Head-to-head
2026 Ford Explorer vs 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser
The Ford Explorer wins clearly, 90.7 to 77.1, on tech & comfort, fuel & range. The Toyota Land Cruiser is ahead on safety.
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2026 Ford Explorer
The 2026 Ford Explorer is sold in the U.S. as a gas large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Explorer RWD, is EPA-rated at 24 …
vs
B2026 Toyota Land Cruiser
The 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser is sold in the U.S. as a hybrid large SUV. The most efficient version, the Land Cruiser, is EPA-rated at 23 mpg combined. NHTSA lis…
Verdict · default weights
2026 Ford Explorer
Clear winThe Ford Explorer wins clearly, 90.7 to 77.1, on tech & comfort, fuel & range. The Toyota Land Cruiser is ahead on safety.
Tech & comfort 2026 Ford Explorer leads by 42.1
Fuel & range 2026 Ford Explorer leads by 15.5
Safety 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser leads by 2.2
| Category · weight | 2026 Ford Exploreroverall 90.7 | 2026 Toyota Land Cruiseroverall 77.1 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Fuel & rangew 3 | 100 | 84.5 | |||||||||||||||
EPA annual fuel cost and combined mpg / MPGe; EV range when both are electric. | |||||||||||||||||
| Safetyw 4 | 72.2 | 74.4 | |||||||||||||||
NHTSA 5-Star rating, WhichTrim Safety Signal (open recalls by severity), owner complaints, standard driver-assist features (from the press kit, or from what the manufacturer filed with NHTSA where there is none). Open park-outside / do-not-drive advisories cost 25 points. | |||||||||||||||||
| Space & cargonot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Performancenot compared | No data | No data | |||||||||||||||
| Tech & comfortw 3 | 100 | 57.9 | |||||||||||||||
Standard (1) and optional (0.5) infotainment, convenience, climate and interior features from the manufacturer's press kit. | |||||||||||||||||
| Warrantyw 2 | 100 | 100 | |||||||||||||||
Basic and powertrain coverage in years and miles. | |||||||||||||||||
| Overall | 90.7 | 77.1 | |||||||||||||||
Trim vs trim · 4 of 7 categories compared
Ford Explorer: base trim Active Base RWD · Toyota Land Cruiser: base trim 1958 4WD. Pick a trim in the tool to compare any other trim.
Change what matters to you →Scores are 0–100 per category from the data on this page. The weights are yours to set.
Where the gap is
the biggest differences, from the scorecard's own numbersWhere the 2026 Ford Explorer wins
- It lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 0.
- It lists more comfort and tech equipment (28.5 points against 16.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½).
- It carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4.
Where the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser answers
- It has drawn fewer owner complaints (8 against 44 filed with NHTSA).
- It has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 85 against 53).
What they share
- A 3-year basic warranty.
- 36,000-mile basic coverage.
- A 5-year powertrain warranty.
Ranked by how far apart the two score on each measure, so a price gap and a horsepower gap are compared on the same scale. Every figure is on this page.
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Specifications side by side
46 specs · manufacturer press kits| Spec | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | ||
| Base MSRP (excludes destination) | — | $57,200 |
| Engine Basics | ||
| Aspiration | twin turbo | twin turbo |
| Cylinder count | 4 | 4 |
| Engine displacement | — | 2,393 cc |
| Engine type (full description) | 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | i-FORCE MAX 2.4-liter 4-cylinder Hybrid Turbocharged DOHC 16-Valve D-4S Fuel Injection |
| Fuel injection system | — | gdi mpi |
| Valve configuration | — | DOHC 16-Valve |
| Engine Output | ||
| Horsepower | — | 326 hp |
| Torque | — | 465 lb-ft |
| Transmission | ||
| Final drive ratio | 3.58 | 3.583 |
| Transmission speeds | 10 | 8 |
| Transmission type | automatic hybrid | 8-speed AT |
| Dimensions Exterior | ||
| Ground clearance | — | 8.7 in |
| Overall height | — | 76.1 in |
| Overall length | — | 194 in |
| Overall width | — | 77.9 in |
| Wheelbase | — | 112 in |
| Cargo | ||
| Cargo volume behind 1st row | — | 82.2 cu-ft |
| Cargo volume behind 2nd row | — | 46.2 cu-ft |
| Seating | ||
| Passenger seating capacity | — | 5 |
| Headroom | ||
| Front headroom | — | 40.1 in |
| Second-row headroom | — | 39.4 in |
| Legroom | ||
| Front legroom | — | 43 in |
| Second-row legroom | — | 36.7 in |
| Weights | ||
| Curb weight (maximum) | — | 5,038 lbs |
| Curb weight (minimum) | — | 5,038 lbs |
| Gross vehicle weight rating | — | 6,725 lbs |
| Suspension | ||
| Front suspension type | Independent | Independent double-wishbone with stabilizer bar and twin-tube shock absorbers |
| Rear suspension type | Independent | Multi-link with coil springs and outboard-mounted twin-tube shock absorbers |
| Steering | ||
| Steering type | Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | Electronic Power Steering (EPS) power-assisted rack-and-pinion |
| Turning radius (curb-to-curb) | — | 20 ft |
| Brakes | ||
| Front brake diameter | — | 315 mm |
| Front brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Parking brake type | Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold | Electronic |
| Rear brake diameter | — | 312 mm |
| Rear brake type | — | ventilated disc |
| Wheels | ||
| Wheel diameter | 18 in | 18 in |
| Wheel material | Aluminum | alloy |
| Tires | ||
| Tire size | P255/65R18 | 245/70R18 |
| Fuel System | ||
| Fuel tank capacity | 17.9 gal | 17.9 gal |
| Minimum recommended octane | — | 91 |
| Connected Services | ||
| Connected services brand | Ford Connectivity Package | — |
| Connected services trial (premium tier) | 84 months | — |
| Connected services trial (standard tier) | 12 months | — |
| Shoulder Room | ||
| Front shoulder room | — | 58.8 in |
| Second-row shoulder room | — | 59.2 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
104 features · differences first, then sharedSafety33 differ · 33 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go and Lane Centering | std | — |
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – Pedestrian Detection | std | — |
| Pre-Collision Assist with Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) – Forward Collision Warning | std | — |
| Rear Cross Traffic Braking | std | — |
| Airbags – All Rows: Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| Airbags – First Row: Driver and Passenger Dual-Stage Front | std | — |
| Airbags – First Row: Front-seat Side | std | — |
| Evasive Steering Assist | std | — |
| Lane-Keeping System – Lane-Keeping Alert / Driver Alert | std | — |
| Lane-Keeping System – Lane-Keeping Assist | std | — |
| Rear Parking Sensors | std | — |
| Trailer Sway Control | std | — |
| AdvanceTrac™ with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) | std | — |
| Airbags – First Row: Driver Knee | std | — |
| Auto High-Beam Headlamps | std | — |
| BLIS® (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross-Traffic Alert, Exit Warning and Trailer Coverage | std | — |
| Curve Control | std | — |
| Electric Parking Brake with Auto Hold | std | — |
| Ford Co-Pilot360™ Assist+ (base ADAS suite) | std | — |
| Four-Wheel Disc Brakes with Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Electric Brake Boost and ESC | std | — |
| Hill Start Assist | std | — |
| Intersection Assist | std | — |
| LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children) on Second and Third Row Outboard Seating Positions | std | — |
| Perimeter Alarm | std | — |
| Personal Safety System™ (driver and front passenger – dual-stage front airbags, belt pretensioners, 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 | — |
| Rear View Camera with Backup Assist Grid Lines | std | — |
| Safety Canopy® Side-Curtain with Rollover Sensor | std | — |
| Side-Wind Stabilization | std | — |
| SOS Post-Crash Alert System™ | std | — |
| Speed Sign Recognition | std | — |
| Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (ITPMS) | std | — |
| SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System (PATS) | std | — |
Infotainment16 differ · 16 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Ford App – Remotely lock and unlock vehicle | std | — |
| Unlimited Wi-Fi Hotspot (via Ford Connectivity Package) | std | — |
| Ford App – Locate parked vehicle | std | — |
| 12.3-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen with 14-speaker Premium JBL® Audio, wireless Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® compatibility, SiriusXM® 3-month trial subscription | — | opt |
| 5G Modem | std | — |
| 8-in. Toyota Audio Multimedia touchscreen with 6-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto™ & Apple CarPlay® compatibility, SiriusXM® 3-month trial subscription | — | std |
| 911 Assist® | std | — |
| Audio – AM/FM Stereo, MP3 Capable, Six (6) Speakers, Speed-Compensated Volume, SiriusXM® with 360L | std | — |
| Ford Connectivity Package (1-year Included) | std | — |
| Ford Connectivity Package (One-time purchase – 7 years) (91D) | opt | — |
| Ford Digital Experience – 13.2" Color LCD Touchscreen in IP Center-Stack with Google Assistant, Google Maps and Google Play, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ Wireless Compatibility | std | — |
| Ford Power-Up Software Update Capability | std | — |
| SiriusXM with 360L (3-year plan) (94B) | opt | — |
| Six USB ports | — | std |
| Steering Wheel with Mounted Features – Audio Controls | std | — |
| USB Ports, First Row and Second Row (Ford Digital Experience standard); Third Row USB included on 200A+ | std | — |
Convenience6 differ · 7 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| 2400W AC inverter | — | std |
| One center console-area 12V auxiliary power outlet and one rear cargo area 120V AC power outlet | — | std |
| Power door locks with shift-linked automatic lock/unlock feature | — | std |
| Power windows with one-touch auto up/down with jam protection in all positions | — | std |
| Manual Liftgate | std | — |
| Powerpoints (12V) – three (3) | std | — |
| Smart Key System on all doors and liftgate with Push Button Start, remote keyless entry system and remote illuminated entry | std | std |
Climate1 differ · 2 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin Particulate Air Filter | std | — |
| Three-zone automatic front and rear climate control, push-button controls, separate second-row control panel, individual temperature settings for driver, front passenger and rear-seat passengers | std | std |
Seating5 differ · 5 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Heated front seats | — | std |
| Fabric-trimmed seats; 6-way manual-adjustable front driver's seat, 4-way manual-adjustable front passenger seat with seatback pocket | — | std |
| Seats – Second Row 35/30/35 Bench with E-Z Entry and Armrests (17U) | opt | — |
| Second Row Captain's Chairs with E-Z Entry and Armrests | std | — |
| Unique Cloth Seating | std | — |
Interior13 differ · 14 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-dimming rearview mirror with compass and HomeLink® universal transceiver | — | std |
| 12.3-in. digital meter with selectable gauge display screens and fuel economy, Driver Assist, vehicle/trip information, and warning messages | std | — |
| 7-in. digital meter with selectable gauge display screens and fuel economy, Driver Assist, vehicle/trip information, and warning messages | — | std |
| Compass | std | — |
| Eight cup and bottle holders | — | std |
| Leather-trimmed shift lever | — | std |
| Rotary Gear Shift Dial | std | — |
| Second-row and cargo-area LED illumination | — | std |
| Day/Night Rearview Mirror – Manually Adjustable | std | — |
| Illuminated Visor Vanity Mirrors (Driver and Front Passenger) | std | — |
| Floor Mats – Black Carpet, Front and Second Rows | std | — |
| Overhead Console with Sunglasses Storage | std | — |
| Trip Computer | std | — |
| Manual tilt/telescopic steering wheel with TOYOTA badge | std | std |
Exterior18 differ · 19 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| 18-in. dark gray metallic alloy wheels w/ 245/70R18 | — | std |
| 18" Spare Wheel and Jack Kit (76U) | opt | — |
| Active Grille Shutters | std | — |
| Black "TOYOTA" heritage grille | — | std |
| Circular LED headlights | — | std |
| Configurable Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) | std | — |
| Easy Fuel® Capless Fuel Filler | std | — |
| Front and rear frame-mounted tow hooks | — | std |
| Front LED integrated fog lights | — | std |
| Front skid plate with engine, transmission and transfer case protection | — | std |
| Integrated LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) | — | std |
| LED Low and High Beam Headlamps with Courtesy Delay / Wiper-Activated | std | — |
| LED Taillamps | std | — |
| Mirrors, Sideview – Heated Glass | std | — |
| Rain-sensing aerodynamic variable intermittent windshield wipers and intermittent rear wiper | — | std |
| Tire Inflator and Sealant Kit | std | — |
| Rear-Window Defroster and Washer | std | — |
| Rear Spoiler – Body-Color | std | — |
| Privacy glass on rear side, quarter and liftgate windows | std | std |
Powertrain6 differ · 6 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Battery Saver | std | — |
| Electric Power-Assisted Steering (EPAS) | std | — |
| Engine – 2.3L EcoBoost® I-4 with Auto Start-Stop | std | — |
| Intelligent Oil-Life Monitor® | std | — |
| Selectable Drive Modes | std | — |
| Transmission – 10-Speed Automatic | std | — |
Chassis1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Independent Front and Rear Suspension | std | — |
Cargo1 differ · 1 listed
| Feature | Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD |
|---|---|---|
| Class III Trailer Tow Package | std | — |
Highlighted rows are where the two differ. Wording is the manufacturer's own.
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Safety record
NHTSA recalls, complaints, NCAPFord Explorer
Safety Signal 53 F
NHTSA overall ★★★★★
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★★ / ★★★★★ / ★★★★☆
Recalls 15 · 3 filed unfixed
Owner complaints 44 · 3 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Electrical System (11), Unspecified (11), Visibility/Wiper (7)
Top recalls
- high Air Bags 26V581000 · 7 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V548000 · 10,001 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V532000 · 6 vehicles
- high Seats 26V451000 · 387,911 vehicles · filed unfixed
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V343000 · 1,536 vehicles
- high Engine And Engine Cooling 26V205000 · 278 vehicles
Toyota Land Cruiser
Safety Signal 85 B
NHTSA overall ★★★★☆
Frontal / side / rollover ★★★★☆ / ★★★★★ / ★★★☆☆
Recalls 1 · 1 critical
Owner complaints 8 · 0 crashes · 0 fires
Most complained about Service Brakes (4), Engine (2), Forward Collision Avoidance (2)
Top recalls
- critical Fuel System, Gasoline 26V673000 · 105,794 vehicles
Ownership
EPA, manufacturer warranty| Ford ExplorerActive Base RWD | Toyota Land Cruiser1958 4WD | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | — (base trim) | $57,200 (base trim) |
| Price range across trims | — 12 trims | $57,200 – $62,445 2 trims |
| Powertrains | GAS | HEV |
| EPA configuration compared | Explorer RWD | Land Cruiser |
| Combined mpg / MPGe | 24 | 23 |
| EPA annual fuel cost | $2,800 | $3,550 |
| EV range | — | — |
| Basic warranty | 3 yr / 36,000 mi (make terms) | 3 yr / 36,000 mi |
| Powertrain warranty | 5 yr / 60,000 mi (make terms) | 5 yr / 60,000 mi |
| Roadside assistance | 5 yr | 2 yr |
Common questions
Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kitsWhich is better, the 2026 Ford Explorer or the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser?
The Ford Explorer wins clearly, 90.7 to 77.1, on tech & comfort, fuel & range. The Toyota Land Cruiser is ahead on safety. On WhichTrim's default weights the 2026 Ford Explorer scores 90.7 and the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser 77.1. 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 Explorer or the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser?
2026 Ford Explorer: 5 NHTSA stars, grade F, 15 recalls (3 filed with no repair available). 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser: 4 NHTSA stars, grade B, 1 recall. 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 biggest differences between the 2026 Ford Explorer and the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser?
Where the 2026 Ford Explorer wins: it lists 33 standard driver-assist features against 0, lists more comfort and tech equipment (28.5 points against 16.5 on the press-kit count, standard = 1, optional = ½), and carries 5 NHTSA overall stars against 4. Where the 2026 Toyota Land Cruiser answers: it has drawn fewer owner complaints (8 against 44 filed with NHTSA) and has the cleaner recall record (Safety Signal 85 against 53). What they share: a 3-year basic warranty, 36,000-mile basic coverage, and a 5-year powertrain warranty.