Test Drive Notes Library
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Pros
- Big. If you’re a fan of train travel, you'll like riding in the Expedition. The width and shape of the interior reminds us more of a train than a bus. It’s certainly spacious. All three rows of seats can handle adults. Even the third row, which is the least roomy, is not bad. With captains chairs in the notably spacious second row, access to the back is easy for kids, and even reasonable for adults. Not minivan easy, but not bad. Large door openings help make ingress and egress easier. Cargo room is also plentiful.
- Smooth. The engine and 10-speed transmission are notably smooth. The Expedition pretty much glides along with effortless power. It encourages you to drive it easily and smoothly, probably because everybody knows tossing around a three-ton behemoth won’t end well. So if you drive it the way it’s designed to be driven, you’ll arrive completely undisturbed.
- Quiet. You get a soft growl from the 375hp, 3.5L V6. Not unpleasant. And otherwise, very little noise penetrates the cabin. All the annoying noises you hear will be generated by your own family.
- Nice interior. The quality of the materials in our “Platinum” trim Expedition was excellent, with stitched and padded surfaces in most places. The seats are heated and cooled. There’s a ginormous sunroof and a 12 speaker B&O sound system. Controls are well executed, with large, easy to use controls for volume, tuning, temperature and ventilation functions.
- Lots of storage. There’s a bin between the front seats that’s the size of most people’s freezer.
- Safety standard. The Expedition comes standard with all the safety features Car Talk recommends.
- Serves its purpose. This is a vehicle for people who have to carry lots of other people, frequently, probably over reasonably long distances. And it does that well. It’s spacious inside, comfortable, and smooth. It’s a boulevard cruiser, and as long as you drive it modestly and, preferably, on wide, straight roads, everybody should enjoy the ride.
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Cons
- Not fun to drive in any sense. It likes to go slow and straight. It’s more piloting than driving. It all works fine, and serves its purpose ably. But it’s hard to imagine anyone ever saying “Let’s go out for a fun drive in the Expedition.” With a turning radius of about 45 feet, we wish those of you visiting Trader Joe’s godspeed in the parking lot.
- A climb. The Expedition sits high off the ground. It has electric running boards, which deploy as steps when you open the doors. They work well, unless you’ve got someone with mobility issues your clan.
- Infotainment screen. The screen seems a generation behind the times, even though the rest of the interior is very much up to date. The screen seems a bit small for a vehicle of this size and price, it’s a bit slow to respond, and the graphics seem a generation out of date. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are available for those who prefer their phones.
- Pricey. Our Platinum Expedition rang out at just a pack of gum under $76,000.
- Fuel economy. Well, what’d you expect? We got about 17 mpg overall. You'll find yourself paying a lot of attention to the price of gas.
Test Drive Notes Library
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