2020 Ford Expedition vs 2020 Ford Edge

The 2020 Ford Edge, introduced in 2006, was based on the Ford Fusion sedan platform, offering a car-like ride and ample cabin space. The second generation, updated in 2019, featured angular headlights and a large trapezoidal grille, giving it a crossover version of the Fusion look. Inside, the Edge showed its age with a layout unchanged since 2015, despite subtle updates. The center console had small, awkwardly arranged controls, but the rotary shifter was a contemporary design cue. The cabin quality was decent, with soft-touch materials and solid fit-and-finish, though marred by heavy use of hard plastics.

The 2020 Ford Expedition, last redesigned in 2018, was a full-size SUV with clean, albeit somewhat boring, styling 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 Del Rio leather in Mesa over Ebony, with numerous King Ranch logos. Despite the luxurious touches, the Expedition had quite a bit of hard plastic, especially in the lower-level XLT trim, which was hard to accept given its price. The more expensive King Ranch and Platinum trims offered better materials, but the Lincoln Navigator was a superior choice for those seeking luxury.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque. This engine provided solid low-end acceleration, making it great for city driving, though it struggled at higher speeds. The Edge's suspension was designed for American roads, soaking up potholes while remaining refined and engaging to drive. The sporty Edge ST trim featured a 2.7-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with standard AWD. The ST had a bit of turbo lag at low speeds but offered plenty of power once the revs increased. It handled like a smaller car, with heavy steering and fantastic cornering, enhanced by a Sport mode and an available ST Performance Brake Package.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. The 10-speed automatic transmission delivered power to the rear wheels or optional 4WD. The Expedition had 9.8 inches of ground clearance (9.7 inches for the MAX 4WD) and impressive towing capacities: 9,300 pounds with rear-drive, 9,200 pounds with 4WD, and 9,000 pounds for the MAX versions. The Expedition's twin-turbo engine provided plenty of power, and the 10-speed automatic was responsive. The adaptive damping suspension on the King Ranch trim did a great job of controlling ride motions, though the oversized wheels and tires sometimes made the ride busy. The independent rear suspension improved ride and handling, as well as interior space. Fuel economy averaged 17.7 mpg in the King Ranch with RWD, slightly below the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2020 Ford Edge excelled in cabin layout, offering a commanding view of the road without being overly upright. The seats were surrounded by plenty of cubbies and compartments, designed for commuting or road trips. Second-row head- and legroom were plentiful, and the two rows provided were spacious and comfortable. The Edge offered 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 73.4 cubic feet with the 60/40 split-fold rear seats folded down. This was more than the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Murano, though slightly less than the Honda Passport. The SEL and Titanium trims featured a hands-free foot-activated power rear liftgate.

The 2020 Ford Expedition was designed to tow, carry cargo, and haul people. The King Ranch trim featured power running boards for easy access, and every seat was comfortable, especially the heated and ventilated front seats. The steering wheel was also heated, and the Expedition offered plenty of interior storage. The King Ranch's heated second-row captain’s chairs provided first-class accommodations, with easy access to the third-row bench. The third-row seat was genuinely comfortable for adults, thanks to impressive legroom. The standard-length Expedition offered 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seat, while the long-wheelbase Expedition MAX offered 34.3 cubic feet. With the third-row seat folded down, the Expedition provided 57.5 cubic feet of cargo space (73.3 with the MAX), expanding to 104.6 cubic feet (121.5 with the MAX) with the second row folded down.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with Ford’s SYNC 3 infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen that was easy to use. SYNC 3 included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, allowing users to use their preferred maps app without paying extra for navigation. A voice-activated navigation system with pinch-to-zoom map control was optional on the SEL and ST trims and standard on the Titanium. The Edge also came with two smart-charging USB ports and an optional dual rear-seat entertainment system with screens built into the front headrests.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured the SYNC 3 infotainment system, which was easy to use but sometimes slow to load and respond. It included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing users to bypass some of SYNC 3’s shortcomings. Other highlights included FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, a navigation system, an available premium sound system from Bang & Olufsen, a rear-seat entertainment system with dual screens, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The trailer technology was especially helpful for frequent towing, providing a knob on the dashboard to control the trailer's direction.

The 2020 Ford Edge came standard with a full array of front and side-impact airbags, AdvanceTrac traction control with Roll Stability Control and Curve Control, a tire pressure monitoring system, and a child seat anchoring system. The Ford Co-Pilot360 safety system was standard on every trim, including automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The SEL trim offered the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package, adding adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and active lane centering. The 2020 Ford Edge received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA.

The 2020 Ford Expedition's weight contributed to its crash safety, making it more likely to protect occupants in a collision. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, including adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The ADAS worked well, providing smooth, accurate, and subtle assistance. The Expedition earned 5-star ratings in every NHTSA test, plus a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the Expedition as of this review.