2020 Ford Expedition: Swiss Army knife for your everyday life?

Trim level: Platinum
Price as tested: $75,925
Engine: 3.5L EcoBoost
Fuel economy: 17 mpg city / 23 mpg highway / 19 mpg combined
Our average MPG after driving 450 miles in one week: 17.7 MPG
Horsepower: 375 hp
Seating: 7 passengers
Final assembly plant: Kentucky, USA

When you need towing capacity of a larger pickup truck and functionality of a 7-8-seater minivan, what do you do? That’s one of the questions we had on our mind after getting the keys to the new 2020 Ford Expedition. The new model is packed with features, tech, and functionality, and today we’re going to talk about all the ups and downs of the new 2020 Ford Expedition.

The looks

From the inside, outside, anywhere you look – you get Ford’s message: size matters. Wheels, sunroof, space between the driver’s and front passenger’s seats. It’s as big as it gets. I do like the daytime running lights and headlights style. This is something that tells you from far away you’re being approached by either F-150 or Expedition. To give you a visual idea of how big this vehicle is, think about the wheelbase of the Sprinter cargo van. The Sprinter got 118″, while this 2020 Ford Expedition has a 122.5″ wheelbase. It’s massive but still fits perfectly at any parking spot and will most likely fit inside of your garage.

The spaciousness is something where the Expedition truly shines. For your reference, I’m 6’2”, about 200 pounds. During our review, I was able to move between the second and third-row without even folding them down. The only downside of the second row is that the seat height feels a bit short unless you use the headrest to get you comfortable.

Our test Platinum package boats a giant moonroof — Panoramic Vista Roof. Despite my height, I still have enough space on top. Thanks to the roof size, you can soak in all the sunlight while driving.

With the new Ford Expedition you get 20.9 ft³ cargo capacity in the trunk space, and up to 104.6 ft³ if you fold the seats down. The trunk has hands-free liftgate, which can easily leave others in the dust based on how fast it gets opened. That’s quite a simple thing but it will make your life so much easier when you wouldn’t have to wait for the trunk to open under heavy rain, for instance.

There are three things that are on my top favorites list in the new 2020 Ford Expedition.

Engine

The first thing is power. Ever heard people whining about turbocharged engines in bigger vehicles and pickup trucks? Ford did a great job with their turbo. Why? Because they can. Now it’s “a new normal,” even for some “turbocharged haters.” It pulls strong, it’s got 375 hp and 470 lb-ft at 2,250 RPM’s, meaning you only push the pedal and you get all the torque. This 3.5L V6 EcoBoost gets a really good punch at around 4,500 RPM’s when you feel “this thing is alive.” You should take note that this 2020 Ford Expedition can tow up to 6,600 pounds and you can get an optimal heavy-duty trailer package that will boost it to 9,300 pounds, meaning a decent cabin cruise, sailboat or something that’s even bigger than the 2020 Ford Expedition itself.

Technology

The second thing I do like about this Expedition is that it’s got lost of tech, including the built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, the best in the whole car industry B&O stereo and that’s… Just the beginning of the list. Did you watch the movie Ford vs Ferrari? There is a scene where Italians called the Ford cars “ugly,” and that’s exactly where the battle began. Same here – we’ve been telling Ford how ugly the previous Sync system was, so right now it’s wickedly fast and paired with the best stereo. It’s got USB, USB Type-C, and all of it works like a charm. Great to see the 110v outlet on the back and more USBs for your passengers.

On top of that, this 2020 Ford Expedition got 15 cupholders. Great dash that we know from all the F-series trucks and the big 8-inch screen that has analog gauges with a ton of information and settings.

Suspension

The third thing I’d like to highlight in this 2020 Ford Expedition is the suspension. The new gas-charged shocks do the job way better than it used to be. With the weight over 5500 pounds, Ford engineers managed to avoid the typical “floaty” feeling that often comes up in vehicles of this class. The Ford Expedition managed to perfect your driving experience, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re on bumpy backroads or going 60-70 mph on freeways. Very well-balanced suspension, which is rather a nice surprise for a larger vehicle.

Downsides?

At this point, you’re probably wondering what’s the downside of buying the 2020 Ford Expedition? Based on our tests, there’s still room where Ford could improve steering assist since for now, it’s not trying to keep you in the lane — it starts acting only when you already left your lane.

On the bright side, you do get a number of safety features standard, including the Ford Co-Pilot 360. It includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind-spot information system, lane-keeping system, and a host of other useful features.

The golden middle

That’s the line that came across my mind after spending a week reviewing the 2020 Ford Expedition. If you were looking for a truck with maximum cargo capacity, and also needed a reliable van that comfortably sits seven or eight people, now you have a decent solution — the 2020 Ford Expedition. It’s like a Swiss Army knife if you would. Yes, it’s pricy but it includes lots of tools packed in one body. I do like how it drives, and I do like the new looks. Even for $75,925 (price as tested), I still see a lot of value. Buy it or not? Only you can answer this question. We would definitely recommend to at least try it out. I’m sure you would not want to go back to any other car after driving and seeing what Ford has to offer.

Photos by Dennis Bindarau, LiveFEED

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