added horsepower
but lowers fuel economy to an EPA-estimated
21 miles per gallon combined rating.
With as much a focus on utility as on comfort
and convenience, Highlander offers a seven or eight-seat
layout and a cavernous in-dash storage area.
There's also an available Head-Up Display
and digital rear view mirror,
and even a 1500-Watt cargo outlet on select hybrid grades.
Finally, a rear-seat reminder is standard.
The seven-seat Explorer isn't able to match Highlander's
seating for eight,
but it does offer some interesting tech,
like an available 12.3-inch digital instrument panel.
Highlander's sleek, contoured, and modern body shape
showcases tech that matters. LED lighting is standard,
as is a Smart Key System that allows entry and exit
by simply touching the door handle.
Explorer also includes LED headlights and taillights,
but the Intelligent Access System that rivals
Toyota's Smart Key System is unavailable on the base model.
Highlander can be had in six gas grades,
with all-wheel drive available on each.
Opting for the all-new XSE grade, the Limited,
or the Platinum makes Dynamic Torque Vectoring
All-Wheel Drive available.
Additionally, four of Highlanders grades
are offered in hybrid form,
all of which can be equipped with Electronic
On-Demand All Wheel Drive.
Explorer is offered in five gas grades,
with four-wheel drive offered on Base, XLT,
and Limited grades, and standard on ST and Platinum grades.
There is a single hybrid grade,
Limited, with available four-wheel drive.
Highlander offers unrivaled value
that is otherwise unseen in the segment.
This is easily proven by the many awards
it has already racked up, like IntelliChoice's
2020 Best Overall Value Award,
and one of Kelley Blue Book's 12 Best Family Cars in 2020.
On top of this value proposition
the included ToyotaCare maintenance plan
with roadside assistance and hybrid battery warranty,
make Highlander ownership
one of the easiest decisions on the market.
(calm music)