2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Ford Explorer

Ford had designed the 2021 Ford Explorer with a strong family resemblance to its SUV lineup, from the Escape to the Explorer and Expedition. The Explorer stood out with a sporty exterior, characterized by raked belt lines and stylish visages that made it easy to identify as part of Ford’s SUV family. The Explorer’s look was enhanced by various grille designs, including black grilles, chrome accents, and a distinctive black grille with a red stripe.

The Explorer was available in six trim levels: Base, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, Explorer ST, and Platinum, with prices ranging from $32,925 to $52,730. Higher trims offered progressive enhancements in both exterior and interior quality.

Inside, the Explorer offered three rows of seating as standard, accommodating up to seven passengers, except for trims with second-row captain’s chairs, which reduced capacity to six. The interior featured a clean dashboard design with an 8-inch LCD touchscreen dominating the center stack, supplemented by large knobs and buttons for the audio and climate controls. The rotary gearshift on the center console provided additional storage space, a covered bin, and cupholders. The XLT model was the most popular trim, offering features like a power front passenger seat, better finishes, and a 6.5-inch instrument panel display. Leather upholstery became standard from the mid-tier Limited trim and higher.

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted six weary travelers at Los Angeles International Airport with its plush and roomy interior, a welcome upgrade from their previous ride in a Dodge Grand Caravan. The Platinum trim, the highest in the lineup starting at $74,375, signified luxury with its Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, and numerous premium options. However, the Expedition fell short in cargo space, struggling to accommodate all the passengers' luggage.

The Expedition Platinum boasted a striking appearance with its detailed chrome grille, massive 22-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, and brightwork accents. It was a commanding presence on the road, significantly pronounced by power-deploying running boards and a power rear liftgate.

The Expedition impressively navigated its passengers in comfort. Despite the luggage issue, passengers enjoyed spacious seating, and the front seats even featured a massage function to enhance comfort. The interior drew from the F-150 parts bin, with the materials mostly justifying its premium price, although some hard plastic elements persisted.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, tipping the scales at 4,345 pounds at its lightest, delivered a surprisingly agile performance with its base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This engine produced 300 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, surpassing the Kia Telluride’s V6 engine. All Explorer trims shared a 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift capability.

The Explorer Limited Hybrid increased output to 310 horsepower and 331 pound-feet of torque, while the higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 engine. This engine provided 365 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, but the sport-oriented Explorer ST pushed those figures to 400 horsepower and 415 pound-feet of torque.

Towing capacity ranged from 5,000 to 5,600 pounds, depending on the configuration, making it capable of towing a moderate load, though not exceptional in its class. Competitors like the Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition offered higher towing capacities.

The 2021 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The engine generated 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque in most trims, while the Platinum trim received a boost to 400 horsepower and 480 pound-feet of torque.

The Expedition excelled in towing, with capacities ranging from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds. Ford’s Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology simplified trailer maneuvering, making it a standout feature for towing enthusiasts.

Acceleration and overall performance impressed, even with a full passenger load. The twin-turbo V6 provided a pleasant engine note, and the transmission worked smoothly. However, the ride quality suffered slightly due to the Platinum’s 22-inch wheels, though the four-wheel independent suspension maintained road stability.

Off-road, the Expedition offered an FX4 Off-Road Package on the XLT and Limited trims, enhancing its off-road capabilities with features like a two-speed transfer case and improved engine cooling.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had seating for seven in the base trim, while higher trims with second-row captain’s chairs reduced capacity to six. Second-row passengers enjoyed 39 inches of legroom, slightly surpassing competitors like the Nissan Murano and Buick Enclave but falling behind the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. Despite the third row being confined for adults, it remained a functional option for short trips.

With the third-row seats deployed, the Explorer offered an impressive 21 cubic feet of cargo space. However, with the rear seats folded down, cargo volume maxed out at 81 cubic feet, putting it in a competitive spot against smaller SUVs.

The 2021 Ford Expedition fell short in transporting more than five people with their luggage simultaneously unless opting for the extended-length MAX version. Climbing aboard was made easy with power-deploying running boards, and the spacious seats provided comfort for all passengers, including those in the third row. However, only the front seats in the test vehicle offered a massage function, a source of envy for the rest of the passengers.

The independent rear suspension enhanced comfort across all seating positions, and storage for small items was plentiful. Cargo capacity with the third-row seat folded down expanded from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet, with the maximum volume reaching 104.6 cubic feet. The extended-length MAX version significantly increased cargo space, offering 34.3 cubic feet with all seats up, 73.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 121.5 cubic feet.

The 2021 Ford Explorer’s base trim came well-equipped with technology. An 8-inch touchscreen provided AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G WiFi hotspot, Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment system with voice recognition, and a six-speaker audio system.

Upgrading to the Limited trim added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio. Higher trims offered a 10.1-inch touchscreen and up to 14 speakers in the B&O sound system. Charging options included two USB ports and five 12-volt power points, with higher trims adding a 110-volt AC power outlet and a wireless charging pad from the Limited trim upwards.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured the aging Sync 3 infotainment system with a recessed 8-inch touchscreen. Despite its age and occasional sluggishness, Sync 3 provided sought-after features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a navigation system, and Amazon Alexa compatibility.

The test vehicle included an impressive 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging. The Expedition also offered an available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system for all trims except the XL STX, providing entertainment options for rear passengers.

The 2021 Ford Explorer earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, receiving "Good" scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer’s Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features included auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support.

Higher trims with the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, lane centering, evasive steering assist, a forward sensing system, rain-sensing wipers, and speed sign recognition.

The 2021 Ford Expedition earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, the highest available. However, the IIHS had not performed crash tests on the Expedition. The RWD version had a three-star rollover resistance rating, while the 4WD version improved to four stars.

Safety features standard across all trims included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and auto high-beam headlights. The Limited trim offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, semi-autonomous parking assistance, and a 360-degree surround-view camera.