2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its 2019 redesign, retained a somewhat dated appearance due to its carryover styling from the previous generation. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to follow the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim looked plain with 17-inch steel wheels, but the Forester's clean and unpretentious look stood out among compact crossovers. The Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which made a significant visual impact, especially with a complementary paint color like Dark Blue Pearl. The Forester rode on the Subaru Global Platform, shared with other Subaru models, and featured a no-nonsense interior with durable materials, accented by orange trim and cross-stitching in the Sport trim. Cloth upholstery was standard on Base, Premium, and Sport models, while Limited and Touring trims offered leather upholstery and additional comfort features.

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum greeted us at Los Angeles International Airport, a welcome sight after a tiring flight. The Platinum trim represented the pinnacle of the Expedition lineup, starting at $74,375 MSRP. Our test vehicle, with Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, and several premium features, totaled $80,510. The Expedition's power-deploying running boards and rear liftgate were convenient, but the SUV struggled to accommodate our luggage, highlighting the utility of minivans. The Expedition Platinum boasted a bold presence with a chrome grille, 22-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, and brightwork. The extended-length MAX version would have solved our cargo issues, offering more space for passengers and luggage. The Expedition's leather-lined cabin, sourced from the F-150 parts bin, provided comfort, though hard plastics reminded us of its origins. For a more luxurious experience, the Lincoln Navigator was a better option.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. Subaru quoted a 1,500-pound maximum towing capacity, with standard Trailer Stability Assist. While adequate for most situations, the engine lacked the desired thrust for highway merging and overtaking, and wind noise was noticeable at higher speeds. The Forester's suspension tuning prioritized comfort over handling, resulting in poor body control and significant body roll in corners. The standard all-wheel drive (AWD) system, with X-Mode and Dual X-Mode on Sport models, offered better off-road capability than most competitors. Hill-descent control and 8.7 inches of ground clearance further enhanced its ruggedness, though serious off-roaders might prefer the Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk or Ford Bronco Sport.

The 2021 Ford Expedition came equipped with 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. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification. The Expedition's Pro Trailer Backup Assist technology simplified 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. The Platinum's 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, transmitting road shock into the cabin, but the four-wheel independent suspension kept the SUV stable. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available on XLT and Limited models, added off-road capabilities, though our Platinum model lacked this option. The Expedition averaged 17.1 mpg on our evaluation loop, with an EPA rating of 19 mpg combined for the 4WD model.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered above-average headroom and legroom for five passengers, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel, though it could lead to higher cabin temperatures on sunny days. The Forester's cargo space measured 35.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing the Honda CR-V and Hyundai Tucson in some configurations. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench, and a power liftgate was only available on higher trims. The Forester's cupholders were adequately sized, but the phone-storage cubby was too small, and wireless charging was not offered. The center console was reasonably sized, and the large knobs for audio and climate control were user-friendly, though the steering wheel had an overwhelming number of buttons.

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, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row, 73.3 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 121.5 cubic feet. The Expedition's power-deploying running boards and wide seats provided easy access and comfort for all passengers, including adults in the third row. The independent rear suspension ensured a smooth ride, and storage for small items was plentiful. The cargo floor's high liftover height could be a challenge when loading heavy items. The Expedition's interior, while comfortable, featured hard plastics that reminded us of its F-150 origins. For a more luxurious experience, the Lincoln Navigator was a better option.

The 2021 Subaru Forester came standard with the Subaru Starlink infotainment system, featuring a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models upgraded to an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while Limited and Touring trims added navigation and rear USB ports. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and physical shortcut buttons, though the screen was slow to boot up. The Forester also included a secondary screen in the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying secondary information like fuel economy and tire pressure. This setup seemed overly complex, as much of the same information could be displayed on both screens.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured the Sync 3 infotainment system, which, despite its age, remained user-friendly. The 8-inch touchscreen display, however, appeared small and was sometimes slow to respond. Sync 3 included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and navigation. Amazon Alexa compatibility and enhanced voice recognition were also part of the system. 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 setup, available on all trims except the XL STX, included dual viewing screens, a DVD player, gaming system inputs, and the ability to stream content from a mobile device.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Forester came standard with Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist suite, which included adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. EyeSight's camera-based system was cheaper and easier to package than rival systems, allowing Subaru to roll it out quickly across its lineup. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system called DriverFocus, which checked for signs of distraction. Optional safety features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.

The 2021 Ford Expedition, with a minimum curb weight of 5,368 pounds, had a safety advantage over most vehicles. The NHTSA awarded the Expedition a five-star overall crash-test rating, though the RWD model received a three-star rollover-resistance rating, while the 4WD model earned four stars. The 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. Limited trim and higher 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 pairing adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance.