2021 Ford Expedition Shrinks in Capacity and Price

As American consumers continue their love affair with SUVs, one of the biggest players in the category is more affordable this year. By pulling the third-row seat out of its full-size Expedition SUV, Ford creates a new XL STX trim level featuring a lower price than the previously standard 8-passenger model with XLT trim. 

How low does the new 2021 Ford Expedition XL STX go? It has a base price of $49,995, a savings of $2,815 compared to the Expedition XLT ($52,810). Of course, you’ll need to add a $1,695 destination charge to each of these prices.

Deleting the third-row seat diminishes passenger capacity, but the Expedition XL STX retains its cavernous cargo area behind the second-row seatbacks. According to Ford, the Expedition XL STX carries 57.5 cubic feet of cargo, and nearly double that amount with the rear seat folded down. 

Other judicious deletions from the standard equipment list result in a vehicle that remains well-equipped but with a more approachable price of less than $50,000. However, standard equipment for the 2021 Ford Expedition XL STX still includes:

• 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine 
• 10-speed automatic transmission
• 18-inch gray-painted aluminum wheels
• Running boards
• Triple-zone automatic climate control
• Sync 3 infotainment system
• Wi-Fi hotspot
• Remote engine starting
• Ford Co-Pilot360 advanced driving assistance system (ADAS)

In terms of seating, the cloth-covered front captain's chairs offer 8-way power adjustment for the driver and 4-way manual adjustment for the passenger. A 40/20/40-split second-row bench seat easily accommodates three people, and includes a CenterSlide feature. CenterSlide enables the middle section of the second row to move forward up to 11 inches, allowing parents in the front seats easier access to a child secured in that position. 

The 2021 Ford Expedition XL STX is on sale now, available in white, black, silver, gray, blue, and brown exterior paint colors, all paired with black interior fabric. A 4-wheel-drive system is one of the few options offered for this version of the Expedition.

Ford Motor Company is the source of information for this article. It was accurate on January 5, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.