Tried and tested, the Ford Expedition full-size SUV proved to be a great road-tripper and family vehicle
The Expedition we tested got a decent expedition test on a mini-road trip to Detroit with the family, although it was not taxed as much as expected, with my parents unable to join us to enjoy and test the second-row captain’s chairs that my son got to lounge in instead. Then again, he also sometimes set up camp in the third row, as is his way… I’m sure he was up to no good on the iPad all the way back there where we could not keep an eye on him.
2024 Ford Expedition Engine and Driving Impressions
- 3.5L V6 twin-turbo; 10-speed auto; 380 hp and 470 lb-ft
While many Expedition shoppers must be clamouring for the high-output powertrain options in the current lineup for all their towing and hauling necessities, our light-duty needs meant that the 380 hp and 470 lb-ft from Ford’s “EcoBoost” 3.5L twin-turbo V6 was more than sufficient to haul around our small family and a week’s worth of luggage for a soccer tournament. There is plenty of torque down low to get it rolling – a necessity considering its towing mission for many owners – and the 10-speed transmission quickly and invisibly slips through the gears on the way to serene highway cruising.
There is a muted roar if you put your foot in it, but settle down for cruising speeds and highway noise is admirably subdued, and the big green beast rides well and eats up the miles, with adaptive cruise (but not full BlueCruise) taking over for large stretches on our highway drive. While not everyone needs a vehicle this size, it is a comfort to have that reassuring heft and solidity.
At either end of the journey, and during daily suburban or urban driving, that heft is not as much of a plus, with its truck-ish roots resulting in some clunky reactions to broken pavement; and making it necessary for the Expedition to pack a tonne of cameras for when it’s time to park, due to its size. Despite the size making it a challenge to squeeze into seemingly tiny parking spots, the Expedition drives nicely, with a nice weight to the steering and the right responsiveness making it natural to navigate on the road and in tighter quarters.
2024 Ford Expedition Fuel Consumption
- City / Highway / Combined: 14.8 / 10.6 / 12.9 L/100 km; 13.2 L/100 km observed (10.9 highway)
Perhaps the most surprising result of this test was how closely I managed to get to the Natural Resources Canada fuel consumption ratings. The 2024 Ford Expedition King Ranch is estimated at 14.8 litres per 100 kilometres in City driving, 10.6 Highway, and 12.9 on the Combined cycle. On my drive down to Detroit, I was watching our consumption like a hawk, but still cruising along at a typical 110 or 120 km/h as conditions permitted, and when arriving at our destination we saw an efficient 10.9 L/100 km for that one long highway drive.
When all was said and done and the Expedition returned after the long highway drives to Detroit and back, plus a lot of suburban shuttling for sports and summer fun, the trip computer showed an overall consumption rating of 13.2 L/100 km, a very respectable efficiency for a vehicle weighing 2,582 kilograms (5,692 pounds).
2024 Ford Expedition Practicality
- 7/8 seats, 593 L (20.9 ft³) / 2962 L (104.6 ft³) / 4868 L (171.9 ft³) cargo space
You don’t go out spending a hundred grand on a vehicle if you don’t need the amount of people and cargo capacity that the Expedition and other full-size SUVs offer. The 2024 Ford Expedition starts off as an eight-seater, but our King Ranch traded that second-row bench for a pair of leather-wrapped King-Ranch-logo’d captain’s chairs that were excellent. Short of some of the massaging chairs in luxury flagships or the reclining VIP chairs in a couple minivans, these are as good as any second-row seats on the market, if you want to treat your second row to five-star accommodations.
The second-row seats aren’t just kind to second-row passengers, they also pop up and flip forward so they can allow access to the third row even with a full child seat installed and latched in. For kids and parents that like to go between the second-row seats, there is wide space between the seats for kids to scamper through.
The third row offers decent space and comfort for a pair of adults, although it is set up with three seatbelts, so three kids can squeeze back in there if you need to shuttle the full seven. Another nice touch for kids and those with mobility issues is the power running boards that drop out for an easier step into the very tall floor of this SUV — yes, that would be a long-term reliability concern and potentially very messy in our slushy, snowy, and frozen ice-pack winters, but it’s still a nice party trick.
With all three rows in place, the 546 litres (21 cubic feet) available doesn’t sound all that impressive, but that is already more than your average midsize sedan, and the tall space meant I could pack in a full three-piece luggage set with a bit of suitcase Tetris, and still had a spot for another carry-on or backpack. The third row splits 60/40, and the second-row captain’s chairs fold separately (and split 40/20/40 when equipped with a second-row bench), so you can choose your own adventure for cargo and passenger space. In the two-row four-seat mode we used most of the time, the cargo space was a generous 1,627 L (57.5 ft³), and if you ditch the kids, you can max out to a cavernous 2,962 L (104.6 ft³).
2024 Ford Expedition Competitors
2024 Ford Expedition Canadian Pricing and Value
If you’re looking for something that has a little more off-road sportiness in its sport-utility equation, the Timberline starts at $95,975 with a high-output 440-hp 510-lb-ft version of the 3.5L EcoBoost V6, and it also trades in some of the tech and styling upgrades for sturdier suspension with premium front and rear shocks, all-terrain tires, underbody skid plates, ABS with “Trail Control,” and heavy-duty radiator, and keeps lots of the desirable tech features of the Limited while going for a more rugged exterior look.
2024 Ford Expedition Pros & Cons
Pros
✔ Room to lounge and plenty cargo space
✔ Smooth and torque-y powertrain
✔ Premium King Ranch touches
Cons
✘ Parking challenges
✘ Premium pricing
✘ Truck-ish ride
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