First Drive: 2025 Ford Expedition Shines With a Potent Powertrain, Cool Tech, and Interior Innovations
But the oblong steering wheel and some controls have us scratching our heads
The aptly named Ford Expedition isn’t made for solo hiking; it was crafted for adventuring with the whole family or team. Revamped for 2025, the fifth-generation Expedition is more capable and packed with more convenience features than ever before.
It is once again offered in two lengths. The standard version measures almost 210 inches bumper to bumper, and the Max is stretched out to almost 222 inches and has a 9-inch longer wheelbase, for buyers who need to maximize cargo space. (The size essentially didn’t change from the previous generation.)
Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports Photo: John Powers/Consumer Reports
The “Platinum” name evokes images of the upper echelon of a model range, but here, it layers in many popular features on this second-tier version while leaving room for even more exclusive configurations. In buying a Platinum for testing, we stuck with the 400-hp engine, although a 440-hp engine is optional. This seven-passenger trim comes with leather, BlueCruise hands-free driver assistance, and many other niceties.
New to the Expedition line, the Tremor is an off-road version, packing the more powerful engine, fortified suspension with 10.6 inches of ground clearance (almost 2 more than the Platinum version), 18-inch wheels with 33-inch all-terrain tires, off-road lights, and numerous leather, badging, and stitching embellishments.
The extroverted King Ranch is the best-equipped trim, with bronze wheels and accents, badged leather seats, and every feature in the Expedition catalog. Where the Active may be for the ranch hand and their, uh, active family, the King Ranch is for the cattle baron.
This mammoth machine packs a veritable truckload of active safety and driver assistance features as standard equipment. Given its size, many of these systems—such as the surround view camera, automatic emergency braking, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic, and lane keeping assistance—are especially appreciated. There are also clever systems to make it easier to connect a trailer and even backup with one attached like a pro.
Clearly, there’s a lot to unpack here. So let’s get started.
Once we complete 2,000 break-in miles, we’ll put the Expedition through more than 50 tests at the CR Auto Test Center, including empirical tests of acceleration, braking, handling, and usability. CR members will have access to the full road-test results as soon as they’re available. If you’re intrigued by the prospect of more luxury, check out our Lincoln Navigator first drive.
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What we bought: 2025 Ford Expedition Platinum
Powertrain: 400-hp, 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine; 10-speed automatic transmission; four-wheel drive
MSRP: $74,430
Options: Co-Pilot360 with BlueCruise and Stealth appearance package ($3,570)
Destination fee: $1,995
Total cost: $79,995
Final assembly: Louisville, Ky.
