On the Road review: Ford Expedition MAX Stealth Edition | Daily News Byte

Ford Motor Company saw its sales momentum severely slowed by a computer chip shortage, which dragged down production (and sales) of many of its new products. With a greater emphasis on trucks and SUVs than most competitors, supply-side issues have created many challenges for Ford as it looks to become two automakers from one — internal combustion vehicles and the Electric cars are about to break up.

Highlighting this drama for Ford is the full-size Expedition series, restyled for 2022. Up against new rivals from Jeep’s Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, along with the redesigned Tahoe/Yukon/Suburban/Escalade family by GM, as well as the new Toyota Sequoia , this highly profitable (and still popular) three-row SUV segment has more to offer buyers than ever before. New technology, new space, new powertrains and higher tow ratings for the most part mean no manufacturer can hope to give its rivals an edge.

So, Ford created two new Expedition models for 2022 — the off-road-focused Timberline package with greater ground clearance, off-road 33-inch wheels, a unique interior and a more powerful 400 horsepower version of the stock 3.5-liter twin-turbo Ecoboost V-6, as well as a new Stealth Edition trim for mid-range Limited models stocked for on-pavement sportiness. A Stone Blue Stealth Limited — in the long wheelbase MAX model — recently visited Downeast Maine.

While the base Expedition is a large 5,800-pound, three-row SUV that measures 210-inches long on a 122-inch wheelbase, the MAX model reaches 222-inches long atop a 132- inch wheelbase. The third-row seat power-folds, middle seats can be a three-person bench or dual captain’s chairs, while all rear seatbacks fold flat for maximum storage capacity, which is just under 130-cubic feet — about 15-cubic feet less than the latest Suburban.

The big Ford rides on a fully independent suspension, which includes heavy 22-inch blacked-out sport wheels here. Red brake calipers and tucked-in rear dual exhaust are really the only hints at the Stealth model’s healthy engine upgrade — a 440-horsepower, 510-pound/feet of torque rendition of the Ecoboost twin-turbo engine. Running on a corporate 10-speed automatic transmission developed with GM, the Expedition MAX Stealth is the fastest SUV in this segment.

The EPA mileage rating is 16/22 mpg, with highway mileage climbing to 19.5 mpg during our visit, and urban driving producing a solid 21.5 mpg.

The cabin is spacious, comfortable and quiet. The flight was smooth. But warn your passengers to hold their Dunkin drinks if you floor the throttle, unless you want wet wipes.

The interior and display screen of the Expedition MAX Stealth. Tim Plouff

There are hits and misses. The Expedition’s power liftgate lets you open the top window separately from the entire gate, the massive panoramic roof creates a very airy passenger compartment, and the power-folding running boards help everyone get in and out smoothly. going out The massive 15.5-inch touchscreen (a 12-inch unit is now standard) feels like overkill and looks like a late addition to the dash, while the lack of a head-up display and massage seats at this price point ($84,660) as shown) looks like a pricing miss.

However, the subtle vibe from the Stealth Edition’s aggressive stance will please buyers who want a little something special, without shouting about it. The grille shutters, red brake calipers, unique LED lighting, and the 22-inch wheels work well with the dark metallic paint. The high-output Ecoboost V-6 works well, and its subtle performance gains over the larger V-8 powertrains are somewhat surprising.

Pricing starts at $55,120 for rear-drive XL Expeditions. The XLT trim tops out at $59,185 with an additional $3,000 four-wheel drive. The Limited starts at $69,345, with the Stealth package (304A) adding nearly $10,000 to the sticker. Limited includes front tow hooks, tri-zone climate, trailer sway control, heated rear seats, heated and cooled front power seats, heated steering wheel, 360-camera, parking sensors, FordPass connect, intelligent 4WD with terrain selections, wireless charging, Bang & Olufsen 22-speaker audio, navigation, active noise control and much more. The Stealth package also includes a sport-tuned adaptive suspension, 3.73-rear axle ratio, locking rear differential, and an HD Class IV tow package.

Ford has struggled to get Expedition production where they want it, as F-series pickup trucks (like the recent Lightning) command the necessary parts. As a result, sales are down by 1/3 through 2021 — leaving the Expedition barely ahead of the new Jeep Wagoneer on the sales charts, and far behind the GM family of SUVs.

With a strong performance, along with a wider range of Expedition models available, Ford hopes to turn the tide in 2023.

Tim Plouff has been reviewing cars for over 20 years.

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