Ford Expedition Review

2008 Ford Expedition Limited SUV Shown

The Ford Expedition is a full-size sport-utility vehicle based on Ford's popular full-size pickup truck platform. With rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive and seating for up to eight or nine adults when equipped with a third-row seat, the Expedition has been on the short list for full-size families as well as anyone who needs the combination of versatility and grunt provided by a large SUV.

Big, tall and heavy, the Ford Expedition is every inch a truck, its big body wrapped around a comfortable, spacious, ergonomically sound cabin and set atop a sturdy ladder frame. Big V8 torque makes it a good tow vehicle, too. Moreover, particularly in its current iteration, the Expedition doesn't feel as cumbersome to drive as its extravagant dimensions and hefty weight suggest.

That said, you'll be reminded of just how full-size the Expedition is at the gas pump, particularly if you are an aggressive driver. However, in spite of its thirst for regular unleaded, a steady stream of improvements has allowed the Expedition to remain appealing enough to make it into well over a million driveways since its 1997 introduction. Redesigned for 2007 with a macho grille and a chiseled body, today's Expedition is the best and most refined yet.

Current Ford Expedition

The current Ford Expedition is in its third generation, and is the first in which the Expedition is offered in two lengths: standard and EL. The EL benefits from a 12-inch stretch in wheelbase and nearly 15 inches of additional overall length. The biggest reason to consider the EL is to cash in on the generous cargo space behind the third-row seat, which is more than twice that of the standard Expedition. The EL also features a longer rear door that facilitates entry into the third row. However, whereas previous-generation Expeditions could hold up to nine passengers, today's holds only eight, due to standard front bucket seats.

The Expedition is available in four trim levels, with the comfortably equipped but hardly lavish XLT serving as the base model. The Eddie Bauer trim adds two-tone paint and more interior features, while the Limited trim level gets monochromatic paint and a truly luxurious interior. The King Ranch adds unique wheels and leather upholstery as well as wood accents. Available options include navigation, heated and cooled seats and a rear-seat entertainment system, although some options are not available on certain models.

Today's Ford Expedition features fold-flat second-row seats as well as available power-folding third-row seatbacks that together create a wide, flat cargo floor. Families with infants will appreciate the sliding center position of the second-row seat, which can bring a child in a safety seat up to 11 inches closer to the front-seat passengers.

Ford's full-size SUV is surprisingly enjoyable to drive, thanks to quick steering, a smooth engine and a ride quality that feels more like a big car than a big SUV. All Expeditions are powered by a 5.4-liter V8 that produces 300 horsepower and 365 pound-feet of torque. As with most full-size SUVS, the Expedition is offered with a choice of rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. Shoppers looking for more power will find it in several of the Expedition's competitors, but not all offer a six-speed automatic transmission to make the most out of it.

Past Ford Expedition Models

Launched originally for the 1997 model year, the Ford Expedition was met with heaps of praise. The original Expedition's dimensions fell between those of the short-wheelbase and long-wheelbase versions of the GM sport-utilities at the time, enabling it to both accommodate a third-row seat and fit inside a normal garage, albeit tightly.

The first-generation Ford Expedition came in just two trim levels: XLT and the more luxurious, two-tone Eddie Bauer. Both featured interior architecture that was nearly identical to the F-Series pickup, which offered good ergonomics but was rendered in lamentable materials. Its 215-hp 4.6-liter and 230-hp 5.4-liter V8 engines also could not keep up with the stronger motors from its primary competitors, a deficiency that was addressed in 1999 with a horsepower bump for both engines, of 25 and 30 respectively. And while that still didn't make them the most powerful full-size SUVs of their day, to many of us, the first-generation Expeditions were among the most appealing, especially with the towing-friendly 5.4-liter V8.

When redesigned for the 2003 model year, the Ford Expedition offered more distinction from the F-Series pickup inside and out. A new frame and an independent rear suspension greatly improved both ride and handling and boosted towing capacity considerably. The second-gen Expedition was also the first SUV to offer power fold-into-the-floor rear seats. The model line eventually proliferated from four trim levels in 2003, including an off-road version called FX4, to six in 2006, including the opulent, western-themed King Ranch edition. Safety-minded shoppers should know that 2003 models offered stability control, with tire-pressure monitors becoming available on 2004 models. Engines for this second-generation model consisted of a 232-hp 4.6-liter V8 and a 260-hp 5.4-liter V8. In 2005, Ford dropped the smaller engine and increased the 5.4-liter V8's output to 300.

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* Edmunds.com maintains vehicle data as far back as 1990.