Ford Expedition - Hits & misses

The Ford Expedition is an SUV in a class of its own. If average Filipino car buyers would prefer midsize SUVs and crossovers, there are car buyers who put a premium on comfort and space and it is where the Expedition found its niche.

Hailed as the largest off-road SUV, this beast is powered by a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 gasoline engine that delivers up to 375 hp of power at 5,000 rpm and 651 Nm of peak torque and is partnered to a 10-speed automatic transmission. The power from the engine is sent through all four wheels. Its fuel economy rating has improved from the older version too; from 7 kmpl to 8.5 kmpl. Ford Expedition price starts at Php 4.479 million and will go up for other optional specs you would like added to your Expedition.  

General Specifications

Displacement	3,499 cc
Dimensions (L x W x H)	5,588 mm x 2,332 mm x 1,973 mm
Wheelbase	3,327 mm
Ground clearance	211 mm

Ford Expedition Hits

Comfortable Seats

Besides the fact that the seats are wrapped in leather, the seats are wide enough and have enough legroom to fit up to 8 passengers comfortably without feeling cramped. The last row can even slide back to give enough leg room so adults seated at the third row can also enjoy the long haul trips.

The power-folding 2nd and 3rd-row seats mean no need to find the lever or figure out how to manually tuck away the seats with this SUV. With just a push of a button, you can easily fold or unfold the seats to fit your passenger and or cargo requirements. Buttons are strategically located at the rear end of the vehicle so you could reconfigure the seats easily. Also, the retractable running boards automatically deploy once the doors are open to facilitate entry and exit from the vehicle.

Design

Besides the commanding size and bold design of the exterior, the expander front façade with its geometrically design LED headlights are made bigger that can make anyone do a doubletake. Add to that are the 20-inch rims to cement the beefy effect.

The Expedition interior is another story. The roomy cabin feel of this Ford full-size SUV is made more evident by the panoramic vista roof, which is what makes the Expedition design stands out from the rest. It makes the inside cabin feel more spacious as it allows natural light to flow in.

Clever cargo solution

The advanced cargo management system allows for a clever solution to stowing away cargo and also maximizes the use of the rear space. The Lid which also acts as shelving effectively organizes your load and minimizes clutter. The rear flip glass provides easy access to the shelf so you don’t have to stack things up. 

The Ford Expedition also comes with a cargo net to keep things in place, cargo protector, and coat hooks in the second and third-row for wrinkle-free suits and clothes whenever you travel. The 15 cup holders scattered around the vehicle means fewer spills and less clutter as cups, wallets, gadgets and other small items can be stowed here.

Safety features

As in any family car, active and passive safety and driver-assist technologies are a must, and the Ford Expedition specs sheet has that all. The 360-degree camera gives you a bird's eye view of your vehicle while the front and rear camera washer rid the debris or dirt from your camera lenses without you having to get off the car. The active park assists ensure that parking this behemoth of a vehicle will be a breeze. Besides the basics, other safety systems worth mentioning are the lane-keeping system, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, forward sensing system, roll stability control, passive anti-theft system, and SOS post-crash alert system.

 Infotainment system & connectivity

Here is another area where Ford excelled. It intuitively knows what most people want—to remain connected even when traveling. Besides the center console on the front that is compatible with Apple Carplay, Android Auto, and Ford + Alexa, the Expedition also has a dual-headrest rear-seat entertainment system with mirroring that can keep passengers entertained for hours. This Ford SUV also comes equipped with wireless charging pad; 6 USB ports strategically located around the vehicle that is within reach of every passenger; Wi-Fi hotspot that can connect up to 10 devices and is accessible up to 50-ft from the vehicle; and 110 v power outlet for charging gadgets and small appliances.

Ford Expedition Misses

Rotary Gear Shift Dial

This may be a debatable point. If you are an old-school driver who’s used to the stick, muscle memory alone would already tell you how to shift gears. Changing to the rotary dial would be quite awkward but something that can be learned.

Can be difficult to drive

The large built of the Expedition is a two-edged sword. Because of the sheer size of this beast, it can be very difficult to maneuver especially when driving on the Metro traffic or navigating through narrow roads and back alleys with double-parked cars. 

High maintenance cost

Let’s face it, the current fluctuating prices of gasoline means running the Expedition will be more costly than say, driving an Everest with a diesel engine. And despite the improvement in fuel consumption, it is still a gas guzzler and is more expensive to drive around as compared to a gasoline engine Land Rover Discovery’s 9 kmpl. Add to the gasoline prices to keep the Expedition running is the after service costs like maintenance, repair, and parts.

Final words

The Ford Expedition aced it when it comes to maximizing technology and integrating it into the overall design of the vehicle to make long haul trips fun for the family. The size of the vehicle and the interior design is focused on hauling adult-scale passengers who want to stay connected no matter what. That is if you don’t mind the gasoline prices and maintenance costs. But if you want performance and comfort and a more fuel-efficient vehicle, there are other premium vehicles— like vans and midsized SUVs, that can perform just as well as the Expedition without being a gas guzzler.

Also read: Battle of SUVs: Ford Expedition vs Toyota Land Cruiser 200