When you get a Ford Expedition Limited delivered to your doorstep, the first thing you have to be sure of is your doorstep is big enough to accommodate the massive vehicle. The Big SUV class is just that big. You get what you pay for and the Ford Expedition delivers a lot.
My Limited tester‚s exterior had a rich-looking black clear coat that demanded attention while the huge 20-inch chrome-clad rims glistened in fervent contrast. I liked the bold grille and strong hood lines. Expedition‚s exterior really says strength and honor (or was that Gladiator?). The downside was clearly the overdone molding on the outside. Sorry, just not a fan of the look.
As big as the Expedition is, and as much as I have described what must seem like nothing less than a black Sherman tank, I think the presence of the large windows really pays two dividends: it lightens the top half of the exterior styling; and it delivers amazing visibility from inside the cabin.
Once inside the Expedition you are struck by the sheer size and capacity offered. My tester had seating for eight passengers with a power-sliding third row. Believe me, once you do the power third row with the depression of a switch you will never want to lift a latch or snap a clasp ever again. Considering how often you will have eight passengers, that third row is not always needed and in the down‚ position it adds greatly to the utility and storage capacity. It was one of the best features of the interior and it saves lots of time and effort.
My Expedition featured a attractive charcoal leather interior with just the right amount of nice-looking plastic, wood-trim accents. The key to the accents is recognizing they are accents and are not supposed to be a distracting, unintended star of a B-film. Thankfully, Ford got this right in the Expedition and because of that the chrome-ringed cupholders and minimalist black on white instrument panel are attractive features that are allowed to shine.
My Limited featured the Captains Chair feature and I suppose once you've mixed with the Captain, you are onboard for the whole cruise. Likewise for the climate control feature built into those chairs. Not only are you held in place by the soft, comfortable leather grip of these oversized seats, but you can heat and cool yourself depending on the weather (or your mood).
The seats up front offer awesome support and power adjustments ($675) that customize to your size and shape. The second row bench offers plenty of width on the sides, though legroom will shrink rather quickly if the captains chairs are pushed back to their furthest rearward settings. As for that third row seating, it is actually pretty roomy for kids and adults. Adults will struggle getting back there, but once there it really is not such a bad seat to have.
As you might guess, when all three rows are engaged there is minimal cargo capacity. With the 40/20/40 split second row down, along with the third row, there is plenty of room to haul lumber, groceries, camping gear or Mini Cooper (just kidding, but it is big).
The Audiophile 6-CD changer with iPod jack was an amazing offering of digital sound and convenient operation. The optional DVD Entertainment system ($1,500) was a wonderful add-on that any family with children and an occasional roadtrip would be insane to pass up. (Yes, children, we are almost there, but why don‚t you go ahead and watch Shrek one more time).
The big interior has great visibility with the side mirrors. I thought the $950 Moonroof option was a big expensive, but it is huge and it only serves to further open up the already-large interior space.
Without a doubt the best thing Ford could have done, aside from adding more ponies to the powerful and capable 5.4-liter V8 (300 hp), was to add two gears to the transmission. I hated the previous 4-speed configuration and it labored intensely while delivering less-than-crisp shifts and not-so-gripping torque on demand. This new 6-speed is a smooth operator that also delivers better fuel economy.
I was pleasantly surprised to find acceleration from stoplights to be on demand and capable of getting me up and going with the traffic. I know I mentioned the fuel economy a few lines back, but there is not much good news here. I averaged 13 mpg at best and that was with light-to-no load at all. Then again, if you are looking at an Expedition, chances are you have priorities beyond paying at the pump.
I thought the Expedition handled more like its younger brother Explorer than the hulking mass of a large SUV. You can credit the capable independent front and rear suspension for the smooth, gliding ride that barely acknowledges any rift in the pavement. Get it on the highway and just set the cruise control and let her sail away.
Speaking of sailing, wind is worth mentioning here, as noise inside the cabin at highway speeds was quite noticeable. For me, I gladly turn up the radio a little louder, but at $48,430 this Expedition should have a bit more sound dampening insulation from such easily repelled distractions.
Overall, The Ford Expedition is on the right side of the design curve. The GMC offerings are very popular for good reason, but this Ford makes anyone in that market stop and consider the Expedition.
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