2021 Ford Expedition

Considering the immense space it has inside, the Expedition is comfy and relaxing but does not expect much luxury inside. Even with a price tag that high, luxury isn’t something you get out of it. But other than that, the car is certainly an all-rounder offering muscular looks, a rugged structure, perfect practicality, comfort, and a powerful powertrain. The 2021 Ford Expedition competes really well against the GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada, and the Chevrolet Tahoe.

The 2021 Ford Expedition will be coming forth with 5 trim levels that are XL, XLT, Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum. Except for the base XL, you can get the extended-wheelbase Expedition on all the trim levels. The Ford Expedition comes powered with a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine but the four-wheel-drive setup comes as optional only. The Expedition comes with similar and more standard equipment than the entry-level trim such as an eight-inch touchscreen display with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, tri-zone climate control, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Which trim should you buy?

The mid-spec Limited will offer you great value for money because it comes with lots of luxuries like a heated steering wheel, perforated front leather with heated and ventilated captain’s chairs, tri-zone climate control, Bang & Olufsen sound system, 20-inch alloy wheels, and wireless charging. But you might miss the 360-degree camera and the LED headlamps. Additionally, the Expedition includes 22-inch alloy wheels and enhanced active park assist. 

The Ford Expedition comes packed with a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine, which is generating enough power. However, with the top-spec Platinum, you can get more power. Even with a small engine like this V6, Ford can deliver power as well as its rivals that come with V8s. Along with this, a rear-wheel drive and a 10-speed automatic transmission come as standard. You can get a four-wheel drivetrain system with all trim levels. 

Ford comes with two turbochargers mated to the 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating 374 horses and 470 lb.-ft of torque output. The Platinum trim comes equipped with the same engine; however, generating 400 horses and 480 lb.-ft. If these figures still don’t impress you, then get to the gearbox and see how that feels. When it comes to performance, the Expedition can complete 60 mph within 6.2 seconds. The engine delivers maximum torque output at 3,500 rpm.

The turbocharged engine of the Expedition certainly gives it an edge above others for being better than most. However, Nissan Armada, with its regular 5.6 L V8 engine performs slightly better than the Expedition and manages to be a bit cheaper as well. Ford’s turbocharged engine churns out a heavy torque value that is impossible to surpass.

How well does the 2021 Ford Expedition handle?

The Expedition comes with an independent suspension for all its wheels, helping you get a comfy ride. But that’s not something new because it’s something you expect from an SUV this expensive. The steering isn’t quite good to handle and for the high-speed driver in you, it doesn’t do much. The size and weight of the SUV won’t let you cut corners smoothly either. Nevertheless, the Expedition’s long hauling abilities are, for sure, a boon. 

It might not be easy for you to drive within the city if you have such a big hauler because you should find a good enough parking space for the Expedition. There is nothing that can unsettle the Expedition on the road and when it comes to handling, the Expedition can go through minor bumps as well as harsh roads with ease. 

2021 Ford Expedition Braking Performance

You know it’s what they say, if the acceleration is good then the braking performance is good too. The Expedition has big rotors that help you halt the SUV in an instant. Equipped with 13.9-inch brake rotors in the front as well as 13.6-inch brake rotors in the rear, the 2021 Ford Expedition completes 60-0 mph with a distance of 121 feet. The brake pedal is firm, and you get some great features like a trailer brake controller, ABS, automatic emergency braking, and more. It all helps improve the performance.

The Ford Expedition’s braking system is quite capable when compared to the rivals. Even with its 5443 lbs of weight, the brakes are much more powerful than GMC, Chevrolet, and Nissan. Stopping from 60 mph with more than five feet to spare from its nearest rival, the car is surely much better in the braking department.

The Expedition’s EPA figures tell that the rear-wheel drivetrain can deliver an estimate of 17/ 24/ 19 mpg in the city/ highway/ combined cycle respectively. Add up the 4WD and even then, consumption won’t be impacted much. The fuel tank capacity of the Expedition is around 25 gallons. It helps offer 510/ 690/ 570 miles in the city/ highway/ combined. 

When compared to Chevy’s Tahoe’s EPA-estimated 4WD offering of 16/ 23/ 19 mpg, the Expedition is far ahead. In fact, one can clearly see that the V6 has made the Expedition much more fuel-efficient than its V8-powered counterparts and that is why it manages to have a better overall range despite having a smaller fuel tank.

Certainly! The Expedition is much roomier when compared to the Chevy Tahoe and gives you and your folks great comfort. What’s impressive is the third row, which gives you all the accessibility that you need plus lets adults enter and exit smoothly. The center console comes mounted with a lot of buttons but is user-friendly. The huge A-pillars at the front hamper the visibility of the road for the driver. 

However, a nice backup camera and a 360-degree camera system help you view everything that’s behind you almost a mile with ease. The front seats are surely comfy and relaxing. With lumbar support and an additional massage functionality in the higher trims, the front seats are like heaven after a hard day’s work. The second row is decent too but not very impressive. And in the third row, you can easily allow the adults to sit which is a surprise.

The third row is a power-folding one as a standard in all the trims. So, that gives you some extra space. However, third-row legroom is the most impressive fact about the Expedition because it is so much larger than the rivals. Amongst the competition, the Expedition offers perfect storage space and comfort to the passengers. Standout interior features of the Ford Expedition:

• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Power-adjustable driver's seat
• Three-zone automatic climate control
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Rear parking sensors
• Keyless entry with push-button start

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The entire lineup offers you an 8-inch infotainment system packed with Ford’s Sync 3 operating system. It’s not quite the latest but definitely makes the Expedition a wonder. The infotainment system comes with voice recognition, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto integration, a six-speaker sound system, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. With the XLT, you get SiriusXM and some options like navigation and wireless charging as upgrades. 

In the Limited trim, these options are standard, adding to which you get the premium Bang & Olufsen sound system with 12 speakers. Dish out $1995 and you get the dual-headrest second-row entertainment system as well. Take a sneak-peak of all the essential features of the infotainment system of the Expedition:

• Ford Sync 3 Connect
• Navigation with Pinch to Zoom
• SiriusXM Traffic and Travel Link
• HD Radio and Wi-Fi Hotspot
• Android Auto and Apple Car Play Compatibility
• Bang & Olufsen audio with 10 Speakers
• Wireless Charging pad for Compatible phones
• Rear View Camera with Adaptive Guidelines

An SUV like the Expedition doesn’t have much scope for a lot of facelifts in terms of its exteriors. The only changes you can witness are in terms of the fenders, taillights, headlights, and grille. If these are changed a bit, the SUV will start to look different. When it comes to the Expedition, the styling is done majorly on the rear lights. Generic tail lights have been adorned with a chrome strip with the Expedition’s nameplate sitting between them.

Changes to design are majorly seen in the front end and the alloys. The grille and the headlights are merged to form a distinctive look as well. In all of Expedition’s models, the halogen headlights are standard. In King Ranch and Platinum, it’s the LEDs that are standard. The wheels range from 18 inches to 22 inches. And with the XLT trim level, a panoramic moonroof is an available option. But with the King Ranch and Platinum models, the panoramic roof, as well as the black roof-rack side-rails are standard. 

The Ford Expedition, when compared to the rivals, is the longest and offers the best ground clearance at 9.8 inches. The curb weight of the car is around 5443 lbs. In the MAX model, the wheelbase length is increased and that gives it the extra space inside. The Expedition is much larger than its rivals and in a category where buyers are obsessed with space, that is a strong point. Standout exterior features include:

• 18-inch wheels
• Foglights
• Hands-free liftgate
• Power-deployable running boards
• Rain-sensing windshield wipers

The NHTSA gave the Expedition a five-star rating in safety. Everything including the rollover tests resulted in great scores. The IIHS, however, didn’t test the Ford Expedition yet. When it comes to safety, all trims of the Expedition come equipped with Co-Pilot360 that includes forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and auto high beams. Standout safety features include:

• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Six airbags
• Rearview camera
• Reverse sensors
• Enhanced active parking assist
• Frontal sensors
• Surround-view camera
• Adaptive cruise control

2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 GMC Yukon

The GMC Yukon comes with two different body styles in trims that are called Yukon and Yukon XL, which is similar to how Expedition and Expedition Max is. But in terms of cargo space, passenger space, towing capacity, engine performance, and ride quality, the Yukon doesn’t perform as well as the Expedition. The Yukon also has some cheap materials incorporated in the interiors when compared to the Ford Expedition. 

2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

If you want to check a perfect rivalry, here you go. Ford is better in terms of performance, fuel economy, and towing capacity. But in terms of cargo space, the Chevrolet Tahoe can have the seats folded which would increase the space inside. It offers you a better trunk space along with the seats intact. If you get some expensive models of the Expedition, the interior quality is great. And in terms of safety, Ford bags it all. Tahoe lacks somewhere here. So, all in all, Ford Expedition is definitely in the lead. 

2021 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Nissan Armada

Compared to the Expedition, the Nissan Armada offers better-towing capacity and an upscale cabin. But the fuel economy is not very good. The Armada, with its great powertrain, offers you value for money coming at a slightly cheaper price than the Ford. With the Expedition, the interiors are good but not as luxurious. 

Yes, you can get this car if you want a complete package. The Ford Expedition offers you balanced handling, a mighty powertrain, impressive towing capacity, and best-in-class gas mileage. And you can tuck your passengers in the third row with ease for a long and loving ride; thanks to the spacious three-row seating. The Expedition’s intuitive Sync 3 infotainment system makes your journeys interesting as well.