The Expedition is a good SUV that could easily be an excellent SUV if it weren't for certain details in which it falls short. Ford got the basics right, as the vehicle is very roomy (even in the third row), handles capably by the standards of this class, is reasonably powerful (thanks to a recent powertrain upgrade), and is reasonaly-priced with discounting. However, aside from its third seat space, the Expedition is not a standout. Which is too bad, because it needs to stand out in a few other ways to compensate for its low, soft seats, its mediocre interior quality, and its overly stiff ride (though some progress has been made in that area already, more is needed). As it is now, there are better choices.

      As noted, the Expedition has a surprisingly firm ride, which gives it good control but not enough absorbance, as road imperfections large and small can be easily felt. The suspension tuning does at least pay off in the Expedition's handling. While it still isn't especially agile, body roll is very well contained. The steering is typically quick, but not very precise or communicative. The newly-standard 5.4-liter V8 was recently upgraded, and is now provides reasonably competitive acceleration, though it remains noisy. Wind and road noise are well-suppressed, at least. Fuel economy is typical for this group.

     The Expedition has roomy front seats, but they are mounted too low, are too flat, and are too soft to be considered comfortable. The second row is worse, the seats are low, flat, and too hard with the optional buckets. The third row is the best in this group, featuring generous space, and a fairly high cushion, though it could be softer as well. There is a reasonable amount of floor space behind the third row seat, more so than its merely-average volume figures suggest. Towing capacity is impressive at 8,600 lbs. Entry/exit is quite easy, thanks to the large door openings and a fairly low floor. Drivers sit comfortably enough, but rearward visibility is obstructed by thick roof pillars and large head restraints. The interior uses too much hard plastic, and as in the Chevrolets, there was little effort done to make the dash look worthy of the vehicle's price tag. The gauges could be clearer, and some instruments were a bit difficult to reach.

       The Expedition earned five out of five stars for both the driver and for the front passenger in the NHTSA frontal crash test, but has not been subjected to NHTSA's rollover resistance testing.

       The Expedition reviewed here was a bit less expensive than most of its competitors, and while it comes well-equipped with features such as curtain airbags, stability control, and an entertainment system, it lacks available torso-protecting airbags, and the version reviewed lacked a sunroof. But at close to $11,000 under sticker, the Expedition represents a decent value.

      Overall, the Expedition is not without strong points, found mainly in its competitive pricing and roomy interior, but either a stronger price advantage or amendments to some of its flaws would be necessary to truly consider it a worthy choice. Unless a very comfortable third-row seat is a requirement, look elsewhere.

Pros:

-Features for the Money

-Agility

-Towing Capacity

-Third Row Space

Cons:

-Seat Comfort

-Ride Stiffness

-Interior Quality

Overall:

General adequacy at a reasonable price.

Version Reviewed:

Eddie Bauer

Options Added to Vehicle Reviewed:

 -

Price of Version Reviewed:

$37,401

Powertrain:

5.4-liter V8

Vehicle Overview