2021 Ford Expedition vs 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted us at Los Angeles International Airport with its plush and roomy interior, a welcome sight after a restless redeye flight from Maui. Despite its luxurious Platinum trim, which includes features like Magnetic gray paint, four-wheel drive, and a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, the Expedition struggled to accommodate our cargo. The power-deploying running boards and leather-lined cabin added to its appeal, but the lack of space forced one passenger to carry her suitcase on her lap for the 40-mile ride home.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 presented a polished exterior with minimal character lines, embodying a futuristic design with its Parametric Pixel theme. The Ioniq 5's cabin was a stark contrast to its exterior, offering a mellow and comfortable "Living Space" design. The interior featured sustainable materials, including recycled fibers and bio-materials, and a "Relaxation" mode for the driver's seat, providing a zero-gravity resting position. The Ioniq 5's design was both fascinating and functional, making it a standout in the EV market.

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 in most trims, while the Platinum trim received a boost to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Expedition's towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, and it featured Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology for easier trailer maneuvering. Despite its size, the Expedition impressed with its acceleration and handling, though the ride quality suffered due to the Platinum's 22-inch wheels.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 offered two drive configurations, three trims, and three powertrains. The base SE Standard Range model featured a single 128-kW rear-mounted electric motor, producing 168 horsepower and offering 220 miles of range. The extended-range variants, available in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, featured a larger 168-kW rear motor with 225 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque, providing a range of 303 miles. The AWD variants, with a dual-motor system, produced 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, though the range dropped to 256 miles. The Ioniq 5 handled well on various terrains, and its Sport mode added excitement to the driving experience, though it reduced the range significantly.

The 2021 Ford Expedition excelled in comfort and utility, with large, wide seats for every passenger and an independent rear suspension ensuring comfort in all seating positions. However, the regular-length model struggled with cargo space, offering only 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expandable to 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded. The Expedition MAX provided more space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5, built on the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), offered a spacious interior with a longer wheelbase than the seven-passenger Palisade. The Ioniq 5 provided a total interior volume of 133.7 cubic feet, with 27.2 cubic feet of rear cargo space. The interior featured soft touch points and a moveable center console, enhancing usability. The leatherette seats were comfortable and supportive, making the Ioniq 5 a pleasant place to be for both drivers and passengers.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured the Sync 3 infotainment system, which, despite its age, offered a user-friendly interface with an 8-inch touchscreen display. The system included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, and a navigation system. The test vehicle also had a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging, though it lacked the available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 boasted advanced technology, including a high-voltage, energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80 percent battery capacity in 18 minutes, and offered unlimited 30-minute fast-charging sessions for two years through Electrify America. The Ioniq 5 also featured a redesigned Blue Link connected car app, digital key, enhanced smartphone pairing, and over-the-air updates. The 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment were elegant and intuitive, with an anti-glare coating for better visibility.

The 2021 Ford Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of driving-assistance safety features, 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. The Expedition earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, though its rollover-resistance rating was lower with RWD.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 featured Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems, including blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, automatic high beams, and front- and rear-collision avoidance. The Ioniq 5 also included Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with machine-learning adaptive cruise control. The Ioniq 5 was expected to earn high safety ratings, given Hyundai's track record with IIHS Top Safety awards.