2020 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Ford Expedition

The 2020 Ford Explorer was a striking vehicle, more handsome than the Land Rover Discovery, which had mimicked Ford's style years after the previous-generation Explorer debuted in 2011. The 2020 model refined its upscale, utilitarian design by slimming down the body panels, especially at the rear, giving it a lower and more athletic appearance. The widened headlights, extra-large grille, and italic "Explorer" lettering on the hood's edge created a prominent and recognizable face. The ST version, with its black 21-inch rims, blacked-out trim, red brake calipers, rich Rapid Red paint, and quad exhaust pipes, was particularly eye-catching. However, the interior was a letdown. Despite the high price tag, the materials felt cheap, with low-grade vinyl and hard plastics dominating the cabin. The switchgear felt solid, and some elements like the aluminum speaker covers and white stitching helped break up the monotony, but overall, it lacked the luxury feel expected at its price point.

The 2020 Ford Expedition, last redesigned for the 2018 model year, had a clean and somewhat boring design that aged well over time. The King Ranch model featured 22-inch aluminum wheels, a mesh grille insert, LED headlights, and exclusive gray-painted lower exterior trim, giving it a handsome appearance. The Star White metallic paint on the test SUV looked terrific, though the taillight shape and the body-colored roof C-pillar were minor design drawbacks. Inside, the King Ranch's cabin was adorned with special Del Rio leather in Mesa over Ebony and numerous King Ranch cattle-brand logos. While the interior was nice, it still had quite a bit of hard plastic, especially in the lower-level XLT trim. Spending upwards of $75,000 on a King Ranch or Platinum trim level made the hard plastics borderline offensive, making the Lincoln Navigator a more appealing option for those seeking true luxury.

The 2020 Ford Explorer offered a range of engines and a rear-wheel-drive (RWD) chassis, providing more even weight distribution than the previous front-wheel-drive (FWD) platform. The ST trim, tuned by Ford Performance, featured a 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 with 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The ST's powertrain delivered smooth, uninterrupted power, and the chassis provided nimble handling and superb brake feel. The Explorer also offered a 2.3-liter turbo inline-four with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft, and a gas-electric hybrid option with a net 318 hp. Towing capacity varied from 5,000 pounds with the hybrid to 5,600 pounds with the V6 and AWD. The Explorer's fuel economy ranged from 18/24/20 mpg for the turbo V6 with AWD to 23/26/25 mpg for the hybrid.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine with 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The Expedition's powertrain provided plenty of power, and the SUV accelerated with enthusiasm. The adaptive damping suspension on the King Ranch trim did a fantastic job of quelling excessive ride motions, though the oversized 22-inch wheels and 285/45 tires sometimes made the ride busy on imperfect pavement. The independent rear suspension design improved ride and handling and conserved interior space. The Expedition's fuel economy averaged 17.7 mpg in the King Ranch with RWD, slightly below the official EPA rating of 19 mpg. Towing capacity was impressive, with the standard Expedition capable of towing 9,300 pounds with rear-drive and 9,200 pounds with 4WD.

The 2020 Ford Explorer provided ample space for passengers and cargo. On a Christmas road trip to Maine, the Explorer comfortably accommodated my parents and me, along with all our camera gear. The second row felt like first class, with air vents, USB ports, a center console, and a panoramic moonroof. The third row was more spacious than the previous model, allowing six-foot-tall adults to fit for short journeys. Cargo space behind the third row was 18 cubic feet, behind the second row was 48 cubic feet, and with all seats folded, it was 88 cubic feet. The Explorer's physical knobs and switches made it easy to control the climate and stereo, though the thick D-pillars and fuzzy 360-degree cameras created unnecessary blind spots.

The 2020 Ford Expedition excelled at towing, carrying cargo, and hauling people. The King Ranch's power running boards made it easy to step into the SUV, and every seat was comfortable and accommodating. The front seats were heated and ventilated, and the steering wheel was heated. The second-row captain's chairs provided first-class accommodations, and the third-row bench was genuinely comfortable for adults, thanks to the impressive legroom. The standard-length Expedition offered 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 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), and with the second row folded, it offered 104.6 cubic feet (121.5 with the MAX).

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen with Sync 3 infotainment, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi. Factory navigation was standard on all models except the base XLT. Keyless entry, remote start, 3-zone climate control, and SiriusXM satellite radio were also standard. The Premium Technology Package for ST and Platinum models included a 10-inch vertical touchscreen and a 12-inch digital instrument cluster. The touchscreen made viewing the map easier, and the high-res interface was well-organized. However, the instrument panel felt unfinished, with wasted screen space and limited customization options. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ semi-automated driving system was available on every Explorer but didn't track lanes as well as competitors' systems.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 3, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system was easy to use but sometimes slow to respond. Other highlights included FordPass Connect, a navigation system, a premium sound system from Bang & Olufsen, a rear-seat entertainment system, and Pro Trailer Backup Assist. The trailer technology was especially helpful for frequent towing, providing a knob on the dashboard to control the SUV's steering while reversing the trailer.

The 2020 Ford Explorer came standard with Ford Co-Pilot 360, which included forward emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, auto high beams, and lane-keep assist. The Assist+ option added adaptive cruise control with steering assist and reverse braking. A passenger front knee airbag was standard. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) rated the Explorer as Acceptable in the small overlap test on the driver's side, while the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not yet tested it.

The 2020 Ford Expedition's weight contributed to its crash safety, and it came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which included 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 every NHTSA test, plus a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The IIHS had not tested the Expedition.