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Compare 2020 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Toyota Highlander vs 2020 Volkswagen Atlas

2020 Ford Explorer
#3 in Large SUVs
X
2020 Toyota Highlander
X
2020 Volkswagen Atlas
X
Get Your Price Get Your Price Get Your Price
Select style
Base 4WD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Explorer Base 4WD 20 27 $33,721 $34,765
Explorer Base RWD 21 28 $31,781 $32,765
Explorer Limited 4WD 20 27 $48,366 $50,380
Explorer Limited RWD 21 28 $46,446 $48,380
Explorer Platinum 4WD 18 24 $55,920 $58,250
Explorer ST 4WD 18 24 $52,551 $54,740
Explorer XLT 4WD 20 27 $37,369 $38,925
Explorer XLT RWD 21 28 $35,449 $36,925
Select style
Hybrid LE AWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Highlander Hybrid LE AWD 35 35 $36,489 $39,800
Highlander Hybrid LE FWD 36 35 $35,022 $38,200
Highlander Hybrid Limited AWD 35 34 $43,090 $47,000
Highlander Hybrid Limited FWD 36 35 $41,302 $45,050
Highlander Hybrid Platinum AWD 35 34 $46,025 $50,200
Highlander Hybrid Platinum FWD 36 35 $44,237 $48,250
Highlander Hybrid XLE AWD 35 34 $39,056 $42,600
Highlander Hybrid XLE FWD 36 35 $37,589 $41,000
Highlander L AWD 20 27 $33,050 $36,200
Highlander L FWD 21 29 $31,589 $34,600
Highlander LE AWD 20 27 $35,059 $38,400
Highlander LE FWD 20 28 $33,598 $36,800
Highlander Limited AWD 20 27 $41,633 $45,600
Highlander Limited FWD 21 29 $39,853 $43,650
Highlander Platinum AWD 20 27 $44,555 $48,800
Highlander Platinum FWD 21 29 $42,775 $46,850
Highlander XLE AWD 20 27 $37,616 $41,200
Highlander XLE FWD 21 29 $36,155 $39,600
Select style
2.0T S FWD
Style MPG City MPG Hwy Invoice MSRP
Atlas 2.0T S FWD 20 24 $30,251 $31,545
Atlas 2.0T SE FWD 20 24 $33,272 $34,695
Atlas 2.0T SE w/Technology FWD 20 24 $35,526 $37,045
Atlas 2.0T SEL FWD 20 24 $39,122 $40,795
Atlas 3.6L V6 S 4MOTION 16 22 $33,320 $34,745
Atlas 3.6L V6 SE 4MOTION 16 22 $36,341 $37,895
Atlas 3.6L V6 SE FWD 17 23 $34,615 $36,095
Atlas 3.6L V6 SE w/Technology 4MOTION 16 22 $38,595 $40,245
Atlas 3.6L V6 SE w/Technology FWD 17 23 $36,870 $38,445
Atlas 3.6L V6 SE w/Technology R-Line 4MOTION 16 22 $40,706 $42,445
Atlas 3.6L V6 SE w/Technology R-Line FWD 17 23 $38,979 $40,645
Atlas 3.6L V6 SEL 4MOTION 16 22 $42,575 $44,395
Atlas 3.6L V6 SEL FWD 17 23 $40,849 $42,595
Atlas 3.6L V6 SEL Premium 4MOTION 16 22 $47,178 $49,195
Atlas 3.6L V6 SEL R-Line 4MOTION 16 22 $44,205 $46,095
Atlas 3.6L V6 SEL R-Line FWD 17 23 $42,478 $44,295
Pricing
Invoice Price
$33,721
$36,489
$30,251
Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price
$34,765
$39,800
$31,545
Monthly Payment Estimate
$579 / month
$663 / month
$526 / month
The Car Connection's Take
TCC Rating
6.8
7.2
5.8
TCC’s Bottom Line
The 2020 Ford Explorer rediscovers its capable, outdoorsy side without becoming trucklike in any other respect. The 2020 Toyota Highlander puts practicality above all else, but handling and styling make worthwhile cameos. Space comes before pace with the roomy 2020 Volkswagen Atlas.
TCC Likes
TCC Dislikes
Fuel Economy
City
20 mpg 35 mpg 20 mpg
Highway
27 mpg 35 mpg 24 mpg
Vehicle
EPA Classification
Standard Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD Standard Sport Utility Vehicles 4WD Standard Sport Utility Vehicles 2WD
Interior Dimensions
Third Hip Room (in)
40.9 45.6 45.1
Passenger Capacity
7 8 7
Second Shoulder Room (in)
61.9 58.7 60.8
Front Leg Room (in)
43 40.4 41.5
Third Head Room (in)
38.9 36.1 38.3
Front Hip Room (in)
59.2 57.2 58.2
Third Shoulder Room (in)
54.6 55 54.9
Second Leg Room (in)
39 41 37.6
Front Head Room (in)
40.7 39.9 41.3
Passenger Volume (ft³)
152.7 141.3 153.7
Second Hip Room (in)
59.1 57 58
Front Shoulder Room (in)
61.8 59 61.5
Third Leg Room (in)
32.2 27.7 33.7
Second Head Room (in)
40.5 39.4 40.4
Exterior Dimensions
Min Ground Clearance (in)
7.9 8 -
Length, Overall (in)
198.8 194.9 198.3
Liftover Height (in)
32.8 - -
Height, Overall (in)
69.9 68.1 70
Track Width, Rear (in)
66.9 65.4 67.8
Wheelbase (in)
119.1 112.2 117.3
Width, Max w/o mirrors (in)
78.9 76 78.3
Track Width, Front (in)
66.9 65.3 67.2
Cargo Area Dimensions
Cargo Volume to Seat 3 (ft³)
18.2 16 20.6
Cargo Box Width @ Wheelhousings (in)
48.1 - -
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 2 (in)
49.8 - -
Cargo Volume to Seat 2 (ft³)
47.9 48.4 55.5
Cargo Area Width @ Beltline (in)
59 - -
Cargo Box (Area) Height (in)
33.7 - -
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 1 (in)
83.9 - -
Cargo Volume to Seat 1 (ft³)
87.8 84.3 96.8
Cargo Area Length @ Floor to Seat 3 (in)
20.8 - -
Brakes
Disc - Front (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Drum - Rear (Yes or )
NA NA NA
Brake ABS System
4-Wheel 4-Wheel 4-Wheel
Disc - Rear (Yes or )
Yes Yes Yes
Brake Type
4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc 4-Wheel Disc
Front Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- 13.3 13.2
Rear Brake Rotor Diam x Thickness (in)
- 13.3 12.2
Rear Drum Diam x Width (in)
- NA NA
Fuel Tank
Fuel Tank Capacity, Approx (gal)
19.2 17.1 18.6
Steering
Steering Type
Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion Rack-Pinion
Turning Diameter - Curb to Curb (ft)
- 37.4 38.1
Tires
Spare Tire Size
Compact Compact Compact
Front Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Spare Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Rear Tire Size
P255/65HR18 P235/65SR18 P245/60HR18
Rear Tire Order Code
NA NA NA
Front Tire Size
P255/65HR18 P235/65SR18 P245/60HR18
Trailering
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA 350 NA
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Tongue Wt. (lbs)
NA 350 NA
Dead Weight Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA 3500 NA
Wt Distributing Hitch - Max Trailer Wt. (lbs)
NA 3500 NA
Maximum Trailering Capacity (lbs)
NA 3500 NA
Weight Information
Base Curb Weight (lbs)
4345 4465 4222
Wheels
Rear Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Rear Wheel Size (in)
18 X 7.5 18 X 8 18 X 8
Front Wheel Material
Aluminum Aluminum Aluminum
Spare Wheel Material
Steel Steel Steel
Front Wheel Size (in)
18 X 7.5 18 X 8 18 X 8
Spare Wheel Size (in)
Compact Compact Compact
Engine
Engine Type
Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4 Gas/Electric I-4 Intercooled Turbo Premium Unleaded I-4
Fuel System
Gasoline Direct Injection Port/Direct Injection Gasoline Direct Injection
SAE Net Torque @ RPM
310 @ 3500 175 @ 4400 258 @ 1600
Engine Order Code
99H NA NA
Displacement
2.3 L/140 2.5 L/152 2.0 L/121
SAE Net Horsepower @ RPM
300 @ 5500 243 @ 6000 235 @ 4500
Mileage
EPA Fuel Economy Est - City (MPG)
20 35 20
Fuel Economy Est-Combined (MPG)
23 35 22
EPA Fuel Economy Est - Hwy (MPG)
27 35 24
Transmission
Reverse Ratio (:1)
4.88 - 3.99
Second Gear Ratio (:1)
3.00 - 3.14
Trans Order Code
44T NA NZ
Fourth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.77 - 1.43
Eighth Gear Ratio (:1)
0.85 - 0.67
Trans Description Cont.
Automatic w/OD CVT w/OD Automatic w/OD
Sixth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.27 - 1.00
First Gear Ratio (:1)
4.71 - 5.59
Final Drive Axle Ratio (:1)
3.58 - 3.60
Third Gear Ratio (:1)
2.15 - 1.95
Seventh Gear Ratio (:1)
1.00 - 0.81
Trans Type
10 1 8
Drivetrain
Four Wheel Drive All Wheel Front Wheel Drive
Fifth Gear Ratio (:1)
1.52 - 1.21
Trans Description Cont. Again
NA NA NA
Summary
Body Style
Sport Utility Sport Utility Sport Utility
Vehicle Name
Ford Explorer Toyota Highlander Volkswagen Atlas
Suspension
Suspension Type - Front (Cont.)
Strut Strut Strut
Suspension Type - Rear
Multi-Link Multi-Link Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Rear (Cont.)
Multi-Link Multi-Link Multi-Link
Suspension Type - Front
Strut Strut Strut
Emissions
Tons/yr of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year
7.7 5.1 8.1
Crash Test Ratings
Overall Rating
-
Overall Frontal Barrier Crash Rating
-
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Driver
-
Frontal Barrier Crash Rating Passenger
-
Overall Side Crash Rating
-
Side Barrier Rating
-
Side Barrier Rating Driver
-
Side Barrier Rating Passenger Rear Seat
-
Side Pole Rating Driver Front Seat
-
Combined Side Rating Front Seat
-
Combined Side Rating Rear Seat
-
Rollover Rating
-
Next Steps: Get Free Price Quotes!
2020 Ford Explorer
  • 2020 Explorer redesigned and easy to find
  • $2,750 factory rebate for all buyers
  • Lease from $279 for 36 months
  • Get 0% APR for 72 months
Get Your Price
2020 Toyota Highlander
  • 2020 Highlander is in showrooms
  • Lease: From $399/mo.
  • Finance: 1.9% for 60 months
  • Rebate: Get $1,000 off
Get Your Price
2020 Volkswagen Atlas
  • Refreshed 2021 Atlas is here; 2020s still available
  • Cashback: Unadvertised discounts available
  • Finance: From 0% APR for 72 months
  • Lease: From $299 per month for 36 months
Get Your Price

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