First Drive Assessment
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EcoBoosted expeditiously.
Back in the late twentieth century, when it seemed the complete nation was going nuts for full-size SUVs, Ford’s Expedition was a somewhat ubiquitous fixture on the Suburban (see what we did there?) landscape. But as fuel rates went up and the economy down, buyers began sidestepping—in droves—body-on-frame SUVs in the showroom. By the maker’s personal admission, sales dipped by 40 % from 2008 to 2009 (bear in mind Cash for Clunkers?). Basically unchanged given that its 2007 makeover, the Expedition soldiered on dutifully and sales eventually stabilized, Ford peddling 38,000 Expeditions in 2012 and 2013. While the present refresh builds on those identical 6-year-old, third-generation bones, it does bring 2 main alterations to the table for 2015: The 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 (borrowed from the outgoing F-150) is the only obtainable engine, and a constantly controlled damping suspension (borrowed from Lincoln) is optional.
Hitting the Refresh Button
In terms of exterior styling, the refresh hits all the usual marks: Each the front and rear fascias are updated, the front finish now with sleeker-hunting headlamp bezels that merge into a minimalist 3-bar chrome grille. Modifications out back are restricted to a new liftgate and exhaust ideas. Trim levels include the base XLT, midlevel Restricted, King Ranch and the new best-of-the-line Platinum, the last trading the chrome grille for a brushed-satin therapy. Dub-like 22-inch wheels are optional, and, combined with the subtle updates, give the 2015 Expedition a classic, purposeful, and effectively-proportioned appearance in both the common 119-inch-wheelbase and longer 131-inch-wheelbase EL version.
The new Expedition’s interior also got a as soon as-more than, resulting in a fresh instrument-panel design with dual configurable 4.2-inch screens in the cluster and an optional 8-inch touch screen for MyFord Touch and Sync in the center stack. A tilting and telescoping steering wheel is normal fare power is optional.
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Aesthetics aside, the biggest surprise is how well the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine hauls about the new Expedition. Rated at 365 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque, the twin-turbo V-6 tends to make mincemeat out of the outgoing model’s 5.4-liter V-8 and its 310 ponies and 365 lb-ft of grunt. That is an improvement of 55 horsepower and 55 lb-ft. Peak torque is on duty at a fairly low 2500 rpm, and accordingly, throttle tip-in is aggressive. Switch off the traction control and get a small randy with the accelerator, and the Expedition will gladly do its greatest impersonation of an NHRA dragster staging for a quarter-mile run. Treat the massive Ford with respect and it will return the favor, delivering quiet, tractable power almost totally devoid of the characteristic turbo whine of the V-6 EcoBoost in its F-150 application.
Ford tells us that the 6-speed automatic has been calibrated specifically for Expedition duty, and we have no explanation to doubt them. Gears swap with near-transparent precision, and that consists of hard, manual downshifts chosen to get in touch with up engine braking on steep downgrades. Fuel-economy numbers are not offered however, but Ford expects a 15-percent improvement more than the 13-mpg city/18-mpg highway EPA rating of the outgoing V-8–powered Expedition 4×4. Tow ratings haven’t suffered, either, the maximum tug quantity clocking in at 9200 pounds when correctly equipped. (Factory-installed trailer-brake manage is offered.)
Straightforward-E
The decision to group the constantly controlled damping (CDD) technique with the Expedition’s existing independent rear suspension was an inspired one. (GM’s Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon near-twins still run live axles out back.) Drivers can select Comfort, Typical, or Sport settings, which soften or firm damping accordingly, but also constantly adjust the qualities of the shocks primarily based on input from sensors that monitor body motion, car weight, steering feedback, and road undulations. The final results are tangible, and in Comfort mode, the Expedition’s ride is about as plush as that of any full-size SUV we’ve sampled to date.
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Steering commands are electrically boosted—light sufficient around town to spin with a single hand, and the wheel weights up nicely on the highway, requiring tiny correction to keep course. Although linear, it is not communicative as the tires load up in the twisties. The brakes bite early and pedal travel is short—the binders never wavered in their mission to slow the Expedition, even on the lengthy, steep downhill grades of the West Virginia mountains exactly where we drove the SUV. Dynamically, the Expedition performs the not-unremarkable feat of feeling much smaller than its 17.2-foot length (18.4 in the EL) would suggest.
We were also impressed by the quiet passenger compartment, which benefits from a host of noise-eradicating measures, including an acoustic-laminated windshield and new sound damping supplies in the cabin pillars, center console, and headliner, as properly as new carpeting with enhanced noise-canceling properties. Combined with a comfy driving position and completely functional third-row seat that is comfy enough for actual adults and folds as flat as a billiard table, the 2015 Expedition interior tends to make the most of its voluminous cabin (maximum cargo volume behind the very first-row seats is 108.3 cubic feet, 130.8 for the EL version).
After years of living in the shadow of GM’s fleet of physique-on-frame SUVs the Expedition is quietly reasserting itself not only as a rival, but also as a true contender for the domestic complete-size-SUV crown. If your vehicular requirements incorporate loads of interior space and towing capability in a conventional SUV package, the rebooted and EcoBoosted Expedition deserves a significant look.
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