2020 Ford Escape vs 2021 Ford Expedition

The 2020 Ford Escape was a striking compact crossover, sharing its large grille with the outgoing Fiesta and Focus hatchbacks, and featuring headlights inspired by the Ford GT supercar. The previous Escape had a more upright rear end, but the new curvaceous design, while attractive, came at a cost. Despite this, the Escape remained one of the best-looking small SUVs on the market, trailing only the Mazda CX-5 and Jeep Cherokee. Inside, the Escape boasted a modern cabin with a fully digital instrument panel, floating infotainment screen, and a smooth, contemporary design. The base S trim included 17-inch steel wheels, a 4.2-inch instrument-panel screen, and Sync infotainment with a 4.2-inch screen. Higher trims like the SE, SE Sport, SEL, and Titanium added features such as 17-inch painted aluminum wheels, automatic climate control, heated front seats, and a 10-way power driver's seat. The Titanium trim, in particular, offered unique 19-inch wheels, LED fog lamps, and a premium B&O audio system.

The 2021 Ford Expedition Platinum was a sight for sore eyes after a restless redeye flight. The Platinum trim represented the pinnacle of luxury in the Expedition lineup, which started with the XL STX and included the XLT, Limited, and King Ranch. The test vehicle featured Magnetic gray paint, 4WD, a Heavy Duty Trailer Tow Package, and second-row captain’s chairs, totaling $80,510. Power-deploying running boards and a rear liftgate welcomed passengers, but the Expedition struggled to accommodate all the luggage, highlighting the utility of minivans. The Expedition Platinum had an intricately detailed chrome grille, massive 22-inch machined-face aluminum wheels, and brightwork all around, making it a good-looking vehicle. The extended-length MAX version would have solved the cargo issue, offering more space for passengers and luggage. Inside, the Expedition’s leather-lined cabin provided comfort, though the use of hard plastic reminded passengers of its origins. The Lincoln Navigator offered a more luxurious alternative.

The 2020 Ford Escape offered a variety of engine options, setting it apart from rivals like the Honda CR-V, Kia Sportage, and Subaru Forester. The base engine was a 3-cylinder making 180 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque, standard in the S, SE, and SEL trims. The 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, available on the SEL and standard on the Titanium, produced 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, providing brisk acceleration. The 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine, part of the hybrid drivetrain, made 198 horsepower and was standard on the SE Sport and available on the Titanium. A plug-in hybrid variant was optional on the SE, SEL, and Titanium. The conventional engines used an 8-speed automatic transmission, while the hybrids used a CVT. The Escape’s steering was direct and taut, with strong, responsive brakes, giving it an athletic feel. The most efficient version was the non-Sport hybrid, returning 44 mpg city, 37 highway, and 41 combined.

The 2021 Ford Expedition featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 10-speed automatic transmission, and RWD or 4WD. The engine produced 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque, with the Platinum trim getting a boost to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Towing capacity ranged from 9,000 to 9,300 pounds, depending on the specification. The Expedition’s acceleration was impressive, even with a full load of passengers and cargo. The transmission was smooth, and the steering and brakes performed as expected. The Platinum’s 22-inch wheels affected ride quality, but the adaptive damping suspension helped maintain stability. The FX4 Off-Road Package, available on the XLT and Limited models, added off-road capabilities. The Expedition averaged 17.1 mpg on the evaluation loop, with the EPA rating the 4WD model at 19 mpg combined.

The 2020 Ford Escape’s sleeker design resulted in reduced cargo space compared to its predecessor. It offered 37.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row, dropping to 34.4 cubic feet in hybrid models. With the backseat folded, the Escape provided 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space, or 60.8 cubic feet in upper-level trims. This was less than the outgoing 2019 Escape and rivals like the Honda CR-V, Subaru Forester, and Volkswagen Tiguan, which offered about 75 cubic feet. However, the Escape emphasized passenger space, with plenty of headroom and legroom for second-row passengers and commanding seating positions for the front occupants. The Escape also featured numerous storage solutions, including deep water-bottle holders and multiple trays and compartments.

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 121.5 cubic feet with all seats folded. The Expedition’s independent rear suspension ensured comfort in every seating position, and the power-deploying running boards made it easy to climb aboard. The test vehicle’s front seats offered a massage function, adding to the comfort. Storage for odds and ends was plentiful, with cargo volume expanding from 19.3 cubic feet to 57.5 cubic feet with the third-row seat folded, and a maximum of 104.6 cubic feet behind the front seats. However, the cargo floor’s liftover height was high, making it challenging to load heavy items.

The 2020 Ford Escape’s base trim featured a small 4.2-inch audio control screen, which stood out as an eyesore in the new “floating screen” design. The SE trim upgraded to an 8-inch Sync screen, which included Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The latest version of Sync allowed for multitasking, enabling the passenger to operate the phone while it projected on the car’s display. The Titanium trim featured a head-up display (HUD) with a small flip-up screen, which was less effective for taller drivers. The HUD’s placement often fell below the line of sight, limiting its usefulness.

The 2021 Ford Expedition’s Sync 3 infotainment system, though user-friendly, featured a recessed 8-inch touchscreen display that looked small in the center of the dashboard. The system sometimes responded slowly to inputs. Despite its age, Sync 3 offered features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, FordPass Connect services, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and a navigation system. Amazon Alexa compatibility and enhanced voice recognition were also part of Sync 3. The test vehicle included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen premium sound system and wireless smartphone charging but lacked the available dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system, which offered dual viewing screens, a DVD player, gaming system inputs, and the ability to stream content from a mobile device.

The 2020 Ford Escape came with a full array of front- and side-impact airbags, a reversing camera, traction control, and a tire-pressure-monitoring system (TPMS). It earned the best overall score of Good from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) in all phases of testing. The Escape also came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced safety systems including forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. It also featured blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a driver drowsiness monitor.

The 2021 Ford Expedition, with a minimum curb weight of 5,368 pounds, had a safety advantage over most other vehicles. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (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. Starting with the Limited trim, the Expedition offered adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability, a semi-autonomous parking assistance system, and a 360-degree surround-view camera system.