*All information in this article has been revised and updated for the latest 2021-2022 models.
How big is too big? For an SUV, we mean. That’s a question we’ll leave you to decide but first, we’ll give you all the information to make an informed choice between the 2022 Ford Explorer and the 2021 Expedition. The Explorer is the bigger of Ford’s two mid-size SUVs and the Expedition is as big a model as Ford makes. How big are we talking? What are the advantages and disadvantages of size? Let’s find out in this comparison guide.
Size: 2021 Ford Expedition
It comes as a shock to exactly no one that the Expedition is bigger than the Explorer but how much bigger? Quite a bit, as it turns out. The Expedition is five inches wider, a half foot taller, and a foot longer. That extra girth contributes to the Expedition being 500 pounds heavier.
Let’s take a step inside and see what that size difference does to the cabin. The biggest difference is the third-row seating. In the Explorer, the third row is reserved for kids, car seats, and storage room when the back seat is down. However, the Expedition can accommodate adults with nearly 41 inches of legroom, almost the same as the other rows. So if you ever want to fill your car with grownups, the Expedition can make that happen.
There’s also cargo room to consider. In a surprise move, the Explorer has only the narrowest edge on cargo room behind the third row (21 to 20.9 cubic feet), but if you fold down the second or third row, the Expedition wins by huge margins.
Price: 2022 Ford Explorer
This one isn’t even close because the 2022 Ford Explorer starts at just $34,345 while the Ford Expedition is $50,595 minimum. You’re obviously paying for the size—more metal, more money—but let’s also take a look at the standard features for each. The more affordable Ford Explorer comes with a 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-4 cylinder engine (base trim), cloth upholstery, eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat, rearview camera, MyKey system, SYNC infotainment interface, 4.2-inch color display, Bluetooth, USB port, and six-speaker stereo.
The Ford Expedition has many of the exact same features, but adds three extra USB ports, satellite radio, rear parking sensors, push-button start, leather-wrapped steering wheel, auto-dimming rearview mirror, windshield wiper de-icer, and fog lights. The price difference might be mostly about size, but there’s a few more features thrown in as well.
Fuel Economy: 2022 Ford Explorer
Despite their size difference, the 2022 Ford Explorer and 2021 Expedition vary in fuel economy numbers: 17 city miles and 23 highway miles per gallon for the Expedition. The Explorer is an improvement with up to 27 city and 28 highway.