Versatility is a key element when you consider sport utility vehicles and few deliver like the 2016 Toyota 4Runner. A body-on-frame, trail-ready masterpiece, the Toyota 4Runner is in a class all its own among SUVs and will leave competitors lagging behind. Equipped with a bold style, an affordable price tag, a potent engine, a versatile interior and an arsenal of innovative features, few SUVs can compete with the Toyota 4Runner. Take a closer look at how the Toyota 4Runner stacks up against the classic Ford Explorer in this 2016 Toyota 4Runner vs 2016 Ford Explorer comparison.
Available in four trim levels that range from the loaded Toyota 4Runner SR5 and the trail-ready Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro to the luxurious Toyota 4Runner Limited, the Toyota SUV can be tailored to fit your lifestyle. One of the few SUVs still available with a body-on-frame design, the Toyota 4Runner will manhandle even the most extreme terrain. When you pair incredible capabilities with a versatile interior that includes a standard Toyota Entune multimedia interface, the Toyota 4Runner stands out from the crowd. Standard features include 17-inch alloy wheels, skid plates, an integrated towing receiver, a rearview camera, a 6.1-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity and a Scout GPS Link.
2016 Toyota 4Runner | VS | 2016 Ford Explorer |
$33,810 | Starting Price | $31,050 |
4.0-Liter V-6 | Base Engine | 3.5-Liter V-6 |
5-7 | Passenger Capacity | 7 |
47.2/89.7 Cubic Feet | Cargo Space | 21/81.7 Cubic Feet |
When you explore the 2016 Toyota 4Runner vs 2016 Ford Explorer, price is an important element. Budget-friendly prices are the standard for both models, though the Toyota 4Runner comes with a long list of standard features that cost extra for the Ford Explorer. With a vivid touchscreen display and access to much more through Toyota Entune, the Toyota 4Runner provides incredible value that the standard Ford Explorer cannot match.
Under the hood, the Toyota 4Runner is built around a power-packed 270-horsepower 4.0-liter V-6 that is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission. As the only engine option available for the Toyota 4Runner, car shoppers know exactly what to expect when they get behind the wheel and will not incur extra costs. Ford Explorer models employ a standard 290-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine that can be upgraded to turbocharged EcoBoost variants that will significantly increase cost. Despite more horsepower, both editions possess a 5,000-pound maximum towing capacity and the Toyota 4Runner has the added advantage of a standard towing receiver.
An element that sets the Toyota 4Runner apart from its Ford competitor is a versatile and spacious interior. Stock Toyota 4Runner models make room for five passengers and an available third-row bench seat can be added to increase passenger capacity to seven. Behind the second-row, the Toyota 4Runner possesses an expansive 47.2 cubic feet of cargo space that expands to a cavernous 89.7 cubic feet with seats laid flat. In terms of versatility and cargo space, the 2016 Toyota 4Runner provides a distinct advantage over the 2016 Ford Explorer.