Ford’s flagship SUV big on luxury, space
When you need all the volume on the inside rather than on the outside, that’s when the Ford Expedition comes to the rescue. The best way I’ve been able to describe the Expedition to people asking me about is comparing it to an F-150 for people who need additional seats rather than cargo. I’m pretty sure this is as close as I ever got to piloting a spaceship.
I mean, the Expedition does seem to glide over everything. Just like its pickup counterpart, the cushy suspension makes even the gnarliest obstacles feel like you’re driving over a bag of marshmallows. Combined with the cabin’s high-quality soundproofing and the vehicle’s interior becomes your own little world as soon as you take a seat. The model ranks at the very top of Ford’s SUV lineup and it sure deserves its spot as the flagship model, both in size and in luxury.
Of course, the flock of safety systems and warnings make sure you don’t entirely forget that you’re (hopefully) a responsible driver who takes other road users into consideration. The Platinum I drove comes fully loaded with all the systems and technology your tech-loving heart desires. It also offers several convenience-oriented features such as a power second and third row that easily flip up and down pressing only one button, coat hooks, cup holders everywhere, the power liftgate, and countless charging outlets (four in total).
Seating on all three rows is comfortable, though you might find that third row a bit stiff compared to the others. Otherwise, space is abundant both for the legs and for the head across the board. That third row is accessed the usual way on any SUV that’s not a minivan: by tilting the second row’s pilot seat forward. Thankfully, there’s no need to arm-wrestle the seats forward, they’re actually electric which makes the manoeuvre a lot easier to perform.
Your passengers will enjoy the available headrest-mounted screens to keep everyone busy and entertained on longer trips. Should you need to trade passengers for cargo, by lowering the two rows of seats at the back, the Expedition a staggering volume of 2,971 litres.
That’s perfect for those weeks you end up spending too much time at Costco or Ikea.
While I rarely have any issues with the size of the vehicles I drive, I must admit that the Expedition stretched the limits of my comfort zone when it comes to manoeuvring in the city. That rear window is really, really far behind which makes it challenging to see out of. I was thankful for the rear-view camera and for the autonomous parking function the few times I had to head to downtown Toronto and find safe spots to leave the vehicle.
I was surprised by the size of the engine the Expedition uses: a 3.5L V6 EcoBoost. Granted, the Expedition isn’t trying to impress everyone with prowesses of performance but I found the engine to be more than sufficient to meet the vehicle’s, and by extension, my needs. It doesn’t feel like the V6 produces 375 horsepower due to the considerable mass it’s hauling, but that six is a beefy and capable block.
I’ve hated on Ford’s 10-speed automatic transmission before but, considering the behemoth doesn’t have the same aspirations as a Mustang, the engine and transmission pairing worked well and, overall, it didn’t feel like the truck lacks gut. I’m not crazy about the rotary selector — a good old lever does the job very well, but the knob saves some space on the console and is easy to get used to.
At more than $88,000, the Expedition competes with some of the most luxurious SUVs on the market. Its advantage? Its size. Try finding this big a Mercedes-Benz or a Porsche: there aren’t any. At that price, the 2019 Ford Expedition is worth almost as much as a tiny house. On the bright side, it’s actually big enough to live in.