2020 Ford Expedition vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2020 Ford Expedition, last redesigned in 2018, was a full-size SUV with a clean, albeit somewhat boring, design. This simplicity, however, was likely to age well, making it a good long-term investment. The King Ranch variant stood out with its 22-inch aluminum wheels, mesh grille insert, LED headlights, and exclusive gray-painted lower exterior trim. The Star White metallic paint added to its appeal, though the taillight shape and body-colored C-pillar were points of contention. Inside, the King Ranch featured special Del Rio leather in Mesa over Ebony, adorned with King Ranch cattle-brand logos, which sparked mixed reactions from passengers. Despite the luxurious touches, the presence of hard plastic, especially in lower trims, was disappointing for a vehicle in this price range.

The 2021 BMW X5 was a testament to BMW's reputation for high-quality craftsmanship. Its design was unmistakably BMW, from the kidney grille to the body shape, ensuring it stood out as a luxury SUV. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights and a variety of trim options, including the sporty M Sport styling with body-color matched trim and high-gloss black accents. The interior, while consistent with BMW's design language, was criticized for its overuse of black plastic, which easily collected dust. However, the M Sport models offered unique styling elements like an M sports steering wheel and exclusive interior trim strips, adding a touch of aggression to the cabin.

The 2020 Ford Expedition was powered by a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine, delivering 375 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided a pleasant driving experience with plenty of power and a unique exhaust note. The Expedition offered both rear-wheel drive and optional four-wheel drive, with a towing capacity of up to 9,300 pounds. Its adaptive damping suspension, standard on the King Ranch, helped manage ride motions, though the large 22-inch wheels sometimes made the ride busy on imperfect pavement. The independent rear suspension design improved ride and handling, as well as interior space. Fuel economy was a bit underwhelming, averaging 17.7 mpg in real-world testing.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base X5 sDrive40i/xDrive40i featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine with 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. The X5 M50i boasted a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 523 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque, while the X5 M delivered up to 617 horsepower with the Competition Package. The new X5 xDrive45e plug-in hybrid combined a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 389 horsepower and 443 pound-feet of torque, and offering up to 30 miles of all-electric range. Despite its power, the X5's steering and handling were less engaging than expected, with issues in lane-keeping and steering dynamics. Fuel efficiency varied, with the X5 M being the least efficient at 15 mpg combined, while the xDrive45e achieved 50 MPGe when using both electricity and gas.

The 2020 Ford Expedition excelled in towing, cargo capacity, and passenger comfort. The King Ranch model featured power running boards for easy access, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain’s chairs were also heated, and the third-row seat was genuinely comfortable for adults, thanks to the independent rear suspension. Cargo space was ample, with 19.3 cubic feet behind the third row in the standard-length model and 34.3 cubic feet in the MAX version. Folding the third-row seat increased cargo capacity to 57.5 cubic feet (73.3 in the MAX), and with both the second and third rows folded, the Expedition offered up to 104.6 cubic feet (121.5 in the MAX).

The 2021 BMW X5 made efficient use of its interior space, with well-placed cupholders and a wireless phone charging pad. The front seats were comfortable for short trips but could feel hard after extended periods. The rear seats were spacious enough for two adults, and an optional third row was available. The climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with full power functionality made loading cargo convenient. The X5's air suspension allowed for vehicle height adjustment, aiding in loading heavy or awkward-sized items. Without the third row, the cargo area was spacious, though the xDrive45e offered slightly less space due to the battery.

The 2020 Ford Expedition featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Sync 3, which, while easy to use, felt outdated compared to newer systems. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, a navigation system, and an available Bang & Olufsen premium sound system. The rear-seat entertainment system and Pro Trailer Backup Assist were notable highlights, especially for those who frequently towed trailers.

The 2021 BMW X5 came with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system included a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, proximity key, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional upgrades included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone automatic climate control, a wireless smartphone charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and premium audio systems from Harman Kardon and Bowers & Wilkins. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was user-friendly once familiar.

The 2020 Ford Expedition came standard with Ford Co-Pilot360, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS) including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. The Expedition earned 5-star ratings in every crash test conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), except for a 4-star rollover resistance rating. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not tested the Expedition.

The 2021 BMW X5 was equipped with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, rain-sensing windshield wipers, fatigue and focus alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the adaptive cruise control system had issues with reacting to stopped traffic and lane-keeping, especially in sunny conditions. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite being the subject of seven recalls.