Compare the2026 Ford ExplorerVS 2025 Lexus TX

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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Both the Explorer and the TX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Lexus TX:

	Explorer	TX
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	131	218
Neck Injury Risk	29.4%	39.3%
Neck Stress	275 lbs.	355 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	196/188 lbs.	331/316 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	236	356
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.6 inches
Neck Stress	156 lbs.	199 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	196/281 lbs.	384/277 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

A significantly tougher test than their original offset frontal crash test, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH small overlap frontal offset crash tests. In this test, where only 25% of the total width of the vehicle is struck, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the TX:

	Explorer	TX
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Restraints	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Head Neck Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Head injury index	97	112
Peak Head Forces	0 G’s	0 G’s
Steering Column Movement Rearward	0 cm	5 cm
Chest Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Evaluation	GOOD	GOOD
Hip & Thigh Injury Risk R/L	0%/0%	1%/0%
Lower Leg Evaluation	ACCEPTABLE	GOOD
Tibia index R/L	.6/.64	.69/.57

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Explorer is safer than the Lexus TX:

	Explorer	TX
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	38 G’s	39 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	12 inches	17 inches
HIC	288	344
Spine Acceleration	39 G’s	48 G’s
Hip Force	573 lbs.	823 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the Explorer is 1.8% to 2.7% less likely to roll over than the TX.

The Ford Explorer has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2025 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, and an “Acceptable” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test. The TX is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2025.

Warranty

There are almost 12 times as many Ford dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Explorer’s warranty.

Reliability

The Explorer has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The TX doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Explorer has more powerful engines than the TX:

	Horsepower	Torque
Explorer 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder	300 HP	310 lbs.-ft.
Explorer 3.0 turbo V6	400 HP	415 lbs.-ft.
TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder	275 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
TX 500h 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder hybrid	366 HP	406 lbs.-ft.
TX 550h+ 3.5 DOHC V6 hybrid	404 HP

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Explorer turbo 4 cyl. is faster than the TX 350 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Explorer	TX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.1 sec	8 sec
Quarter Mile	14.7 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	94.1 MPH	88.8 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Explorer gets better mileage than the TX running its gasoline engine:

			MPG
Explorer
	RWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/29 hwy
	AWD	2.3 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/27 hwy
TX
	FWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	21 city/27 hwy
	AWD	2.4 turbo 4-cyl.	20 city/26 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Ford Explorer uses regular unleaded gasoline (premium recommended for maximum performance). The TX requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Explorer 2.3L EcoBoost I-4’s standard fuel tank has 4.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 550h+’s standard fuel tank (18.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Explorer 2.3L EcoBoost I-4’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 500h’s standard fuel tank (18.6 vs. 17.1 gallons). The Explorer 3.0L EcoBoost V6’s standard fuel tank has 2.4 gallons more fuel capacity than the TX 350’s standard fuel tank (20.2 vs. 17.8 gallons).

The Explorer has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The TX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Explorer, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the TX.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Explorer’s standard front brake rotors are larger than those on the TX:

	Explorer	TX
Front Rotors	13.6 inches	13.3 inches

The Explorer stops much shorter than the TX:

	Explorer	TX
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	177 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	128 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	139 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Explorer’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the TX (275/45R21 vs. 255/55R20).

Having a flat tire is dangerous, inconvenient and expensive. The self-sealing tires available on the Explorer can automatically seal most punctures up to 3/16 of an inch, effectively preventing most flat tires. The TX doesn’t offer self-sealing tires.

Suspension and Handling

The Explorer’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The TX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Explorer’s wheelbase is 3 inches longer than on the TX (119.1 inches vs. 116.1 inches).

The Explorer’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (50% to 50%) than the TX’s (52.5% to 47.5%). This gives the Explorer more stable handling and braking.

The Explorer ST 4WD handles at .86 G’s, while the TX 550h+ Luxury pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Explorer ST 4WD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.2 seconds quicker than the TX 350 Luxury (26.4 seconds @ .72 average G’s vs. 27.6 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Explorer Tremor has a greater minimum ground clearance than the TX 500h F Sport Performance Premium (8.7 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Explorer to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Explorer is 4.4 inches shorter than the TX, making the Explorer easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Explorer uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The TX doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The Explorer has 1.4 inches more front legroom, 2.7 inches more front hip room, 2.1 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 2.3 inches more rear hip room, 2.9 inches more rear shoulder room and 1.7 inches more third row headroom than the TX.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Explorer is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the TX. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Explorer’s available exterior PIN entry system. The TX doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The TX Luxury/F Sport’s cornering lamps activate a lamp on the front corner when the turn signal is activated. The Explorer Platinum’s standard adaptive cornering lights turn the actual headlight unit up to several degrees, depending on steering wheel angle and vehicle speed. This lights a significant distance into corners at any speed.

The Explorer (except Active) offers optional massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the TX.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Ford Explorer and the Lexus TX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Ford Explorer outsold the Lexus TX by almost seven to one during 2024.

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