2021 Ford Expedition vs 2022 Ford Expedition

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted us at Los Angeles International Airport after a tiring redeye flight from Maui. With six passengers, each carrying a suitcase and a backpack, the plush and roomy SUV was a welcome sight. However, the Expedition's inability to accommodate all our luggage became apparent, forcing one passenger to carry a suitcase on her lap for the 40-mile ride to the suburbs. Despite this, the Expedition Platinum's luxurious features, including Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, and a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, made it a visually appealing and comfortable ride.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Expedition received several updates, including a new grille, headlights, bumper, and redesigned wheels. The interior saw significant improvements with a redesigned dashboard housing the new Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. Our test vehicle, a Stone Blue Metallic Limited Stealth Edition, featured a 12.4-inch digital instrumentation display and a 15.5-inch touchscreen. The 2022 model's enhancements in both exterior styling and interior technology made it a more modern and attractive option.

The 2021 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. 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. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, and the SUV featured Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology. Despite its size, the Expedition impressed with its acceleration and handling, though the 22-inch wheels on the Platinum trim transmitted road shock into the cabin. The FX4 Off-Road Package was available for those seeking off-road capabilities, but our test vehicle averaged 17.1 mpg on the evaluation loop, slightly below the EPA's 19 mpg combined rating.

The 2022 Ford Expedition continued with the twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, producing 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with the Stealth Edition Performance Package boosting these figures to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft. Fuel economy ranged from 17 to 19 mpg in combined driving, with our test vehicle averaging 16.2 mpg. The 2022 model's sport-tuned suspension in the Stealth Edition contributed to a sometimes harsh ride quality, but the adaptive damping suspension available on higher trims helped alleviate this issue. The Expedition's driving dynamics were impressive, and it excelled on highways, making it a great choice for long road trips.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, with large, wide seats for every passenger, including adults in the third row. The independent rear suspension ensured comfort, and storage space was plentiful. Cargo volume expanded from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded down, and the maximum volume behind the front seats was 104.6 cubic feet. The Expedition MAX offered even more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 121.5 cubic feet.

The 2022 Ford Expedition continued to offer exceptional comfort, with power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain's chairs provided ample legroom and climate controls, while the third-row seat offered outstanding leg support and a power recline function. Cargo space behind the third row measured 19.3 cubic feet, expanding to 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and 104.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Expedition MAX provided even more space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 121.5 cubic feet.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured the Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen display. While the system was user-friendly, it sometimes responded slowly to inputs. Sync 3 included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, and a navigation system. The test vehicle had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging, but it lacked the available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2022 Ford Expedition upgraded to the Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems, with a 12-inch touchscreen display standard and a 15.5-inch touchscreen optional. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect, and a connected navigation system. Sync 4A added features like conversational voice recognition and personal profiles. The test vehicle's 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system had some high-volume fidelity issues, but a new 22-speaker B&O Unleashed sound system was available on higher trims. The 2022 model also featured an upgraded dual-touchscreen rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV.

The 2021 Ford Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, which 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. The SUV earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, but its rollover-resistance rating was three stars with RWD and four stars with 4WD. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control, semi-autonomous parking assistance, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Ford Expedition expanded its safety features with three different Ford Co-Pilot360 packages. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, a driver monitoring system, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, speed-limit-sign recognition, intersection assist, and evasive steering assist. The Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 package, standard on higher trims, included a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0. The 2022 model also introduced Road Edge Detection and Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving technology.