Ford Expedition vs Chevrolet Bolt

The 2025 Ford Expedition presented a robust and utilitarian design, reminiscent of a modern school bus but with a more appealing aesthetic. Its form-over-function ethos was evident in its slab sides and rectilinear silhouette, ensuring ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for passengers. Despite its functional focus, the Expedition featured stylish elements like horseshoe-shaped daytime running lights framing a bold grille, integrated headlights, and off-roading lamps on the Tremor trim. The vehicle's profile was simple, with a distinct character line and a range of wheel designs. A notable change for 2025 was the introduction of a split-gate tailgate, offering practical benefits such as preventing luggage spillage and providing a convenient resting spot when parked. The Expedition was available in four trim levels—Active, Platinum, Tremor, and King Ranch—and two lengths, with the MAX version offering more cargo space. The interior boasted a futuristic and minimalist design, highlighted by a 24-inch panoramic driver information display and a slightly smaller infotainment touchscreen.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt retained a familiar look with slight styling changes, resembling a conventional gas-powered car more than an EV. It featured a thin slot behind the Chevy Bowtie logo and an integrated grille insert. The Bolt straddled the line between a large hatchback and a subcompact SUV, offering a single body style for 2027. Its tall and narrow stance prioritized utility and interior space, with the RS model adding gloss black exterior trim for a touch of flair. Inside, the Bolt underwent a more dramatic makeover, featuring a larger digital instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. The push-button gear selector was moved to the steering column, freeing up storage space in the center console. The cabin was dominated by hard plastic surfaces, reinforcing its budget feel, but with padded elbow touchpoints. The RS trim upgraded to Evotex synthetic leather with red stitching, while the rear seating area featured hard plastics and lacked padding for the door armrests.

The 2025 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged “EcoBoost” 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque. The Tremor trim featured a high-output version of this engine, boosting power to 440 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. Despite its 5,794-pound curb weight, the Expedition's powertrain excelled on highways, offering a comfortable and quiet ride. The ten-speed automatic transmission handled shifts smoothly, and the multi-link rear suspension provided a stable ride over rough terrain. The Tremor trim replaced the Timberline trim, offering increased ground clearance and improved off-road capabilities. However, the Expedition's fuel economy was poor, with 2WD models rated at 16 mpg city, 24 highway, and 18 combined, while 4WD models fared worse. In contrast, the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban offered a diesel engine with better fuel efficiency.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt featured a new 65-kilowatt-hour lithium-iron phosphate battery pack, reducing costs and reliance on rare earth minerals. Its motor, sourced from the Chevy Equinox EV, produced 210 horsepower and 169 lb-ft of torque, achieving 0-60 mph in the low seven-second range. The Bolt's acceleration was quick compared to gas-powered subcompact SUVs, with responsive pedal inputs. One-pedal driving was available, offering medium or high levels of brake regeneration. The ride was firm but not overly stiff, and the Bolt's low center of gravity contributed to its agility on curvy roads. The EPA estimated a range of 262 miles on a full charge, with a Tesla-derived NACS charge port standard on all models. Charging speed increased to 150 kW, allowing the Bolt to recharge from 10% to 80% in 25 minutes.

The 2025 Ford Expedition excelled in towing capacity, with a maximum of 9,600 pounds, surpassing the Chevrolet Tahoe's 8,400-pound capacity. Inside, the Expedition offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 36.1 cubic feet in the Expedition MAX. With all rear seats down, the Expedition provided 108.5 cubic feet, and the MAX offered 123.1 cubic feet. The minimalist interior design featured touch-sensitive trackpads on the steering wheel and touchscreen-based climate controls, which some shoppers might find too high-tech for a large SUV.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt offered an upright driving position with ample space for larger occupants. Taller drivers might have wished for more telescoping extension from the steering wheel. The rear seats provided plenty of headroom and adequate thigh support, with a flat floor reducing the penalty for center-seat passengers. The Bolt's cargo capacity was 16.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, with a large bin underneath the floor for additional storage. The rear seatbacks folded flat with the cargo floor, and the release latches were easily accessible. While there was no frunk, the Bolt offered ample storage for personal items up front, including a large bin with movable dividers, a big floor tray, and a deep center armrest bin.

The 2025 Ford Expedition featured a groundbreaking 24-inch driver information display, offering ample space for Google Maps projection and a selectable widget. The steering wheel had a flattened profile, which Ford called a "squircle." The 13.2-inch touchscreen display used a Google-based operating system, requiring an active cellular data plan for full functionality. The Ford Connectivity Package offered one year of complimentary access, with subscription options available afterward.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt came with an 11-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.3-inch center touchscreen, running on a Google-based operating system. Apple CarPlay and standalone Android Auto were not supported, but some Android Auto features were integrated into the infotainment system. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and a wireless charging pad. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with logical menus, sharp graphics, and quick responses. The Bolt's navigation system helped drivers find charging stations and preconditioned the battery for optimal charging rates. The Bolt also offered vehicle-to-load charging, allowing it to serve as a backup power source for a home.

The 2025 Ford Expedition had not yet been rated by the NHTSA, and the IIHS ratings were based on a previous-generation model. However, it came with an impressive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alerts. BlueCruise 1.4 was available on select trims, offering hands-free driving capabilities.

The 2027 Chevrolet Bolt had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it was expected to achieve high scores based on its platform. Standard safety features included forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitors, and a safety alert seat. The optional Technology package added a surround-view camera system, a digital rear-view mirror, and traffic-sign recognition. GM's Super Cruise hands-free driving system was available for an additional cost.