Head-to-head
2026 Ford Expedition vs 2026 Toyota Highlander
The Toyota Highlander edges it, 88 to 82.5, on fuel & range, safety. The Ford Expedition is ahead on performance and space & cargo. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 3.2 and it flips.
A
2026 Ford Expedition
The 2026 Ford Expedition is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Expedition 2WD, is EPA-rated at…
vs
A2026 Toyota Highlander
The 2026 Toyota Highlander is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid and gas large SUV with 3 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Highlander Hybrid …
Verdict · default weights
2026 Toyota Highlander
Slight edgeThe Toyota Highlander edges it, 88 to 82.5, on fuel & range, safety. The Ford Expedition is ahead on performance and space & cargo. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 3.2 and it flips.
Fuel & range2026 Toyota Highlander leads by 48.1
Performance2026 Ford Expedition leads by 53.5
Safety2026 Toyota Highlander leads by 12
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Expeditionoverall 82.5 | 2026 Toyota Highlanderoverall 88 |
|---|---|---|
| Pricew 4 | no data | no data |
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 51.9 | 100 |
| Safetyw 4 | 88 | 100 |
| Space & cargow 2 | 100 | 87.5 |
| Performancew 2 | 100 | 46.5 |
| Tech & comfortw 3 | no data | no data |
| Warrantyw 2 | no data | no data |
| Overall | 82.5 | 88 |
Ford Expedition: base trim XL SSV 4WD · Toyota Highlander: model-level data. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Raise the performance weight from 2 to 3.2 and the answer flips.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
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Specifications side by side
46 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | — |
| Cylinder count | 6 | — |
| Engine displacement | 3,500 cc | — |
| Engine type (full description) | 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | — |
| Fuel injection system | gdi mpi | — |
| Valve configuration | TI-VCT | — |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | 400 hp | — |
| Torque | 480 lb-ft | — |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.73 | — |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | — |
| Transmission type | automatic | — |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | 8.7 in | — |
| Overall height | 78 in | — |
| Overall length | 210 in | — |
| Overall width | 80 in | — |
| Wheelbase | 123 in | — |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | 109 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | 60.8 cu-ft | — |
| Cargo volume behind 3rd row | 21.6 cu-ft | — |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | 8 | — |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | 40.7 in | — |
| Second-row headroom | 40 in | — |
| Third-row headroom | 37.4 in | — |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | 43.9 in | — |
| Second-row legroom | 41.1 in | — |
| Third-row legroom | 36.5 in | — |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | 5,668 lbs | — |
| Curb weight (minimum) | 5,668 lbs | — |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent short- and long-arm (SLA) with stabilizer bar | — |
| Rear suspension type | Independent multi-link with stabilizer bar | — |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electronic power-assisted | — |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | 41 ft | — |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake type | ventilated disc | — |
| Parking brake type | Electric | — |
| Rear brake type | solid disc | — |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | — |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | — |
| Wheel width | 8.5 in | — |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P265/70R18 | — |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 23.6 gal | — |
| Minimum recommended octane | 87 | — |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Ford Connectivity Package | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | 64.9 in | — |
| Second-row shoulder room | 64.8 in | — |
| Third-row shoulder room | 64.2 in | — |
Green marks the better value where the direction is unambiguous (more room, more power, lower price). Blank rows are specs the press kit does not publish.
Equipment, feature by feature
69 features · differences first, then sharedSafety34 differ · 34 listed
| Feature | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go and Lane Centering | std | — |
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – Pedestrian Protection | std | — |
| 360-Degree Camera with Lane Change Preview | std | — |
| BLIS® with Cross-Traffic Alert | std | — |
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| All Rows: Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| First Row: Driver and Passenger Dual Stage Airbags | std | — |
| First Row: Front-Seat Mounted Side-Impact Airbags | std | — |
| Lane-Keeping System (Lane-Keeping Alert, Lane-Keeping Assist, Driver Alert, Road Edge Protection) | std | — |
| Rear View Camera with Rear Camera Wash | std | — |
| Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0 – Driver Alert | std | — |
| Front Parking Sensors | std | — |
| Hill Descent Control™ (4x4 only) | std | — |
| Rear Parking Sensors | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | — |
| AdvanceTrac® w/RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) | std | — |
| Auto High Beams | std | — |
| BLIS® with Cross-Traffic Alert / BLIS® with Trailer Coverage | std | — |
| Electronic Stability Control | std | — |
| Ford Co-Pilot360® Assist 2.0 – Adaptive Cruise Control with Lane Centering, Predictive Speed Assist, Stop & Go | std | — |
| Ford Security Package (1-year included with activation) | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) on all Second Row and Third Row Outboard Side Seating Positions | std | — |
| Personal Safety System™ (dual-stage front airbags, belt pretensioners, belt energy-management retractors, belt usage sensors, driver seat position sensor, crash severity sensor, restraint control module, Front-Passenger Sensing System) | std | — |
| Post-Collision Braking | std | — |
| Power Four-Wheel Disc Brakes with Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) | std | — |
| Pro-Trailer Backup Assist | std | — |
| Pro-Trailer Hitch Assist | std | — |
| Rear Seat Occupant Alert (RSOA) | std | — |
| Reverse Brake Assist | std | — |
| Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | std | — |
| Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (iTPMS) | std | — |
| Perimeter Alarm (includes Securilock Passive Anti Theft System (PATS)) | std | — |
Infotainment10 differ · 10 listed
| Feature | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Remote Start | std | — |
| Ford app – Remotely start, lock and unlock vehicle | std | — |
| Ford Connectivity Package – Unlimited Wi-Fi Hotspot | std | — |
| Ford app – Locate parked vehicle | std | — |
| 13.2" Center Stack Display | std | — |
| 24" Panoramic Display with Steering Wheel Controls | std | — |
| Ford Connectivity Package (1-year included) – 5G Connectivity, Unlimited Wi-Fi Hotspot, Audio and Video Streaming, Productivity, Voice Assistant, Entertainment | std | — |
| Ford Connectivity Package (One-time purchase – 7 years) | opt | — |
| SiriusXM with 360L (3-month prepaid subscription standard; 3-year plan optional) | std | — |
| Steering Wheel – Audio and Cruise Controls | std | — |
Convenience1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Split Gate – Power Upper Liftgate and Power Lower Tailgate | std | — |
Climate1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Tri-Zone Automatic Temperature Control (Dual Auto Front w/ Auto Rear) | std | — |
Seating3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Front Row – 8-way Power Driver Seat | std | — |
| Front Row – Cloth Captain's Chairs | std | — |
| Third Row 60/40 PowerFold® (fold flat) with Power Recline | std | — |
Interior4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Manual Adjusted Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column | std | — |
| Sliding Sun Visors with Illuminated Vanity Mirrors (Driver and Passenger) | std | — |
| Overhead Console | std | — |
| Trip Computer | std | — |
Exterior9 differ · 9 listed
| Feature | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Configurable Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) | std | — |
| Mirrors, Sideview – Power and Heated Glass | std | — |
| Off-Road Underbody Shield (51A) | opt | — |
| Running Boards, Fixed – Black | std | — |
| Signature Grille Lighting | std | — |
| Taillamps – LED with Metalized Bezel | std | — |
| Headlamps – Autolamp (Automatic On/Off) | std | — |
| Privacy Glass – Second Row, Third Row and Liftgate | std | — |
| Rear Window Defroster and Washer | std | — |
Powertrain4 differ · 4 listed
| Feature | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Terrain Management System™ – Slippery Mode | std | — |
| Electronic Locking Differential | std | — |
| Terrain Management System™ (includes Selectable Drive Modes: Normal, Sport, Tow / Haul, Eco, Slippery) | std | — |
| Two-Speed Transfer Case w/Torque on Demand (TOD) | std | — |
Cargo3 differ · 3 listed
| Feature | Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow | std | — |
| Terrain Management System™ – Tow / Haul Mode | std | — |
| Integrated Trailer Brake Controller | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Expedition
Safety Signal97 A
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★☆☆
Recalls1
Owner complaints8 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutSteering (4), Wheels (4), Unspecified (3)
Top recalls
- minorExterior Lighting26V104000 · 4,381,878 vehicles
Toyota Highlander
Safety Signal100 A
NHTSA overall★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls0
Owner complaints2 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained aboutBack Over Prevention (1), Visibility/Wiper (1), Power Train (1)
Top recalls
No recalls on file.
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford ExpeditionXL SSV 4WD | Toyota Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | — |
| Price range across trims | — 8 trims | — |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV, GAS |
| EPA configuration compared | Expedition 4WD | Highlander Hybrid AWD |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 18 | 35 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $3,450 | $1,800 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi | — |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi | — |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | — |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Ford Expedition or the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
The Toyota Highlander edges it, 88 to 82.5, on fuel & range, safety. The Ford Expedition is ahead on performance and space & cargo. Raise the performance weight from 2 to 3.2 and it flips. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Toyota Highlander scores 88 and the 2026 Ford Expedition 82.5. The weights are yours to change — move what you care about and the verdict recalculates on the page.
Which has the better safety record, the 2026 Ford Expedition or the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
2026 Ford Expedition: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 1 recall. 2026 Toyota Highlander: 5 NHTSA stars, grade A, 0 recalls. Crash ratings come from NHTSA's own tests; the grade is WhichTrim's read of the recall record, and the two can disagree.
What are the differences between the 2026 Ford Expedition and the 2026 Toyota Highlander?
This page puts 46 specifications and 69 equipment items side by side, with the better value marked on every row where the direction is unambiguous and the differences listed before the things both cars share.