2024 Toyota 4Runner and 2024 Ford Explorer: Which is Better?

• The 2024 Toyota 4Runner and Ford Explorer are among the best midsize SUVs.
• They come with third-row seating, capable powertrains, and great offroad performance.
• The 2024 Toyota 4Runner is among the best rugged off-road SUVs on the market. 

While nothing much changes for the 2024 year, the 4Runner offers an impressive cabin with up to three rows of seating. The 4Runner has an outdoor-like appearance and boasts a strong frame, suspension, and engine, which help it easily handle rough roads.

The 2024 Ford Explorer is a well-established midsize SUV with three rows of seating. Unlike the 4Runner, the Explorer has two engine options with better performance and fuel economy. Ford leaves the hybrid powertrain for the 2024 model year, leaving enthusiasts with two highly capable gasoline-powered engines.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner and 2024 Ford Explorer: Performance And Capability

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner lineup shares a 4.0-litre V6 engine with 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. This mighty V6 engine pairs with a 5-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels, or all four wheels when specced with the optional full-time four-wheel drive system.

Unlike Toyota, Ford offers the Explorer with two engine options: a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder and a turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6. These engines pair with a 10-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels as standard. Fortunately, Ford also offers the Explorer with optional all-wheel drive.

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner only has one powertrain, a 4.0-litre V6 engine similar to its predecessors. The engine pairs with a 5-speed automatic transmission, producing 270 hp and 278 lb-ft of torque. While it isn’t as powerful as Ford’s offerings, the V6 promises low-end torque, making it ideal for off-road adventures.

For the 2024 model year, Ford offers the Explorer with two powertrains: a turbocharged 2.3-liter EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 3.0-liter EcoBoost V6 engine. The EcoBoost 4-cylinder engine powers the Base, XLT, ST-Line, Timberline, and Limited trims, producing an impressive 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.

2024 Toyota 4Runner Vs. 2024 Ford Explorer: Fuel Economy

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner has slightly worse fuel economy than the 2024 Ford Explorer. Toyota’s 4.0-litre V6 engine manages a lower fuel economy rating even against the more powerful EcoBoost V6. While Ford’s engine offerings deliver better fuel economy figures, opting for all-wheel drive lowers the fuel economy, bringing it closer to that of the 4Runner.

2024 Toyota 4Runner Vs. 2024 Ford Explorer: Off-Road Capability

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner lineup boasts a sturdy body on frame construction, making them capable on all terrains. The TRD badged 4Runner trims boast more off-road equipment. These trims also boast an electronic rear differential and Toyota’s Crawl Control feature.

Ford offers a Timberline Explorer trim with a high ground clearance of 8.66 inches, all-terrain tires on 18-inch gloss black painted aluminium wheels, and off-road front struts and rear shocks. The Explorer lineup also includes a Terrain Management System as standard, helping the SUV tackle any adventure. 

2024 Toyota 4Runner Vs. 2024 Ford Explorer: Interior Features And Technology

For the 2024 model year, Toyota didn’t revolutionize the 4Runner’s interior. Instead, it retains the predecessor’s rugged interior design, with the dashboard featuring big, easy-to-read analogue dials for the instrument cluster and large dials for the climate control system. While most 4Runner models boast a five-seat cabin, Toyota also offers a three-row 4Runner option.

The 2024 4Runner lineup has a great selection of standard features in the 4Runner, including cloth/SofTex leather upholstery and power adjustable driver’s and front passenger seats. In the TRD trims, Toyota adds some signature touches like accent stitching, TRD embroidered headrests, TRD shift knob, etc. The higher trims also enjoy additional features like a power tilt/slide moonroof, wooden interior accents, and heated and ventilated front leather-trimmed seats.

On the other hand, Ford gives all Explorer buyers an interior that will exceed their needs at every turn. The 2024 Explorer lineup has three rows of seating, offering enough space for an entire family. With the seats up, the Explorer can easily accommodate seven passengers. Folding them down creates more cargo room. Ford also offers additional features in the Explorer, including customizable drive modes, multi-colour ambient lighting, and a larger twin-panel moonroof.

2024 Toyota 4Runner Vs. 2024 Ford Explorer: Safety Features And Reliability

The 2024 Toyota 4Runner uses Toyota’s Safety Sense-P (TSS-P) suite, which includes a great selection of features like a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection, dynamic radar cruise control, lane departure alert, and automatic high beams. In addition, the 4Runner also has more safety and convenience features like a blind spot monitor with rear cross-traffic alert, eight standard airbags, a backup camera, and Toyota’s Star Safety System.

Ford also integrates a great selection of safety and convenience features in the 2024 Explorer, including automatic high beams, a rear-view camera, a pre-collision assist, a lane-keeping assist system, adaptive cruise control, and a blind spot information system (BLIS).

Full Performance Specifications

Conclusion

When it comes to which of them is better, it can be hard to tell seeing they are equipped with so many interesting features. However, the choice for any of these vehicles comes down to preference. Do you prefer a Toyota car? Then get the 4Runner. If your preference is Ford, then get a Ford.

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