For some drivers, there’s nothing better than a calm, quiet, and composed ride. These drivers typically favor upscale vehicles with well-appointed cabins that are well insulated against road and engine noise. There are many SUVs that meet these criteria though some of them aren’t strictly luxury vehicles. The 2021 Ford Expedition is an SUV that offers a quiet ride. How is the bigger SUV so quiet? We’ll take a closer look.

The 2021 Ford Expedition is a quiet SUV

Recently the car team at U.S. News put together a list of the 11 quietest SUVs in 2021. The 2021 Ford Expedition made the list and ranks second in the large SUV class according to U.S. News. It’s the most expensive vehicle on the list that’s not a luxury vehicle.

The Expedition is as powerful as you’d expect. It’s powered by a turbocharged V6 engine that isn’t a complete gas hog. It can tow more than all the other SUVs on the list, and it’s nimble for its mammoth size. It’s still a challenge to navigate in tight places.

The independent rear suspension in all Expeditions provides a smooth, comfortable ride that absorbs the bumps in the road. It’s quiet too. While the steering isn’t as accurate as that of its rivals, its suspension trumps that of its GMC and Chevy peers.

Great interior features

The 2021 Ford Expedition has a posh, spacious cabin with three rows of seats where adults can sit comfortably. The Expedition comes with a full slate of active safety features and tech. The interior only gets better as you move up through the trim levels.

The cabin uses quality materials no matter which model you go with. The dashboard is square with wide air vents. There are 15 cupholders in there which works great for large families and those who end up transporting their kid’s soccer team to and from games.

The third row of seats is power-folding in all but the two-row XL STX models. As you move up through the trims, you get more convenience and luxury features like a center console with real wood accents, leather door-trim accents, and multi-contour front seats with massage capabilities. There’s a premium leather-wrapped steering wheel too.

There are a few drawbacks like the generous use of cost-cutter plastic in a vehicle with its price tag. You expect more. 

You can get captain’s chairs for the second row instead of the standard three-person bench. There are lots of well-placed and useful storage spaces and folding second and third rows of seats make it easier to load your cargo.

It’s hard to beat the Expedition when it comes to tech because there are a lot of ways you can connect and even more available features. The base models offer the Sync 3 infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. There’s a 4G LTE mobile hotspot and the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of driver-assistance features standard too.

You have to pay more to get weather data and navigation with real-time traffic data. You can get an infotainment system for the rear seats on the Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum models.

2021 Ford Expedition trim levels and pricing

The base Ford Expedition XL STX starts at $49,995. It’s the only two-row model in the lineup and aside from the features mentioned, it offers a six-speaker stereo, four USB ports, tri-zone automatic climate control, alloy wheels, and an eight-way power-adjustable driver’s seat.

You also get a rearview camera, automatic high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, pre-collision alerts, a braking system, and rear cross-traffic alerts. You can add four-wheel drive with a limited-slip differential for $1,100 and rear parking sensors for $110.

The XLT models start at $52,810 and give you a power-folding third row of seating. You also get an auto-dimming rearview mirror, rear parking sensors, and satellite radio. You also get a lot of option packages available at this level to add features for an additional price.

The Limited models start at $61,575. You get everything in the 202A package along with Co-Pilot360 Assist. Limited models get leather upholstery in the first two rows, heated second-row seats, a foot-activated liftgate, front parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. You also get two more USB ports, HD Radio, wireless device charging, and a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system.

The 302A package and other options are available with Limited models.

The King Ranch models start at $72,735 with everything in the 302A Limited package along with better leather upholstery and some other distinct styling cues. The limited-slip differential and damping suspension are still options at this level.

The top-shelf Platinum models start at $73,775, and it comes with everything and the kitchen sink. The multi-contour massaging front seats, adaptive suspension, and a panoramic roof are included. It also offers 25 more horses with its EcoBoost V6 engine.