Compare the2022 BMW X7VS 2021 Ford Expedition Max

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The X7’s pre-crash front seatbelts will tighten automatically in the event the vehicle detects an impending crash, improving protection against injury significantly. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer pre-crash pretensioners.

For enhanced safety, the middle seat shoulder belts of the BMW X7 are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Ford Expedition Max doesn’t offer height-adjustable middle seat belts.

The BMW X7 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The X7 has standard Post-Crash Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the X7. But it costs extra on the Expedition Max.

For better protection of the passenger compartment, the X7 uses safety cell construction with a three-dimensional high-strength frame that surrounds the passenger compartment. It provides extra impact protection and a sturdy mounting location for door hardware and side impact beams. The Expedition Max uses a body-on-frame design, which has no frame members above the floor of the vehicle.

Both the X7 and the Expedition Max have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Warranty

The X7 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Expedition Max’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The X7’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the Expedition Max’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the X7 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Ford doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Expedition Max.

Reliability

The battery on the X7 is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the X7’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Expedition Max’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the X7 third among large premium suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The Expedition Max isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 22 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 10 places higher in reliability than Ford.

Engine

The X7 has more powerful engines than the Expedition Max:

	Horsepower	Torque
X7 M50i 4.4 turbo V8	523 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
Alpina XB7 4.4 turbo V8	612 HP	590 lbs.-ft.
Expedition Max 3.5 turbo V6	375 HP	470 lbs.-ft.
Expedition Max Platinum 3.5 turbo V6	400 HP	480 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Consumer Reports the X7 xDrive40i 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid is faster than the Ford Expedition Max (base engine):

	X7	Expedition Max
Zero to 30 MPH	2.6 sec	2.7 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.5 sec	7.3 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	4.3 sec	5 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	97 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the X7 gets better mileage than the Expedition Max:

			MPG
X7
	AWD	3.0 turbo 6-cyl. Hybrid	19 city/24 hwy
Expedition Max
	RWD	3.5 turbo V6	17 city/23 hwy
	AWD	3.5 turbo V6	16 city/21 hwy

Regenerative brakes improve the X7’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

Transmission and Drivetrain

The X7 has a true four-wheel drive system, which uses a four wheel traction control system to redirect engine power to the axle and wheel that still has traction to keep the X7 moving if even only one wheel still has traction. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a true four-wheel drive system; it could get stuck while one or more wheels still have traction.

The X7’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer launch control.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the X7 M Sport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Expedition Max:

	X7 M Sport	Expedition Max
Front Rotors	15.6 inches	13.8 inches
Rear Rotors	14.6 inches	13.2 inches

The X7 stops much shorter than the Expedition Max:

	X7	Expedition Max
70 to 0 MPH	169 feet	192 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	110 feet	130 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	141 feet	157 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction and acceleration, the X7 has larger standard rear tires than the Expedition Max (315/35R22 vs. 275/65R18). The Alpina XB7’s optional rear tires are larger than the largest rear tires available on the Expedition Max (325/30R23 vs. 285/45R22).

The X7’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Expedition Max’s standard 65 series tires. The Alpina XB7’s optional 285/35R23 front and 325/30R23 rear tires have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile than the Expedition Max’s optional 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the X7 has standard 21-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Expedition Max. The Alpina XB7’s optional 23-inch wheels are larger than the 22-inch wheels optional on the Expedition Max.

Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires available on the X7 can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer run-flat tires.

Suspension and Handling

The X7 Alpina has active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The front and rear suspension of the X7 uses air springs for a smoother, controlled ride than the Expedition Max, which uses coil springs. Air springs maintain proper ride height and ride more smoothly.

The Alpina XB7 offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Ford doesn’t offer an active suspension on the Expedition Max.

The X7 handles at .80 G’s, while the Expedition Max Platinum 4x4 pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The X7 xDrive40i executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.7 seconds quicker than the Expedition Max Platinum 4x4 (26.3 seconds @ .67 average G’s vs. 28 seconds @ .61 average G’s).

Chassis

The X7 is 1 foot, 6.6 inches shorter than the Expedition Max, making the X7 easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Unibody construction lowers the X7’s center of gravity significantly without reducing ground clearance. This contributes to better on the road handling and better off-road performance and stability. In addition, unibody construction makes the chassis stiffer, improving handling and reducing squeaks and rattles. The Expedition Max uses body-on-frame design instead.

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 33% lower rating, Ford is ranked 25th.

Ergonomics

Unlike the driver-only memory system optional at extra cost in the Expedition Max, the X7 offers an optional passenger memory, so that when drivers switch, the memory setting adjusts the driver’s seat, steering wheel position, outside mirror angle, climate settings and radio stations and the front passenger seat also adjusts to the new passenger’s preset preferences.

The X7’s standard easy entry system raises the steering wheel, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. An easy entry system costs extra on the Expedition Max.

The X7 offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The X7’s front and rear power windows all open or close fully with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside the car. The Expedition Max’s standard rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open or close them fully.

The X7 has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The X7’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Expedition Max’s standard intermittent wipers change speed with vehicle speed, but can’t turn on and off or change speed based on changing rainfall.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the X7 has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer cornering lights.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the X7 to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Expedition Max doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

When the X7 is put in reverse, the passenger rearview mirror tilts from its original position. This gives the driver a better view of the curb during parallel parking maneuvers. Shifting out of reverse puts the mirror into its original position. The Expedition Max’s mirror doesn’t automatically adjust for backing.

The X7 has standard heated front and optional heated second and third row seats, which keep the driver and passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Ford doesn’t offer heated seats in the third row of the Expedition Max.

The X7 has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Expedition Max.

The X7 has a standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. Dual zone air conditioning costs extra on the Expedition Max.

The X7’s optional Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Expedition Max (except XLT)’s automatic parking system requires operating the brakes and transmission to safely park.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the BMW X7 and the Ford Expedition Max, based on reliability, safety and performance.