Ford Expedition

Overview

If you want your SUV to be real BIG, there are very few vehicles which come close to the sheer size of the Ford Expedition. Launched back in 1997 as the successor to very popular Ford Bronco, the Ford Expedition has gained a lot of momentum since then in its parent market, the United States of America. However, given the love for SUVs in the Middle East, Ford has made the Expedition available in the UAE as well. The UAE-spec Ford Expedition is the fourth generation version of the SUV, and is powered by a single petrol engine option with an automatic transmission. The color options available for the Ford Expedition are Oxford White, Ingot Silver, White Platinum Metallic Tri-coat, White Gold, Stone Grey, Ruby Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat, Blue, Magnetic and Shadow Black.

Interior & Features

On the inside, the Ford Expedition gives you the king-like feeling, for one does sit at quite a height. This heighted seating, along with plush and well-built SUV, makes the overall interior cabin feel classy.

The four-spoke steering wheel with block design and heavy usage of silver garnish and button placements is grippy to hold. The instrument console with a large colored MID screen between analog dials is quite contrary to the exterior old school appeal of the SUV, and makes one feel as if he is viewing the cockpit of a futuristic vehicle. The vertically shaped AC vents look large and go well with the overall design theme of the SUV, and so does the 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a cluster of buttons below it. The abundance of leather in the entire cabin is appealing as well.

And it is not about the size only which generates an awestruck impression about the vehicle, but when it comes to features too, it is fully loaded in every term. One does get a plethora of comfort and convenience features, the list of which includes plush button start with keyless entry, cruise control, Bang & Olufsen sound system with 12 speakers, 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with reverse camera and navigation system, dual zone automatic climate control, 10-way powered front seats with memory function, and the list goes on.

The space inside the Ford Expedition is in abundance, with the vehicle being one of the very few SUVs to have proper legroom, headroom and shoulder room for all the three rows as well as a capacious boot space.

Exterior

The Ford Expedition is one of the apt synonyms for the word ‘huge’, for this full-size SUV is anything but small and compact by all dimensions. With class-leading dimensions, the Ford Expedition is one of those SUVs which are perfect for ego massaging.

At the front, the Ford Expedition has got a massive front rectangular grille bathed totally in chrome, which makes the front face appear too blingy. The large blocky headlamps adjacent to the front chrome grille too are quite large and comprise of LED units within them. The front bumper, in comparison, is designed quite subtle and comes with C-shaped housings for fog lamps and large skid plates to add in to the already butch appeal of the SUV.

From the sides, the Ford Expedition has got an air of old-school feel to it, with taut lines and simple linear profile of the doors reminding you of the SUVs of the past. However, a prominent line running below the shoulder line as well as chrome garnish on the shoulderline, along with large alloy wheels, make the SUV look a bit premium.

At the rear, the Ford Expedition executes and carries forward the angular theme of the front here as well. The shape and size of tail lamps are the same as that of the front headlamps. The large chrome garnish above the trapezoidal housing for license plate, as well as big skid plates, accentuates the bulky appeal of the SUV.

Ride & Handling

Given the ultra large dimensions of the Ford Expedition, it is quite essential to have strong underpinnings to make sure that the SUV is capable in all conditions. Along with a standard 4x4 drive system, the Ford Expedition is blessed with continuously controlled damping suspension with enhanced active noise control system, which ensures that there is minimal road noise creeping in the cabin. Also, the seven different driving modes from the Terrain Management System work flawlessly in whatever the condition is.

Engine & Fuel Consumption

Under the hood, Ford has decided not to give an old-school bulky engine to the Expedition, but the SUV gets an all-new, modern and refined 3.5-litre Ecoboost twin turbo petrol motor. The engine might be small in size given the huge size of the vehicle in itself, however, the performance outputs do justify the sheer size of the Expedition. The engine is capable enough to produce a maximum power output of 400 bhp and a torque output of 650 Nm.

The engine is mated to an equally tech-packed and gigantic 10-speed automatic transmission. The engine also gets a couple of SUV-specific techs like Terrain Management system and direct injection with auto start-stop function to make sure your driving over tough terrains will be an easy process.

Braking & Safety

The Ford Expedition is quite fully loaded with safety features as well, and gets all the modern electronic aids to facilitate your driving experience. The list of safety features include front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD and brake assist, hill hold assist, hill descent control, roll stability control, curve control, adaptive cruise control, blind spot information system, pre-collision assist with pedestrian detection, lane-keeping system and driver alert system.

Verdict

For those people who believe in dominating the road presence by the size of the vehicle, the Ford Expedition is one perfect choice for them. With its sheer size complementing with luxurious interiors, the Ford Expedition is the one of the largest and most premium SUVs coming from a mass manufacturer. The vehicle is capable enough to tackle all road conditions with its impressive ride quality and performance, and the list of comfort, convenience and safety features do justify the premium pricing as well.