Model Year | 2011 | 2020 | |
Model | Ford Taurus | Toyota Highlander | |
Engine | turbocharged 3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 365 hp@5500 350 lb-ft@3500 |
3.5L V6 DOHC-4v 295 hp@6600 263 lb-ft@4700 |
|
Transmission | 6-speed shiftable automatic | 8-speed shiftable automatic | |
Drivetrain | AWD | AWD | |
Body | 4dr Sedan | 4dr SUV | |
Difference | |||
Wheelbase | 112.9 in | 112.2 in | 0.7 in |
Length | 202.9 in | 194.9 in | 8 in |
Width | 76.2 in | 76.0 in | 0.2 in |
Height | 60.7 in | 68.1 in | -7.4 in |
Curb Weight | 4415 lb. | 4330 lb. | 85 lb. |
Fuel Capacity | 20.0 gal. | 17.9 gal. | 2.1 gal. |
Headroom, Row 1 | 39.0 in | 41.2 in | -2.2 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 1 | 57.9 in | 59.0 in | -1.1 in |
Hip Room, Row 1 | 56.3 in | 57.2 in | -0.9 in |
Legroom, Row 1 | 41.9 in | 42.0 in | -0.1 in |
Headroom, Row 2 | 37.8 in | 39.4 in | -1.6 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 2 | 56.9 in | 58.7 in | -1.8 in |
Hip Room, Row 2 | 55.8 in | 57.0 in | -1.2 in |
Legroom, Row 2 | 38.1 in | 41.0 in | -2.9 in |
Headroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 36.1 in | -36.1 in |
Shoulder Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 55.0 in | -55 in |
Hip Room, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 45.6 in | -45.6 in |
Legroom, Row 3 | 0.0 in | 27.7 in | -27.7 in |
Total Legroom | 80 in (over 2 rows) | 110.7 in (over 3 rows) | -30.7 in |
Cargo Volume, Minimum | 20.1 ft3 | 16.0 ft3 | 4.1 ft3 |
Cargo Volume, Behind R2 | 20.1 | 48.4 ft3 | -28.3 |
Cargo Volume, Maximum | 20.1 ft3 | 84.3 ft3 | -64.2 ft3 |
2011 Ford Taurus Seat Room and Comfort: Pros | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2011 | 4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Three adult room in the back seat - comfortably! see full Ford Taurus review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 365hp 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The front and rear seats are very comfortable. The back can be cramped with three passengers. The SL has heated front and rear seats which works great and are needed as the car heater is very slow to initially get warm. The heated steering wheel is also a nice touch. The seat fabric is soft but the light color might not wear well. see full Ford Taurus review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic FWD |
Leather appointed seats are like sitting in an easy chair. see full Ford Taurus review |
2010 | 4dr Sedan turbocharged 365hp 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Independently adjustable lumbar and cushion supports, individual front seat heaters, coolers and massagers for both the seat cushion and the back. Need I say more? see full Ford Taurus review |
2011 Ford Taurus Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2012 | 0 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The front seats are horrible- similar to airline seats, and no amount of adjusting or adding cushions helped. I'm 6'2 and my wife is 5'3.and neither of us could get comfortable. After 2 weeks, it was actually painful to drive this car. see full Ford Taurus review |
2012 | 0 263-horsepower 3.5L V6 6-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
Not enough headroom for adults in the rear seat. Seat comfort is as poor as the front seats. see full Ford Taurus review |
2020 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Comment | |
With each redesign (for 2008, 2014, and 2020) Toyota has enlarged the Highlander, yet the crossover's third-row seat remains uncomforably low and tight. For adults to be even passably comfortable in the way-back the second row must be slid forward, rendering legroom there also marginal. Some three-row crossovers have much roomier and more comfortable third-row seats. But if you want to be able to squeeze in eight people, Highlanders with a second-row bench can do this. Because they have significantly narrower third-row seats, the Ford Explorer and Kia Sorento cannot fit three people back there even in a pinch, so in hybrid form the former has a maximum capacity of seven people and the latter only six. (The Sorento PHEV will be able to seat seven.) This noted, if you want your adult passengers to have plenty of room, the practical capacity of each is four people. see full Toyota Highlander review |
2020 Toyota Highlander Seat Room and Comfort: Cons | ||
Year | Body/Powertrain | Comment |
2020 | 4dr SUV 295-horsepower 3.5L V6 8-speed shiftable automatic AWD |
The 3rd row seating is just not for adults at all, and I'm not certain that children would be easy to fit back there as well. I'm not sure what Toyota was thinking, even making the 2020 longer didn't make any difference at all. My one complaint is it is just TOO SMALL! see full Toyota Highlander review |