Ford Expedition

Outside

In its base trim—called Active—the new Expedition looks a touch more sleek and less boxy than its predecessor, with slightly pinched rear quarter windows. As before, both short- and long-wheelbase models are available, and several available trim packages vary its look.

The off-road-focused Tremor trim line, for example, includes 33-inch off-road tires and a taller stance (10.6 inches of ground clearance), as well as a few mechanical upgrades we’ll cover in the “What Drives It” section. The Stealth package is focused on appearance, with a blacked-out grille and wheels, as well as an upward-swinging portion of the tailgate in black. There will also be a King Ranch trim which sits below the top-end Platinum.

Inside

The interior is roomy, spare, and will be available in a handful of different colors. The dash looks F-150-ish, with chunky pieces and HVAC vents arrayed around a large center infotainment screen and an oddly asymmetrical 24-inch horizontal digital display screen that sits close to the bottom of the windshield. Its big rotary shifter knob—which CR testers found easy to use—carries over from the old model.

Wi-Fi connectivity, once offered as a distinct option, will now be part of its standard technology package. Ford says its hotspot will support up to 10 personal devices over a radius of about 50 feet. Google Assistant will be the default voice activation system, although Ford says the Expedition will also be available with built-in Alexa. Voice activation can summon streaming music, audiobooks, and other entertainment, but also gives the driver the ability to control HVAC and other vehicle functions hands-free.

The seats appear to be large, as in the previous Expedition, with room for up to eight people (one fewer if you spring for the optional second-row captain’s chairs). There is a large cargo bin between the front seats, and plenty of small item storage throughout the cabin. The second- and third-row seats feature a center fold-down to accommodate long items—such as skis—that might not fit in the rear cargo area with all the seats up. The smallish cargo area behind the third row expands into a cavernous void with the third row folded down. When the seats are up, space can be maximized using an adjustable package shelf that lowers the rear floor and makes it possible to stack cargo items.

What Drives It

All Expeditions come with a turbocharged 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6 engine, but there are two variations, depending upon trim level and equipment packages. The base version makes 400 hp and 480 lb.-ft. of torque. The high output one—standard in Tremor trim and optional in Platinum—cranks out 440 hp and 510 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines put power to the wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. Rear-wheel drive is standard, and four-wheel drive is optional (except in Tremor trim, in which four-wheel drive is standard).

The Tremor trim includes many of the off-road tech goodies found in the Ford Bronco. Among them: rock crawl mode (a sort of off-road cruise control); a trail turning assist feature that uses one-wheel braking to help pivot around tight corners; and a one-pedal trail-driving feature. Tremor also comes with re-tuned suspension and steering systems, special running boards, auxiliary off-road lights behind the grille, and skid plates under the front end, transfer case, and fuel tank.

Active Safety and Driver Assistance Features

The Expedition comes standard with Ford’s Co-Pilot 360 Assist 2.0, which incorporates a number of active driver assist features, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a blind spot warning system that can incorporate a trailer into its geometry, lane keeping assist, intersection assist, and a parking assist system that will also help hook up a trailer. Also standard is a 360-degree exterior-view camera system.

Upgrading to Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 adds BlueCruise hands-free adaptive cruise control. However, Ford says the hardware for it will be installed on all new Expeditions, and buyers who don’t spring for the optional suite will get a free 90-day trial included in their purchase. Ford says the Active features can be continued after the trial by paying short-term subscription fees, or by paying one lump sum to keep them in perpetuity.