2022 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid initially presented a bold and distinctive design, characterized by its blunt and bulbous nose, which gave it an aggressive appearance. Over time, however, this design became more familiar and less striking. The SUV's styling was further accentuated by black windshield pillars that created a floating roof effect, and swollen haunches that attempted to balance the overall look. Despite the presence of 20-inch alloy wheels, the exaggerated quarter panels seemed to overwhelm the design. Inside, the Highlander Hybrid Platinum trim offered a two-tone interior with soft leather, but the instrument-panel shroud felt cheap due to its hollow sound. The dashboard was dominated by an asymmetrical element housing the infotainment and climate controls, which, while sensibly laid out, suffered from reflections on sunny days.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Expedition underwent several updates, including exterior styling revisions and enhanced infotainment technology. The front of the vehicle featured a new grille, headlights, and bumper, while the rear received updated taillights, tailgate trim, and a new bumper. The Expedition's interior boasted a redesigned dashboard with the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, the latter featuring a large 15.5-inch touchscreen display. The Limited Stealth Edition test vehicle included leather-lined seats and a 12.4-inch digital instrumentation display. The Expedition's cabin was spacious and comfortable, with power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and comfort, while the third-row seat offered power recline and USB ports. Overall, the Expedition's interior was well-appointed and technologically advanced.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid transitioned from a V6 engine to a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, resulting in improved fuel efficiency. The new engine delivered a total output of 243 horsepower and was rated to use 6.7 L/100 km in combined driving. Despite the efficiency gains, the Highlander Hybrid's performance was lacklustre, with power described as adequate but not exciting. The SUV struggled with hills and freeway speeds, and the engine sounded strained during hard acceleration. The steering was lifeless, and the ride quality suffered from unwanted body movement. However, the regenerative brakes were an improvement over the previous generation, and the Highlander Hybrid excelled in urban environments with its immediate electric motor torque and quiet freeway cruising.

The 2022 Ford Expedition, powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre EcoBoost V6 engine, delivered 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and the Expedition's powertrain could tow up to 4,173 kg. The Expedition's performance was characterized by its addictive power and pleasing engine sound. However, the fuel economy was less impressive, with observed consumption at 14.5 L/100 km. The Stealth Edition's sport-tuned suspension contributed to a sometimes harsh ride quality, but the Expedition's handling and grip were improved by the 22-inch wheels. Despite its size, the Expedition was easy to park and excelled on the highway, offering a comfortable and quiet ride for long road trips.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid Platinum trim provided comfortable accommodations for the driver and front passenger, with 10-way power seat adjustment for the driver and heated and ventilated front seats. The second-row bench seat increased seating capacity to eight, but the Highlander felt narrow, and the third-row seat was uncomfortable with limited legroom and headroom. Cargo space behind the third row measured 453 litres, expanding to 1,370 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,387 litres with both rear rows down. However, storage was less generous than the previous generation, and the wireless smartphone charger blocked access to the storage area below.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered exceptional comfort and space, with easy access provided by available electric running boards. The interior featured power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and comfort, while the third-row seat offered power recline and USB ports. Cargo space behind the third row measured 546 litres, with the option to expand to 1,627 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,961 litres with both rear rows down. The Expedition Max variant offered even more cargo space, making it ideal for carrying both passengers and cargo.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen display, an 11-speaker JBL premium audio system, and a navigation system. The infotainment system included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The Platinum trim offered additional features such as a head-up display and rain-sensing wipers. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with large stereo volume and tuning knobs, but the JBL sound system's performance varied depending on the music genre. Toyota's Driver Easy Speak technology projected the driver's voice through the stereo speakers, and a video rearview mirror provided an unobstructed view of the rear.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured Ford's next-generation Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The standard Sync 4 system included a 12-inch touchscreen display, while Sync 4A offered a larger 15.5-inch touchscreen. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and FordPass Connect with a Wi-Fi hotspot. Sync 4A added features such as wireless smartphone charging and a conversational voice-recognition system. The Expedition's technology was sophisticated, but the Sync 4A system had some quirks, such as accidental activation of the defroster function and issues with Apple CarPlay. The Expedition also offered Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 and an upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which included automatic high beams, dynamic radar cruise control, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, and lane departure with steering assist. The system added intersection support and emergency steering assistance for 2021. A blind-spot monitor and rear cross-traffic alert system were standard on Canadian models, and the Platinum trim included a surround-view camera system. The Highlander received a "Top Safety Pick+" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured Ford Co-Pilot360 safety systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-departure warning. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centring assist, and intersection assist. The Platinum trim included Co-Pilot Assist 2.0, which offered a surround-view camera system and rear automatic emergency braking. The Expedition also introduced Road Edge Detection and Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving technology. The adaptive cruise control was smooth and refined, but the lane-centring assist had some issues, such as steering the vehicle to the right side of the lane in heavy traffic.