Photo: Ford
We’re not going to turn this into a Chevy vs. Ford type of squabble. In fact, both companies make really good full-size SUVs, and the numbers back that up. The Chevrolet Tahoe and Ford Expedition are America’s best-selling large SUVs, a position they’ve held since 2019. However, getting the right spec does matter, whether it’s a personal car or part of a business fleet.
Before we get into everything that’s wrong with the 2021 Ford Expedition XL STX, here’s a quick look at what it does bring to the table, in exchange for $49,995 (sans the destination charge). Once you factor that in, you arrive at $51,585, which is $1,290 more than the Tahoe LS.
The Expedition XL STX comes with a gloss black five-bar grille as standard, 18-inch Magnetic metallic-painted alloy wheels, body color bumpers and door handles, daytime running lights, black side rails for the roof, body-color lower bodyside cladding and wheel-lip moldings, power-adjustable mirrors and so on. Yes, you do get basic convenience features, but that doesn’t change the fact that you still end up with some glaring omissions.
The biggest one is the fact that you don’t get a third-row in the Expedition XL STX, as you do in every other Expedition variant, and in the entry-level Tahoe as well. Now, would someone even buy something the size of an Expedition if they don’t actually need a third row? That’s rhetorical. At this point you’re probably thinking you’ll just get a third-row at no extra cost if you go for the Max version of the XL STX. The only problem is, Ford doesn't sell one of those.
So if you just want the base-spec Expedition, you’re stuck with seating for five adults and that’s final.
Moving on to issue no. 2, safety. The XL STX is the only Expedition model that doesn’t feature Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver assist bundle as standard. Instead, you get BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping, Trailer Sway Control and Pre-Collision Assist, but miss out on goodies such as the 360-degree camera, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Enhanced Parking Assist, Forward/Reverse sensing or the Pro Trailer Backup Assist. They couldn’t even give you parking sensors as standard on a 210-inch (5,334 mm) long SUV. Good thing the Reverse Sensing System is just $110 – fleet buyers should make sure not to forget to tick that box.
Meanwhile, the Tahoe does offer Rear Park Assist at no extra cost on all specs, to go with a standard HD Rear Vision Camera.
Some of these absences wouldn’t be such deal-breakers if Ford would have just included that third row, but as we factor everything in, we can’t help but feel that if you’re interested in buying a 2021 Expedition, you should just jump directly to the $52,810 XLT spec (or above, depending on much you want to spend).
To recap, it can’t seat seven people, not available in extended-length Max form, no Ford Co-Pilot360, no rear parking sensors, no satellite radio, and it costs more than its direct rival. Sheesh.
The Expedition XL STX comes with a gloss black five-bar grille as standard, 18-inch Magnetic metallic-painted alloy wheels, body color bumpers and door handles, daytime running lights, black side rails for the roof, body-color lower bodyside cladding and wheel-lip moldings, power-adjustable mirrors and so on. Yes, you do get basic convenience features, but that doesn’t change the fact that you still end up with some glaring omissions.
The biggest one is the fact that you don’t get a third-row in the Expedition XL STX, as you do in every other Expedition variant, and in the entry-level Tahoe as well. Now, would someone even buy something the size of an Expedition if they don’t actually need a third row? That’s rhetorical. At this point you’re probably thinking you’ll just get a third-row at no extra cost if you go for the Max version of the XL STX. The only problem is, Ford doesn't sell one of those.
So if you just want the base-spec Expedition, you’re stuck with seating for five adults and that’s final.
Moving on to issue no. 2, safety. The XL STX is the only Expedition model that doesn’t feature Ford’s Co-Pilot360 driver assist bundle as standard. Instead, you get BLIS with Cross-Traffic Alert, Lane Keeping, Trailer Sway Control and Pre-Collision Assist, but miss out on goodies such as the 360-degree camera, Adaptive Cruise Control with Stop-and-Go, Enhanced Parking Assist, Forward/Reverse sensing or the Pro Trailer Backup Assist. They couldn’t even give you parking sensors as standard on a 210-inch (5,334 mm) long SUV. Good thing the Reverse Sensing System is just $110 – fleet buyers should make sure not to forget to tick that box.
Meanwhile, the Tahoe does offer Rear Park Assist at no extra cost on all specs, to go with a standard HD Rear Vision Camera.
Some of these absences wouldn’t be such deal-breakers if Ford would have just included that third row, but as we factor everything in, we can’t help but feel that if you’re interested in buying a 2021 Expedition, you should just jump directly to the $52,810 XLT spec (or above, depending on much you want to spend).
To recap, it can’t seat seven people, not available in extended-length Max form, no Ford Co-Pilot360, no rear parking sensors, no satellite radio, and it costs more than its direct rival. Sheesh.
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