2021 Ford Expedition vs 2022 Ford Explorer

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted us at Los Angeles International Airport, a welcome sight after a week in a Dodge Grand Caravan. Despite its plush and roomy interior, the Expedition struggled to accommodate our six-person crew and their luggage. The Platinum trim, the most luxurious in the Expedition lineup, boasted features like Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, and a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, bringing the total cost to $80,510. However, the lack of cargo space forced one passenger to carry a suitcase on her lap for the 40-mile ride home.

The Expedition Platinum's exterior featured an intricately detailed chrome grille, massive 22-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, and brightwork, making it a good-looking vehicle. The extended-length MAX version would have solved our cargo issue, offering more space for passengers and luggage. Inside, the leather-lined cabin, sourced from the F-150 parts bin, provided comfort, though the hard plastic reminded us of its origins. For a more luxurious interior, the Lincoln Navigator, a close relative of the Expedition, would be a better choice.

The 2022 Ford Explorer King Ranch, priced at $59,880, featured four-wheel drive, Rapid Red paint, a Premium Technology package, and a twin-panel sunroof. Visually, the King Ranch's emblems, shiny 20-inch wheels, and quad exhaust outlets set it apart, though not dramatically. The Explorer's rear-drive platform allowed for a long, tall hood and a rakish roofline, giving it an athletic appearance. Blacked-out roof pillars added a "floating roof" effect, popular in previous models.

Inside, the King Ranch offered exclusive Del Rio leather seating with lasso-perforated inserts and King Ranch branding. The chocolate brown over caramel interior was unique to this trim, with the Platinum trim offering more color options. The cabin's mix of quality and questionable materials reflected its near $60,000 price point. While mostly impressive, occasional reminders of the Explorer's base trim were evident.

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 four-wheel drive (4WD). The engine produced 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, except for the Platinum trim, which boasted 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification. The Expedition's Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology allowed for easy trailer maneuvering.

Acceleration was impressive, even with a full load, and the twin-turbo V6 emitted a pleasant engine note. The transmission operated smoothly, and the steering and brakes performed as expected. However, the Platinum's 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, transmitting road shock into the cabin. The Expedition's four-wheel independent suspension kept it stable on the road. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available on XLT and Limited models, added off-road capabilities, but our Platinum model stuck to pavement, averaging 17.1 mpg on our evaluation loop.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered three powertrains. The base, XLT, ST-Line, Limited, and Timberline trims came with a turbocharged 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic and RWD or 4WD, had a maximum towing capacity of 5,300 pounds and up to 24 mpg in combined driving. The hybrid drivetrain, available for the Limited and Platinum trims, combined a 3.3-liter V6 engine for 318 hp and 322 lb-ft of torque, towing up to 5,000 lbs and achieving 27 mpg in combined driving.

The twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 engine, standard on ST, Platinum, and King Ranch trims, produced 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, with a towing capacity of 5,600 lbs and 21 mpg in combined driving. Our King Ranch 4WD test vehicle averaged 20.6 mpg. The V6 provided satisfying acceleration and a pleasing exhaust note. The Explorer's ride felt robust, handling off-road terrain well with its 7.9 inches of ground clearance. The Timberline model offered even better off-road capabilities with 8.7 inches of ground clearance.

The 2021 Ford Expedition's regular-length model struggled to transport more than five people and their luggage. The Expedition MAX offered more cargo 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. The Expedition's independent rear suspension ensured comfort, and the power-deploying running boards made entry easy. The front seats offered a massage function, but the rear seats did not. Storage was plentiful, with cargo volume expanding from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 104.6 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2022 Ford Explorer King Ranch provided comfort for families of four, with the option to carry five people with a second-row bench seat. The third-row seat was suitable only for children due to its low cushion and lack of legroom. The King Ranch trim included triple-zone automatic climate control, a power-adjustable heated steering wheel, heated and ventilated front seats, and heated second-row captain's chairs. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, and the second-row seats were nearly as accommodating. Practical storage space was limited, with missed opportunities for additional storage in the front door armrests and dashboard. The King Ranch had 18.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 47.9 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 87.8 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2021 Ford Expedition's Sync 3 infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. The system was user-friendly but sometimes slow to respond. The test vehicle included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. An available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system offered additional entertainment options.

The 2022 Ford Explorer offered two versions of the Sync 3 infotainment system: an 8-inch touchscreen and a 10.1-inch touchscreen. The smaller screen was well integrated, while the larger screen appeared as an afterthought. Our test vehicle included FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, Ford+Alexa functionality, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, satellite radio, and a navigation system. The King Ranch trim added wireless smartphone charging, a surround-view camera system, and a 14-speaker Bang and Olufsen premium sound system. The Sync 3 system struggled with voice recognition, often misinterpreting commands. The King Ranch also featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display and Active Park Assist 2.0.

The 2021 Ford Expedition earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), though its rollover-resistance rating was three stars with RWD and four stars with 4WD. The Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, including 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, semi-autonomous parking assistance, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.

The 2022 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The NHTSA had not published complete crash-test ratings for the 2022 model, but the 2021 model earned five-star ratings except for rollover resistance, which was four stars. The Explorer came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Co-Pilot360 Assist+ added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, lane-centering assist, and evasive steering assist. The Explorer also featured a post-collision braking system and MyKey programmable vehicle functions.