2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Ford Edge retained much of its styling from the 2019 refresh, which successfully modernized its exterior. This refresh harmonized the Edge's look with Ford's contemporary design language, making it a sleeker alternative to the more aggressively styled Chevy Blazer and Hyundai Santa Fe. The Edge Titanium models featured additional chrome accents, while the ST trim boasted a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance enhancements and higher price tag. Inside, the Edge's design showed its age, with awkward tweaks to fit new features like a larger touchscreen. The Titanium models had leather upholstery, and the ST models included sporty front seats with extra bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

In contrast, the 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted passengers with a luxurious and spacious interior, a welcome sight after a week in a rented Dodge Grand Caravan. The Platinum trim, the most luxurious in the Expedition lineup, featured Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, and second-row captain’s chairs. Despite its plush interior, the Expedition struggled to accommodate all the luggage for six passengers, highlighting the utility of minivans. The Expedition Platinum's exterior was adorned with a detailed chrome grille, 22-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, and brightwork, giving it a bold presence. The extended-length MAX version would have solved the cargo issue, offering more space for passengers and luggage. The Expedition's leather-lined cabin, sourced from the F-150 parts bin, provided comfort but included hard plastic elements, reminding passengers of its origins.

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. It came with standard front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. The ST also had an option package for upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires. The Edge ST aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though it fell short of that benchmark. The Edge's towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered ST, respectable but lower than competitors like the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and either rear-wheel drive (RWD) or 4WD. The engine produced 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with the Platinum trim boosting these figures to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity varied from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification. The Expedition's Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology made trailer maneuvering easier. The twin-turbo V6 provided impressive acceleration, even with a full load, and the transmission operated smoothly. The Platinum's 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, transmitting road shock into the cabin despite the adaptive damping suspension. The Expedition's four-wheel independent suspension ensured stability. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available on XLT and Limited models, added off-road capabilities, though the test vehicle did not include this option. The Expedition averaged 17.1 mpg on the evaluation loop, with an EPA rating of 19 mpg in combined driving.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows, second only to the Hyundai Santa Fe. It featured standard dual-zone automatic climate control. Cargo space measured 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. Higher trim levels offered a foot-activated power liftgate. The rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, though the narrow console width limited its utility. A storage nook below the console was difficult to reach and easy to forget.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, though the regular-length model struggled to transport more than five people and their luggage simultaneously. The Expedition MAX offered more cargo space, making it a better choice for larger groups. The Expedition's power-deploying running boards and large, wide seats provided comfort for all passengers, including those in the third row. The independent rear suspension ensured a smooth ride, and storage for small items was plentiful. Cargo volume expanded from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and up to 104.6 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Expedition MAX offered even more space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded, though still less than most minivans.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured Ford’s latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. It also included Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models came with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts were user-friendly, and not all competitors offered wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The 2021 Ford Expedition used the older Sync 3 infotainment system, with an 8-inch touchscreen display that looked small on the dashboard. Despite its age, Sync 3 offered features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. Amazon Alexa compatibility and enhanced voice recognition were also included. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging but lacked the available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system. This system, available on all trims except the XL STX, included dual viewing screens, a DVD player, gaming system inputs, mobile device streaming, and Slingbox compatibility.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS “Top Safety Pick,” scoring top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlights. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. Standard safety features under Ford Co-Pilot360 included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering was standard on all but the base SE trim, along with Evasive Steering Assist.

The 2021 Ford Expedition had a minimum curb weight of 5,368 pounds, providing a safety advantage. The IIHS had not crash-tested the Expedition, but the NHTSA awarded it a five-star overall rating. The RWD model received a three-star rollover-resistance rating, while the 4WD model earned four stars. Standard safety features under Ford Co-Pilot360 included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. Limited trim and above offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system. The lane-keeping technology was helpful on narrow freeways, though Ford did not offer a more advanced driving system with lane-centering assistance. The upcoming BlueCruise technology might be added as an option in the future.