Ford Expedition vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2025 Ford Expedition presented a robust and functional design, reminiscent of a modern school bus but with a more appealing aesthetic. Its long, rectangular body and squared-off nose prioritized space and practicality, offering ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The vehicle's exterior featured horseshoe-shaped daytime running lights framing a bold grille, integrated headlights, and off-roading lamps on the Tremor trim, contributing to its full-width appearance. The Expedition's profile was simple, with a distinct character line running from the headlights to the taillights, and a range of wheel designs from 18 to 24 inches. A significant change for 2025 was the introduction of a split-gate tailgate, replacing the traditional liftgate, providing benefits like preventing luggage spillage and offering a convenient resting spot when parked.

The Expedition was available in four trim levels: Active, Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch, with two lengths to choose from. The standard Expedition measured 5,331 millimetres with a 3,112 mm wheelbase, while the Expedition MAX extended to 5,631 mm with a 3,340 mm wheelbase. Despite the size difference, legroom remained consistent in the second and third rows, with the MAX offering more cargo space. The King Ranch trim boasted luxurious materials and Del Rio leather seating, while the entry-level Active trim impressed with its ActiveX synthetic leather upholstery and standard features like tri-zone automatic climate control and a 24-inch panoramic driver information display. The interior's minimalist design, highlighted by the futuristic displays, added to the Expedition's appeal.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered a conservative and familiar design, drawing inspiration from the popular RAV4. This approach resulted in a vehicle that resembled a larger RAV4, with seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim. While glossy hard plastic and unlined storage surfaces were present, the controls were logically laid out with matte black surfaces and white iconography. The climate system was straightforward, featuring large temperature adjustment knobs, but the infotainment interface had a tiny volume knob and lacked a tuning knob.

The Grand Highlander Platinum Hybrid Max, tested in Storm Cloud paint, featured a mix of leather and artificial suede upholstery, providing a smart and upscale look. The front and second-row seats offered heating, ventilation, and supportive cushions. However, the rear doors were long and required ample space to open, making it challenging to buckle a child into a safety seat. The second-row captain’s chairs with a removable centre console allowed for easy access to the third row. The rearmost seats were comfortable for adults and tall teens, with more distance from the head restraint to the rear liftgate than many three-row SUVs. Cargo space was generous, with 586 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,640 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,761 litres with the second row down.

The 2025 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged “EcoBoost” 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Tremor trim featured a high-output version, boosting power to 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Despite its 2,628-kilogram curb weight, the Expedition's powertrain excelled on highways, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. The ten-speed automatic transmission provided smooth shifts, and the multi-link rear suspension handled rough terrain well. The Tremor trim, replacing the Timberline, offered increased ground clearance, standard 4WD, and performance modifications like 33-inch all-terrain tires and skid plates. However, its fuel economy was poor, rated at 15.4 L/100 km in the city and 13.3 combined, with our test showing 17.0 L/100 km.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max combined a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine with electronic full-time AWD and two electric motors, producing 362 net horsepower. This setup provided satisfying acceleration and avoided the droning typical of CVTs. The Hybrid Max traded some fuel efficiency for performance, rated at 8.8 L/100 km combined, but offered a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. During testing, it averaged 9.1 L/100 km on a balanced city and highway route. The powertrain's acceleration was smooth, with electric motors eliminating turbo lag. The ride quality was soft and isolating, though undulations could cause vertical bounding. Handling was secure, but the tires scrubbed early, and the nose pushed wide in curves. Visibility was excellent, aided by available cameras, though the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2025 Ford Expedition excelled in towing capacity, with a maximum of 4,350 kilograms, surpassing the Chevrolet Tahoe's 3,810 kilograms. Inside, it offered 611 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,022 litres in the Expedition Max. With all rear seats down, the Expedition provided 3,072 litres, and the Expedition MAX offered 3,485 litres. The minimalist interior design featured touch-sensitive trackpads on the steering wheel and climate controls housed in the touchscreen, which some might find too high-tech for a large SUV.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered comfortable seating in all three rows and over 2,700 litres of maximum cargo space. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery, providing a smart and upscale look. The front and second-row seats offered heating, ventilation, and supportive cushions. However, the rear doors were long and required ample space to open, making it challenging to buckle a child into a safety seat. The second-row captain’s chairs with a removable centre console allowed for easy access to the third row. Cargo space was generous, with 586 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,640 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,761 litres with the second row down.

The 2025 Ford Expedition featured a groundbreaking 24-inch driver information display, offering ample space for Google Maps projection and a selectable widget. The steering wheel had a flattened profile, called a squircle, to accommodate the display. The 13.2-inch touchscreen used a Google-based operating system, requiring an active cellular data plan for full functionality. The Ford Connectivity Package offered a one-year complimentary access, with subscription options available afterward.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and access to Apple Music and Amazon Music accounts. Toyota Connected Services plans provided features like automatic collision notification and a digital voice assistant. The system was easy to use, though the inability to see two main-menu screens simultaneously and the low-contrast font were minor frustrations. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and a JBL premium audio system.

The 2025 Ford Expedition had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, and the IIHS ratings were based on the previous-generation model. It came with a suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. BlueCruise 1.4 was available on all trims, offering hands-free driving with a subscription.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid was equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0, offering a range of standard safety features. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to headlight performance and small overlap frontal-impact protection. The Proactive Driving Assist system was found to be irritating and was often turned off during testing.