2019 Ford Edge vs 2020 Ford Expedition

The 2019 Ford Edge received a facelift that included a new grille, headlights, and lower front fascia, giving it a sportier appearance. The rear also saw updates with new taillights and a larger black panel replacing the red connector between the taillights. Despite these exterior changes, the interior remained largely unchanged from previous models, feeling dated and heavily reliant on plastics. The cabin did offer useful features like a new rotary shifter and plenty of standard and available features across its SE, SEL, Titanium, and ST trims.

In contrast, the 2020 Ford Expedition, last redesigned in 2018, maintained a clean and somewhat boring exterior design that aged well. The King Ranch trim featured 22-inch aluminum wheels, a mesh grille insert, LED headlights, and exclusive gray-painted lower exterior trim. Inside, the King Ranch boasted special Del Rio leather and numerous King Ranch logos, though it still had a fair amount of hard plastic, especially in lower trims. The cabin was spacious and comfortable, particularly in the front seats, which were heated and ventilated.

The 2019 Ford Edge offered a 2-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine in its non-ST trims, producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an 8-speed automatic transmission, provided a reliable performance with either front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive. The ST trim, however, featured a more powerful 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, exclusively with all-wheel drive. The ST also offered impressive acceleration and handling, especially in Sport Mode, while maintaining a smooth ride over rough roads. Fuel economy for the base engine was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the ST returned 19/26/21.

The 2020 Ford Expedition came with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided strong acceleration and a pleasant exhaust note. The Expedition offered rear-wheel drive as standard, with an optional four-wheel-drive system. It had a ground clearance of 9.8 inches (9.7 inches for the MAX 4WD) and impressive towing capacities of 9,300 pounds for rear-drive and 9,200 pounds for 4WD. The adaptive damping suspension on the King Ranch trim provided a smooth ride, though the large wheels sometimes made the ride busy on imperfect pavement. Fuel economy for the King Ranch with rear-wheel drive was 17.7 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2019 Ford Edge's cabin, though dated, was practical with deep storage bins, USB ports, and available wireless charging. The front seats were comfortable, but the ST's bucket seats were not ideal for taller drivers. The rear seats offered ample head- and legroom, and the cargo space was generous with 39 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 73.4 cubic feet with the seats folded down.

The 2020 Ford Expedition excelled in towing, cargo capacity, and passenger comfort. The King Ranch trim featured power running boards, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated, and the third-row seat was comfortable for adults. The standard-length Expedition offered 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, while the Expedition MAX provided 34.3 cubic feet. With the third row folded, the standard model had 57.5 cubic feet of space (73.3 with the MAX), and with both the second and third rows folded, it offered 104.6 cubic feet (121.5 with the MAX).

The 2019 Ford Edge's base infotainment system featured a small 4.2-inch non-touchscreen with basic functionality, including a USB port, WiFi hotspot, and Bluetooth. Higher trims offered an 8-inch Sync 3 system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration, providing a more user-friendly experience despite its middling graphics.

The 2020 Ford Expedition's Sync 3 infotainment system, while easy to use, felt outdated with its 8-inch touchscreen. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and an available Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. The Expedition also offered a rear-seat entertainment system and Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which was particularly useful for towing.

The 2019 Ford Edge came standard with a reversing camera, traction control, and a full complement of airbags. It also included Ford’s Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assistance features, such as automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Higher trims could be upgraded with the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, adding adaptive cruise control, evasive steering assist, and a lane-centering system.

The 2020 Ford Expedition also featured Ford Co-Pilot360 as standard, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Expedition performed well in crash tests, earning 5-star ratings in every test from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a 4-star rollover resistance rating.