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Remember when buying a big SUV wasn’t worth as much as your first or second home? Then again, your house doesn’t have smart cruise control, a panoramic sunroof, a 360-degree camera or even a fancy Bang & Olufsen stereo with 22 speakers. Heck, most of us back then were happy with some big boxy speakers and a receiver with bass and treble controls.
Well, times are changing fast and big is definitely viewed as both better and necessary by many car buyers today despite the rising cost of fuel. To meet that need, Ford, adjusted its large Expedition SUV and, like all other manufacturers, indulged in so much luxury that it rides like a living room on velvet wheels.
The tested Expedition Limited 4×4 adds a whopping $13,960 worth of options to the already gussied-up full-size off-roader in its mid-level trim that starts at $69,040, including delivery. So, this handsome blue-grey, Blue Tinted Clearcoat ($395 extra), hits $83,000 on the nose. My second home is small and has a half acre lot. Hey, it was decades ago!
Beyond size and cost, note that there are three trims that are more expensive, with the Expedition Max being nearly a foot longer. The Expedition is a delightful highway cruiser as it is loaded with luxury and seven drive modes that allow a driver to take it off road or at least splash through mud and slush with supreme authority.
I enjoyed the body-on-frame truck, and you will too on a long highway jaunt because the interior is quiet, the leather seats are well-cushioned and shaped, along with easy, if fuzzy, handling. In fact, there is almost no feedback on the road but the big brawler is easily corralled in a lane.
Oh, there’s body lean in a tight turn, but there’s no Sport in this Sport-Utility truck, outside of a Sport drive mode you can dial in to stabilize the wheel. But it still feels heavier, not sportier or more responsive. Other modes include Normal, Eco, Mud/Rut, Sand, Slippery, and Tow/Haul. There’s also a Pro Trailer setting for easier backing up with a trailer, perhaps hauling a high-powered cigarette boat.
Power is not a concern, despite the loss of Ford V8s. No, the twin-turbo V6 EcoBoost engine normally produces 325 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. But the test unit added the $9,880 option package that included both a large panoramic power sunroof and at the power point, an upgraded 440-horse version of the same engine. It also includes a sport-tuned suspension, black painted aluminum wheels and more (see stat box).
Pulling? Yes, it will take 9,300 pounds.
Shifting comes from a silky smooth 10-speed automatic and despite the sport suspension, the Expedition’s ride is boulevard premium. Think of the old Caddy, Lincoln or Buick sedan in their hay day.
The Expedition’s interior is lined with black leather featuring red stitching, part of the Stealth package, and includes flat black textured trim on the dash and console that is particularly eye-catching and avoids the harsh light that often reflects off glossy black trim. The trim around the trim is a chrome look.
There’s no way to avoid the massive 15.5-inch information screen in the mid-dash. It’s a $795 option here, replacing a 12-inch screen, which is probably enough. There is no problem seeing it because it will fill your eyeballs. A few friends told me that it would be too much for them to keep looking, and I agree that it’s so big that you struggle to find some of the touchscreen icons, like for the heated and cooled seats and the heated steering wheel. Those should be buttons that are easy to find on the console.
Most of the information screen functions well, and there’s a large volume knob embedded in the screen, which is a nice touch. But you have to wait a minute for the screen to reboot every time you start the truck. Bigger is not always better!
The Expedition is a three-row vehicle and is roomy for up to eight passengers if you go with the standard second row bench seat. This one has captain’s chairs in two rows (both heated), so accommodates only seven. Cargo room is modest behind that third row, but large when it’s down and large with both rear rows down. Note that there is a Max version with another foot of cargo room in the back.
Ford puts power buttons inside the power hatch for lowering both the second and third row split seats, making them flexible for hauling long items, but still packing four or five passengers aboard.
Speaking of power, there are power-adjustable pedals and a power tilt/telescope steering wheel too, and a wireless charger in the console. The power running boards also deploy whenever the vehicle is unlocked or a door is opened and then fold back after all doors are closed for a few seconds or the ignition is on. I’m still worried about how they’ll survive the Wisconsin winters, but I’m sure they will.
Ford ensures that all the standard safety equipment is here, from smart cruise to lane control devices, all of which work well.
Some odds and ends: Ford continued with its rotary gear shift knob on the console, which is still a little awkward to me, but I’m sure it’s here to stay.
That Stealth package also adds black accents in addition to the wheels, the badging is black as well as the mirror caps and the wheels are giant 22-inchers, meaning they cost a lot to exchange, but this is an $83k vehicle, so one assumes that cost is of little concern to the buyer.
Also, gas mileage is nothing special. I got 17.8 mpg and the EPA rates it at 16 mpg city and 22 highway. Currently no Expedition hybrid is offered.
A base Expedition XL with rear-wheel-drive lists at $51,080 including delivery and one can add 4WD for about $2,000. That’s not cheap, but it’s about $30,000 less than the tested Limited.
If you want or need more fancy features, there are King Ranch and Platinum versions, the Platinum listing at $77,000 and easily exceeding $87,000 with options. A new more off-road-worthy Timberline edition with additional ground clearance, larger tires and underbody protection is also new for 2022.
One might think the Expedition is overpriced, but consider competitors Chevrolet and GMC, the Tahoe/Yukon and Suburban are equally expensive and the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer can reach $100,000 or more. Less expensive models are the Nissan Armada and Toyota Sequoia, depending on trims.
FAST STATS: 2022 Ford Expedition Limited 4×4
Hits: Stylish truck with tons of power and room. Good ride, large towing capacity, off-road capable, seats 7 or 8, comfortable seating, heated and cooled front seats, heated second row, heated tires, excellent safety equipment, panoramic sunroof, power running boards, 7 drive modes, wireless charger , power pedals, power tilt/telescope wheel, pro trailer feature.
Miss: The steering is vague, the monster info screen is huge, the seats are heated and the steering wheel is heated by the screen, the rotary shift knob takes some getting used to.
Made of: Louisville, Ky.
Engine: 3.5-liter Ecoboost V6, 375 hp/470 torque
Infection: Automatic 10-speed
Weight: 5,837 lbs.
Wheelbase: 122.5 in.
Length: 210 in.
Cargo: 20.9-104.6 cu.ft.
tow: 9,300 lbs.
MPG: 16/22
MPG: 17.8 (tested)
Base Price: $69,040 (delivery included)
Invoice: $67,356
Main Options:
- Blue tinted clearcoat, $395
- Group 304A (panoramic roof, 3.73 Axle Ratio, black exterior badging, reverse brake assist, red brake calipers, 360-degree split view camera w/F&R washer, dual exhaust, floor mats w/logo, Ford Co-Pilot360 assist 2.0, black mirror caps, P285/45R22 tires, active 2.0 park assist, 22 speakers, engine sound enhancement radio equipment, enhanced active noise control radio equipment, Bang & Olufsen audio, black roof rails, power running boards, Stealth Performance Edition pkg. includes red stitching , sport-tuned suspension and black painted aluminum wheels and 440-hp engine upgrade), $9,880
- Heavy-duty trailer tow pkg., $795
- CCD w/sport-tuned suspension, $995
- ControlTrac w/3.73 EDLS, $1,100
- 15.5-in. info screen, $795
Test vehicle: $83,000
Sources: Ford, www.kbb.com
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