The current Ford Expedition makes a leap forward, shedding weight while adding comfort, convenience, and safety features.
The Expedition comes in two lengths. The longer version, called MAX, is about a foot longer than the standard Expedition and competes directly against the Chevrolet Suburban. That extra size allows for significant cargo space behind the adult-friendly third-row seat, but it also makes parking a real challenge.
The 375-hp, 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 engine catapults this coach easily. Maximum towing capacity is a competitive 9,300 pounds, which is enough to pull a large trailer. Overall fuel economy is up 2 mpg to 16, typical for this thirsty class.
The ride is composed but on the stiff side, and definitely not as comfortable as other three-row SUVs, such as the Chevrolet Traverse. The Expedition has ponderous handling but remains under control even when pushed to its limits.
The Expedition’s optional retractable running boards are helpful given the step-in height. The interior adopts a modern, high-quality theme that ties into the Expedition's considerable price. The driver’s seat is worthy of a living room reading chair and is supportive even though it only has a two-way lumbar adjustments. Notably, those seats are more comfortable than the standard seat in the related Lincoln Navigator.
There’s also plenty of room in the second row, not to mention dedicated climate controls and extra storage. Even the third-row seat is a legitimate bench that can accommodate adults -- something not all three-row vehicles can honestly claim. We found the power folding feature for those rear-most seats very handy when needing to carry long cargo.
Controls are easy to use thanks in part to the Sync 3 infotainment system and an easy to use rotary dial gear selector.
The Expedition comes standard with a suite of safety and convenience systems that includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane keeping assistance, blind spot warning, and rear cross traffic warning.