As you step into the world of mid-size SUVs, imagine yourself surrounded by a fleet of vehicles vying for your attention. You’re on a mission to find the perfect blend of power, comfort, and versatility. If the Ford Explorer is on your radar, you’ll want to investigate its counterparts that boast impressive performance, upscale interiors, and ample cargo space. But which ones will check all your boxes?
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Key Takeaways
- The Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango offer powerful engines and upscale interiors, similar to the Ford Explorer.
- Alternatives like Toyota Highlander, and Chevrolet Tahoe provide capable V6 engines and nicer cabins.
- The Toyota Highlander, Honda Pilot, and Hyundai Palisade provide ample cargo space and comfortable seating options.
- The 2025 Dodge Durango, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia boast advanced features and high U.S. News Overall Scores.
- Alternatives like Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, and Toyota Grand Highlander offer varying price points to suit different needs.
Alternatives With High Performance and Upscale Interiors
If you’re looking for alternatives to the Ford Investigator that pack high performance and upscale interiors, you’ll find several options that fit the bill.
The Jeep Grand Cherokee, for instance, boasts a powerful engine and upscale interiors that make it a compelling choice.
The Dodge Durango is another option, with its robust engine and premium interior features.
Meanwhile, the Nissan Pathfinder offers a potent engine and refined interior amenities.
These alternatives deliver on performance and interior sophistication, making them worthy considerations for those seeking a high-end driving experience.
Alternatives With Spacious Interiors
You’ll appreciate the alternatives that offer ample cargo space, allowing you to haul gear or luggage without feeling cramped.
These vehicles also provide comfortable seating options, ensuring that you and your passengers can stretch out and relax.
With spacious cabin designs, you’ll feel like you’re driving in a luxury vehicle, minus the hefty price tag.
Ample Cargo Space
Your cargo needs are substantial, and the Ford Investigator’s spacious interior is a major selling point.
If you’re looking for alternatives with similar cargo space, the midsize Toyota Highlander offers 13.8 cubic feet of cargo room behind its third row, expanding to 42.3 cubic feet with the third row folded.
The Honda Pilot provides 16.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind its third row, increasing to 46.5 cubic feet with the third row folded.
These alternatives offer ample cargo space to meet your needs.
Comfortable Seating Options
Beyond ample cargo space, you’re likely looking for a comfortable ride that accommodates your passengers.
If you need a vehicle that can seat seven, alternatives like the Honda Pilot or Toyota Highlander offer three rows of seating.
These SUVs provide ample legroom, allowing passengers to stretch out during commutes or road trips.
You’ll appreciate the adjustable seating configurations, which enable you to customize the interior to suit your needs.
With comfortable seating options, you can guarantee a pleasant ride for everyone on board.
Spacious Cabin Designs
The interior space of alternatives like the Subaru Ascent and Hyundai Palisade is thoughtfully designed to provide a sense of airiness and freedom.
You’ll appreciate the spacious cabin, which offers ample legroom and cargo space. The Palisade’s cabin is particularly impressive, with a panoramic sunroof that lets in natural light.
When you’re behind the wheel, you’ll feel comfortable and in control. The ergonomic design and intuitive controls make it easy to navigate, even on long road trips.
With these alternatives, you can enjoy a comfortable, spacious ride that’s perfect for daily driving or family adventures.
Alternatives With Advanced Features
When shopping for cars similar to the Ford Explorer, you’ll find several alternatives that offer advanced features to intensify your driving experience.
As a midsize SUV, the 2025 Dodge Durango stands out with its powerful V6 and optional V8 engines, including the Durango Hellcat.
The 2025 Toyota Highlander also impresses with its capable V6 engine and nicer cabin.
Meanwhile, the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe features an intuitive infotainment system with physical controls, and the 2025 GMC Acadia boasts comfortable seating and cavernous cabin space to investigate, discover.
Alternatives With High U.S. News Overall Scores
High-scoring alternatives to the Ford Explorer are worth investigating, as they offer impressive overall performance and features that rival the Explorer’s capabilities.
You’ll find the 2025 Chevrolet Traverse, with a U.S. News Overall Score of 8.7/10, offers more passenger and cargo room than the Explorer.
In a like manner, the 2025 GMC Acadia and 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe also boast scores of 8.7/10, with comfortable seating and cavernous cabin space will appeal to you.
These alternatives are definitely worth discovering if you’re looking for a high-scoring vehicle that meets your needs.
Other Notable Alternatives
You may want to examine other alternatives that offer unique strengths and advantages.
The Hyundai Palisade, for instance, boasts a stunning interior and luxury amenities, making it an attractive option.
Meanwhile, the Kia Telluride impresses with its exceptionally nice cabin and outstanding material choices, all at a lower price point than the Ford Investigator.
Both of these alternatives offer something distinct, making them worth considering in your search for a similar car.
Alternative Midsize Three-Row SUVs
You’ll find the Toyota Highlander offers a range of options, including a higher-end cabin and plenty of high-tech extras, all starting at a low price of $34,300.
Meanwhile, the Nissan Pathfinder features a unique set of characteristics, such as its strong V6 engine, that set it apart from other midsize three-row SUVs.
As you research these alternatives, consider what matters most to you in a vehicle.
Toyota Highlander Options
The Toyota Highlander is a popular alternative to the Ford Explorer in the midsize three-row SUV segment, offering a balance of comfort, features, and versatility.
As you delve into the Highlander, you’ll discover it’s designed to meet your needs.
- Spacious Interior: With seating for up to eight passengers, the Highlander provides ample room for families or groups.
- Advanced Safety Features: The Highlander offers a suite of advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control and lane departure warning, which warrants examination.
- Powerful Performance: The Highlander’s available V6 engine provides a smooth and responsive driving experience.
Nissan Pathfinder Features
Moving beyond the Toyota Highlander, another alternative midsize three-row SUV worth examining is the Nissan Pathfinder, which offers a unique set of features that set it apart from the Ford Investigator.
You’ll appreciate the Pathfinder’s strong V6 engine, but its interior materials and outdated infotainment technology might be a letdown.
This SUV can seat seven or eight passengers, depending on the configuration, and offers a maximum cargo capacity of 79.5 cubic feet.
Fuel economy is 20 city, 27 highway, and 23 combined, making it less fuel-efficient than the Ford Expedition.
Compare the Ford Explorer to Competing SUVs
When shopping for a mid-size SUV, you’re likely considering the Ford Explorer alongside its closest competitors.
You want to know how it stacks up against the competition.
- The Toyota Highlander is a strong contender, offering similar interior space and features like blind-spot monitoring.
- The Honda Pilot is another popular option, boasting a more fuel-efficient engine and a more modern design.
- The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a great choice for those who want to investigate a more rugged, off-road capable option.
Size and Performance
You’re considering the Ford Explorer, but you want to dig into how it measures up in terms of size and performance.
As an SUV, size is a vital aspect, and you’ll find that most models in this category fall into the mid-size or large segments.
The 2025 VW Atlas stands out for its exceptional roominess, while the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offers a unique blend of size and performance.
If a smooth ride is your priority, the 2025 Ford Explorer is quiet and refined.
Price Range
The Ford Investigator‘s price range falls squarely in the middle of its competitors, with a span of $45,000 – $55,000.
You’ll find that some options are more budget-friendly, such as:
- Hyundai Palisade, with a starting price of $31,775
- Kia Telluride, with a starting price of $36,390
- Toyota Grand Highlander, with a starting price of $45,000, similar to the Ford Investigator alternatives offer varying price points to suit your needs, allowing you to examine or investigate different choices to discover the best fit.
Powertrains
When you’re comparing the powertrains of cars similar to the Ford Explorer, you’ll notice significant differences in engine options and towing capacity.
You’ll have more powerful engine choices with the Explorer, including a 300-hp EcoBoost I-4 and a 365-hp EcoBoost V6, whereas alternatives like the Hyundai Palisade only offer a single V6 option.
As you delve into the powertrains, you’ll also want to weigh fuel efficiency and how it impacts your driving experience.
Engine Options Compared
Delving into the engine options of the Ford Explorer and its competitors, it’s clear that horsepower is a significant differentiator.
You’ll find the Ford Explorer offers a base V6 engine producing 290 horsepower, with an optional 365-hp EcoBoost engine.
- The Ford Explorer’s most powerful engine outperforms the Hyundai Palisade’s standard V-6.
- The Explorer’s engines are within the same tier in terms of horsepower as the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia.
- The Explorer has more engine options, giving you greater flexibility when choosing your powertrain.
Power and Towing Capacity
As you delve into powertrains, you’ll find that the Ford Explorer’s engines outshine its competitors in terms of raw power.
The 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine produces 365 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque, leaving the Hyundai Palisade’s 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque in the dust.
The Chevrolet Traverse’s 3.6-liter V6 engine falls within the same tier as the Explorer’s 2.3-liter EcoBoost I-4 engine and the Palisade’s 3.8-liter V6 engine.
In regard to towing capacity, the Ford Explorer ranges from 5,300 to 5,600 pounds, surpassing the Hyundai Palisade’s 5,000 pounds and the Chevrolet Traverse’s 5,200 pounds.
Fuel Efficiency Matters
You’ll find that fuel efficiency is a crucial aspect of the powertrain discussion.
When comparing cars similar to the Ford Explorer, you’ll notice that fuel efficiency is comparable, but not identical.
- The Hyundai Palisade’s fuel efficiency is estimated at 24 mpg combined, while the Ford Explorer’s is 22 mpg combined.
- The Explorer’s powertrain options lead to a 100+ horsepower difference compared to its competitors, which may impact fuel efficiency.
- Despite this, the Palisade’s fuel efficiency is neck and neck with the Explorer’s, making it a viable alternative.
Conclusion
As you weigh your options, bear in mind that each alternative is a piece of a puzzle, fitting together to form the perfect SUV for you. The Jeep Grand Cherokee’s powerful engine, the Toyota Highlander’s refined amenities, and the Hyundai Palisade’s spacious cabin all shine like diamonds in the rough, helping you find the perfect fit. With so many alternatives, you’re sure to find the SUV that checks all your boxes and hits the road running.
