2020 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2020 Ford Expedition, last redesigned in 2018, was a full-size SUV with a clean and somewhat understated design. While some might have found its styling to be on the boring side, this simplicity often allowed the design to age gracefully, making it a practical choice for those planning to keep their vehicle for many years. The King Ranch edition of the Expedition stood out with its 22-inch aluminum wheels, mesh grille insert, LED headlights, and unique gray-painted lower exterior trim. The Star White metallic paint added a touch of elegance, although some design elements like the taillights and the roof C-pillar could have been improved for a more modern look. Inside, the King Ranch featured Del Rio leather in Mesa over Ebony, adorned with King Ranch cattle-brand logos, which sparked mixed reactions from passengers. Despite the luxurious feel, the presence of hard plastic in lower trims like the Expedition XLT was a drawback, especially given the vehicle's high price point.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Edge maintained a consistent design since its 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated Ford's contemporary styling with the existing Edge body. The Edge offered a cleaner look compared to competitors like the Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Titanium model added chrome accents for a premium feel, while the ST trim featured a blacked-out grille and sporty body kit. However, the interior design of the Edge began to show its age, with awkward modifications to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium model offered leather upholstery, and the ST trim included sporty front seats with contrast stitching. Despite these updates, the interior struggled to match the freshness of the exterior design.

The 2020 Ford Expedition was equipped with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided a smooth and powerful driving experience, whether in rear-wheel drive or with the optional four-wheel-drive system. The Expedition boasted a towing capacity of up to 9,300 pounds with rear-drive and 9,200 pounds with 4WD, making it a strong contender for those needing to tow heavy loads. Despite its size, the Expedition handled well in urban environments, thanks to its tight turning radius and easily modulated brakes. However, the steering was somewhat slow, requiring more effort when parking or navigating tight spaces. The adaptive damping suspension on the King Ranch trim helped manage ride motions, although the large 22-inch wheels sometimes resulted in a busy ride on imperfect roads. The independent rear suspension design improved ride quality and interior space, setting the Expedition apart from many full-size SUVs. Fuel economy averaged 17.7 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 19 mpg.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Available in front-wheel drive or optional all-wheel drive, the Edge provided a balanced driving experience. The Edge ST performance model featured a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with standard all-wheel drive and model-specific suspension tuning. The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs, although it fell short of the Porsche Macan's level. The Edge's towing capacity ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST. While these figures were respectable, they lagged behind competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, which offered higher towing capacities.

The 2020 Ford Expedition excelled in towing, cargo capacity, and passenger comfort. The King Ranch trim featured power running boards for easy access, and the interior offered comfortable seating throughout, with heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain's chairs provided first-class accommodations, and the third-row seat was genuinely comfortable for adults, thanks to the independent rear suspension design. Cargo space in the standard-length Expedition was 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 104.6 cubic feet with the second row down. The long-wheelbase Expedition MAX offered even more cargo space, making it a versatile choice for families and adventurers.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. Standard dual-zone automatic climate control added to passenger comfort. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with them folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. The Edge featured a foot-activated power liftgate on higher trims, enhancing convenience. The rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, although the narrow console width limited its utility. A storage nook below the console provided additional space, albeit somewhat difficult to access.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 3, which, while functional, felt outdated compared to newer systems. Sync 3 offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, allowing users to bypass some of its limitations. Other tech highlights included FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, a navigation system, and an available Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. The Expedition also offered a rear-seat entertainment system and Pro Trailer Backup Assist, which simplified trailer maneuvering.

The 2021 Ford Edge was equipped with Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, featuring a 12-inch touchscreen and standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto. The system included Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST trim added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge also featured four USB ports, including two rear USB ports, enhancing connectivity for passengers. Sync 4's simple graphics and menu layouts made it user-friendly, and the inclusion of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto set it apart from some competitors.

The 2020 Ford Expedition's size and weight contributed to its crash safety, with most other vehicles on the road being smaller. It came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems, 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 earned 5-star ratings in NHTSA crash tests, with a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the Expedition at the time of review.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS "Top Safety Pick," receiving top ratings in crash tests and front crash prevention tech for vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It scored lower in vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention and LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The Edge received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. Standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base trim.