Your family is growing, another baby on the way, perhaps? Is your current wagon just not big enough to handle your need for more transport space? If your answer is ‘yes’ to both questions, you’re probably looking at buying an SUV – a versatile, economical, comfortable, and super-safe utility vehicle.
An SUV, or Sports Utility Vehicle, combines the comfort and performance of a passenger car with the load capacity of a van or truck. The interior of an SUV is designed to carry more passengers and more cargo than a conventional sedan. The Toyota Highlander and Ford Explorer are midsize SUVs.
Raising a family implies budget savvy. Unpredictable expenses are part of the equation, always. Having a comfortable, economical, and dependable transporter for your spouse and kids is mission-critical. A wise buy will make your life easier.
So let’s start with a purchase price-point of $35,000. The Toyota Highlander and the Ford Explorer are SUVs worth considering. Let’s ride!
Is It Wise To Buy an SUV on Purchase Price Alone?
When you’re on a tight budget and shopping for a new family vehicle, there is a set of critical cost considerations beyond the vehicle’s purchase price.
For budget-conscious buyers, the vehicle’s life-cycle costs (aka cost-to-own [CTO], or total-cost-of-ownership [TCO]) must be wisely considered.
These are expenses that are incurred to keep the vehicle in top shape for the duration of your ownership period so that you can resell it for the highest possible price.
What is Cost-to-Own (CTO)?
Cost-to-Own is the amount you will spend on your new family transporter during its life with you. These include its purchase price and its running costs, calculated to determine the cost-efficiency of a Capital Asset, a business tool, albeit a tool used for the business of building a family.
Factor in these expenses:
- Purchase price.
- Running costs:
- Fuel costs
- Consumables costs (tires, oils, lubricants etc.)
- Maintenance & Repair costs (labor time, parts, tires)
- Insurance costs
You will eventually want to sell the vehicle for the best price. This is determined by Vehicle Resale Value, which forms another component of a simple formula to calculate CTO:
Purchase Price + Running Costs – Resale Value = CTO
As a parent with growing children, you’ll make a wise purchase if you follow the principles of ‘optimum vehicle selection’ – choosing the right tool for the job – and the CTO formula.
OK. With the technicalities of vehicle purchasing out of the way, let’s cut to the chase and look at the midsize SUVs, the Toyota Highlander and the Ford Explorer, as possible SUV family wagon choices for your particular needs.
You’ve budgeted for a $35K price tag (give a take a couple of hundred dollars either way) on an SUV that can handle your expanding transportation requirements = more people, pets and more stuff.
You’re looking for the best value ‘utility’ rather than ‘sports’ characteristics in your SUV. You’re not going to go overlanding in the thing – you’re going to be running around town mostly, with the odd sedate road trip on highways and manageable dirt roads.
Thus, your optimum vehicle selection criteria are:
- Best price
- Fuel economy (around 20 mpg in the city)
- More seating (6+ seats)
- More cargo space (big enough to load a single bed)
- Comfort (plush but rugged interior with good infotainment system)
- Reliability (must rate 80%+ with accredited research house)
- Safety (as many modern safety features and technologies as possible)
- Performance (good road handling and engine responsiveness)
Let’s compare the two SUVs now and see how they stack up in meeting your selection criteria and CTO considerations.
What 2021 Model Toyota Highlander Can I Get for $35K?
The 2021 Toyota Highlander L is the base model of the range, retailing at $35,085.
What 2021 Model Ford Explorer Can I Get for $35K?
The 2021 Ford Explorer XLT is the second-from-base model of the range, retailing at $35,075.
SHOOTOUT – Which SUV is Better for My Family?
Customer Criteria
Price*
Highlander L: $35,085
Explorer XLT: $35,075
Winner: Explorer
Fuel Economy
Highlander L: 21/29mpg comb.
Explorer XLT: 21/28mpg comb.
Winner: Highlander
Seats
Highlander L: 8
Explorer XLT: 6/7
Winner: Highlander
Total Cargo Space
Highlander L: 84.3 cubic feet
Explorer XLT: 87.8 cubic feet
Winner: Explorer
Comfort Rating*
Highlander L: 7.4/10
Explorer XLT: 6.6/10
Winner: Highlander
Reliability*
Highlander L: 85/100
Explorer XLT: 74/100
Winner: Highlander
Safety*
Highlander L: 9.9/10
Explorer XLT: 9.8/10
Winner: Highlander
Performance*
Highlander L: 6.8/10
Explorer XLT: 7.3/10
Winner: Explorer
Total Score
Highlander L: 5/8
Explorer XLT: 3/8
Highlander Wins
* Source of data – www.usnews.com – www.jdpower.com
Is the Toyota Highlander a Better Family SUV than the Ford Explorer?
On paper, the Toyota Highlander L pips the Ford Explorer XLT by a nose or two. But it’s prudent to dig a little deeper to understand why the 2021 Toyota Highlander L is the better SUV for a young and growing family.
Fuel Economy
There’s not much separating the Toyota Highlander L and the Ford Explorer XLT when it comes to fuel efficiency. A mere one mile per gallon in favor of the Highlander, according to JD Power research.
The Highlander has a bigger engine (3.5 Liter) than the Explorer (2.3 Liter) You’d be forgiven if you assumed the bigger engine would guzzle more gas. This is not the case.
The fact that the Highlander is a front-wheel-drive SUV and the Explorer a rear-wheel drive SUV contributes to the marginal difference in consumption figures due to the lower weight of FWD drivetrain componentry.
Seating
The Highlander is a clear winner in this department, with eight seats in a three-row configuration. The seats are cloth-covered and comfortable, although the third-row bench is a tight fit with little legroom.
The Explorer has the option of two captain’s chairs or a three-seat conventional bench in the second row, with a two-seat bench as the third row. The seats are cloth-covered but lack the comfort of the Highlander.
Both the Highlander and the Explorer have four LATCH child safety seat connectors.
Cargo Space
Can they both fit a single bed in the back? Yes! The Highlander and the Explorer can both fit a queen-size mattress in their load areas with all rear seats folded down.
How much can you load with the seats up?
- Toyota Highlander: 16 cubic feet with all seats up; 48.4 with third-row bench down, and (as mentioned earlier) 84.3 cubic feet with all rear seats in the down position.
- Ford Explorer: 18.2 cubic feet with all seats upright; 47.9 cubic feet with third-row bench down; and 87.8 cubic feet with all rear seats in the down position.
Comfort
Although they’re both at the bottom of their respective model ranges, the Toyota Highlander L and the Ford explorer XLT are fitted with several comfort features found in premium-class SUVs.
Driving Comfort Features
Toyota Highlander L
- Back-Up Camera
- Cruise Control
- Adaptive Cruise Control
- Climate Control
- Vehicle Anti-Theft System
- Interior Cargo Shade (Optional)
- Keyless Start
- Steering Wheel Controls
- Trip Computer
- Keyless Entry
- Power Door Locks
- Heated Mirrors
- Power Mirrors
- Driver Vanity Mirror
- Power Steering
Ford Explorer XLT
- Back-Up Camera
- Cruise Control
- Adaptive Cruise Control (Optional)
- Vehicle Anti-Theft System
- Keyless Start
- Rear Parking Aid
- Power Liftgate
- Steering Wheel Controls
- Leather Wrapped Steering Wheel
- Trip Computer
- Keyless Entry
- Power Door Locks
- Heated Mirrors
- Power Mirrors
- Driver Illuminated Vanity Mirror
- Power Steering
The Highlander earns a higher score for ‘comfort’ than the Explorer, despite the Explorer listing more comfort features. Hard plastic interior finishes in the Explorer let it down. The Highlander has a plush finish and scores above average for its class.
Both SUVs have good infotainment systems with optional extras.
Reliability
Two factory recalls (engine and airbags) have compromised the Explorer’s ‘reliability’ rating. The Highlander scores very well in the ‘reliability’ category, in typical Toyota style.
Safety
Vehicle safety technologies, be they ‘active’ or ‘passive’ have come a long way in recent years. Both the Highlander and Explorer are equipped with state-of-the-art accident prevention systems to keep your family ultra-safe.
The following safety systems are standard in both the Highlander and the Explorer:
Airbags all-round; ABS all round; Brake Assist; Electronic Stability Control; Traction Control; Lane Departure Warning; and Lane Keeping Assist.
One difference is the Explorer has a Cross Traffic Alert signal. Both score extremely well in the safety ratings.
Performance
The Explorer is the more responsive SUV with its turbocharged engine and RWD drivetrain. While both SUVs have an automatic transmission, the Explorer pushes out more horsepower and torque than the Highlander.
Conclusion
The Toyota Highlander L and the Ford Explorer XLT are both excellent entry-level midsize SUVs. Deciding which suits you best will ultimately depend on who will drive your new SUV the most. The Highlander is more reliable and sedate – a good choice for mom. The Explorer has more sportiness and its interior is more robust – a good choice for dad. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but let the kids decide!
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