Explorer vs Highlander advice?

[Mtnwalker]

We have been car shopping for the wife and have it narrowed down to a 2013 Ford Explorer 4WD vs a 2012 Toyota Highlander AWD and she really can't decide which one she wants. They are comparable in price and mileage as well as mpg, anybody have any advice as to one vs the other? I kind of prefer 4WD over AWD but other than that they both get good reviews. Anybody have personal experience with either?

[bearhunter99]

When we recently bought our SUV we had it narrowed down to the Explorer, Highlander and Pilot.  We ended up going a bit newer with a 2016 Explorer.  The Explorer is a little roomier and I thought handled a little better with the wider stance.  3 months later and we love the Explorer.  The thing is a mountainz goat in the snow and we couldn't be happier.

[dwils233]

I know you've already narrowed it down to those two but maybe consider taking a look at the Lexus GX 470 from around that time? We bought a 2006 GX470 because it was about the same price as a 08 4 runner with less miles. Same platform as the 4runner (or the Prado internationally) and great added features because its luxury even if you get one that a few years older. They hold value well, awesome offroad capabilities and can go the distance and the maintenance really isn't that much more expensive. Just a thought since I can't add anything to the discussion about those rigs

[b23]

We have been car shopping for the wife and have it narrowed down to a 2013 Ford Explorer 4WD vs a 2012 Toyota Highlander AWD and she really can't decide which one she wants. They are comparable in price and mileage as well as mpg, anybody have any advice as to one vs the other? I kind of prefer 4WD over AWD but other than that they both get good reviews. Anybody have personal experience with either?

I have a family member that has a Highlander about that same year and we have a 2017 Explorer Platinum.  To me, they are quite a bit different vehicles.  The Highlander is built off of the Camry platform and is definitely more car like than our Explorer is.  I don't think one is any worse/better than the other but they are definitely different.

[jackelope]

The Explorer is not a real 4wd vehicle FYI. With that said, it's great in the snow. We have a 2014 we've put 80k+ miles on. I'm also surrounded by Fords all day long here at my job. They're really nice vehicles. I'm not sure about the size of the Highlander, but I feel like the Explorer is a lot bigger than the Highlander if that's a factor. 3 rows of seats/7 passengers.
And they're a lot different than the exploders of old too.

[Alchase]

Other than reliability going to the Highlander, it basically is a personal choice.
Neither are serious off-road vehicles,  but both will get you from a to b in any weather.
Personally, I would not own a “exploder”, to many serious issues in the past for me to trust them “yet”.
 Too many goof SUVs out there.

[jdb]

Can I ask why you perfer 4wd vs awd?

[The scout]

My mom has a 2013 explorer and we were recently looking for a vehicle for my wife. Talked to my mom and dad about it and they are not very happy with it. So we went with the highlander. It is a little smaller but it still has 3rd row seats. One big thing with it is Ford was mixing metals around that time so they have issues with paint chipping and peeling. Couldn’t be happier with the Toyota. But they have had some recall stuff and warranty stuff that they had done with the ford dealerships up around Everett that all went bad so I think that left a bad taste in there mouth.

[jackelope]

No offense but I have written up an average of ~10 fords a day at a really high volume ford dealership for the last 5 years. I can literally count on 1 hand how many Ford anything’s I’ve written up for paint issues and the ones I’ve written up for paint issues are almost always dirt or runs in the paint. 

[jackelope]

Other than reliability going to the Highlander, it basically is a personal choice.
Neither are serious off-road vehicles,  but both will get you from a to b in any weather.
Personally, I would not own a “exploder”, to many serious issues in the past for me to trust them “yet”.
 Too many goof SUVs out there.

Explorer has been a 100% totally different vehicle since 2011.

[jackelope]

I’m not trying to promote Ford. I am talking real world experiences though. I’m close to buying a new truck and it’s very likely it will be a Chevy. But only because I like the way they look better.

[KFhunter]

No offense but I have written up an average of ~10 fords a day at a really high volume ford dealership for the last 5 years. I can literally count on 1 hand how many Ford anything’s I’ve written up for paint issues and the ones I’ve written up for paint issues are almost always dirt or runs in the paint.

co-worker bought a 2016 F150, it had to be repainted. It was like oxidization was bubbling through the paint with all these little pock marks.  It is white.

[The scout]

No offense but I have written up an average of ~10 fords a day at a really high volume ford dealership for the last 5 years. I can literally count on 1 hand how many Ford anything’s I’ve written up for paint issues and the ones I’ve written up for paint issues are almost always dirt or runs in the paint.

No offense taken. I can only go off what I have seen from her car and all along the front edge of the hood the paint is bubbling up and starting to chip. There’s a chance most of them happen after warranty and that’s why you don’t see them. As do other problems that happen with them very soon after warranty. And then a ford dealer most likely wouldn’t be the one doing the work on it.

[Pnwrider]

My wife has a 2015 highlander. She loves it. Great family car, no complaints, would buy again. I looked hard at the explorer sport too. With the ecoboost it could tow my boat in a pinch.

[Mtnwalker]

Can I ask why you perfer 4wd vs awd?

I guess just because her last car ate tires so bad. Thanks for all the replies everybody, sounds like both are good for the most part