2018 Ford Expedition

  
The New Benchmark for Full-Size SUVs!

By Charles Donaldson

Upon deciding to plan a couple of family camping trips to Pinecrest Lake, I needed to secure a vehicle that could transport us and all of our camping gear - not an easy task. The first trip started off with a grouping for three adults and one 10-year-old, followed by an over-nighter with just my 10-year-old son. Our choice of vehicle was the 2018 Ford Expedition Max Platinum edition. On both adventures, the Expedition was amazing!

Trip one, with the third row of seats powered in their down position we had a wealth of cargo space to easily address the needs of our over-packed equipment and supplies. From tents to sleeping bags, fishing equipment to beach provisions, and eatables to chairs for around the fire. We had the room and what was even better, we had the comfort too. My son was thrilled that the Platinum setup came equipped with dual rear-seat DVD players. My fellow front-seat companion and I felt animated with the heat/cooling front seats with a back and bottom massaging feature. I sure put it through its paces!

Trip two, being a quick one, my son and I decided to ditch the tent and instead move our supplies to the front seat and lay out the air mattress in the back after reclining the second and third row of seats. We pulled back the screen from the Panoramic Vista Roof® and stared at the stars until we fell quickly to sleep.

Pricing and Trims
For 2018, Ford Expedition is available in three trim levels XLT 2WD ($52.985) and 4WD ($55,995), Limited 2WD ($63,870) and 4WD ($66,995), and Platinum 2WD ($74,225) and 4WD ($77,370). A longer version called the Expedition Max comes in the same three trim levels XLT 2WD ($55,670) and 4WD ($58,680), Limited 2WD ($66,560) and 4WD ($69,685), and Platinum 2WD ($76,915) and 4WD ($80,060).

What’s new for 2018?
The Ford Expedition has been fully redesigned for 2018 with a more modern exterior and updated interior with new features. The extended-length Expedition is now called the Max and has an expanded wheelbase of over 9-inches and overall length of almost 12-inches. Ford has increased the horsepower on the EcoBoost® V6 and introduced a new 10-speed automatic transmission that delivers the best-in-class towing of up to 9,300 pounds.  Ford calls the 2018 Ford Expedition “the smartest, most capable, most adaptable Expedition ever.” It features a lightweight, high-strength, all-aluminum-alloy body that rides on a high-strength steel frame. 

Interior Highpoints
The interior of the Expedition is clean, comfortable and full of options. My test vehicle was the 2018 Ford Expedition Max Platinum and had more technical features than my house. The Drive Mode selector is operated by turning a knurled round knob located in the center console. No large shifter needed! The center dash/infotainment screen is easy to operate the radio, phone, navigation, apps, radio volume/tuning and heat-air controls. On my test vehicle we also had a 110-volt plug and radio and heating/controls in the second- row seating area. This is with plenty of storage and USB connections. My test vehicle also was equipped with a phone-charging platform, self-parking, dual-glove boxes, dual-screen DVD player in the front head rest, 360-degree backup camera, and heated/cooling front seats.

Exterior Highlights
The exterior leans more toward Ford’s crossover lineup verses the F-150 pickup truck that it is based on. Think big brother design features of the Ford Explorer. The All-new Expedition looks beautiful and stylish and it doesn’t project the typical boxy-big SUV feel of its competitors. Its shape is clean and cohesive with a modern feel. The panoramic sunroof feel brings the outside in. At 210-inches long and 221.9-inches with the MAX version, the 2018 Expedition is a very big vehicle, yet delivers a smooth, confident ride.

Performance Specs
Performance is impressive with a 3.5-liter EcoBoost twin-turbocharged 6-cylinder that generates 400 horsepower and 480 pounds of torque in the Platinum and 375 horsepower and 470 pounds of torque in the XLT and Limited models. The engine is mated to Ford’s new 10-speed SelectShift® (yes, that is correct) automatic transmission. The Expedition and Expedition MAX are both available in 2WD and 4WD driver configurations.

Cool Features:

·         Power third row seat up/down feature

·         Back and Bottom-massaging (optional feature)

·         Multiple USB outlets

·         New Sync Connect adds a Wi-Fi hotspot

·         Enough room to comfortably sleep in!

Safety Integrity
The 2018 Ford Expedition has a long checklist of safety features. Starting with a three-point safety belts for all seating positions, AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™, Airbags – Dual-stage front and front-seat side, Airbags – three-row Safety Canopy® System with side-curtain airbags and rollover sensor, Belt-Minder® front safety belt reminder, Brakes – 4-wheel disc with Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Individual tire pressure monitoring system (excludes spare), LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children, Perimeter alarm, Rearview camera with washer, SecuriCode™ keyless entry keypad, SecuriLock® Passive Anti-Theft System, SOS Post-Crash Alert System™, Traction control, and Trailer sway control.

In Summary – The 2018 Ford Expedition and Expedition MAX are great family vehicles for those who either have lots of family or lots of gear to haul or need a place to sleep! With its new updated appearance, power engine, and a plethora of safety and technology features, the all-new Expedition is ready for any challenge. It can get pricey and escalates fast, so it’s not for every budget. If, however, $50K to $80K is the range you are shopping in, then the 2018 Ford Expedition should be on your shopping list. This Ford is built to impress, and it does!

Specifications

2018 Ford Expedition MAX 4WD

Base price:	$80,060 as driven: N/A (including destination & optional features)
Engine:	V6, EcoBoost, 3.5 Liter
Horsepower:	400 hp @ 5000 RPM
Torque:	480 lb.-ft. @ 3250 RPM
Transmission:	10-speed automatic
Drive:	Rear-Wheel Drive
Seating:	6-passenger
Cargo space:	121.5 cubic feet
Curb weight:	5,793 pounds
EPA mileage:	City 16/Hwy 21/Comb 18 MPG
Fuel Capacity:	28.3 gallons
Turning Circle:	43.3 ft – 40.0 ft
Wheelbase:	131.6 inches
Warranty:	3 years/36,000-miles
Also consider:	Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, Infiniti QX, Lincoln Navigator