2018 Ford Expedition First Review

Starting price: $52,890 | Price yours
Max capacity: 8 passengers
Engine: 3.5-liter turbo V6, 375 horsepower
Fuel economy: 20 mpg combined (2WD)
Max towing: 9,300 lbs
Similar: Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon

It's hard to undersell how good the 2018 Ford Expedition is in its full-size SUV class. It's the newest entry in the segment, and so it should be better. But it's even better than that, thanks to a series of innovations, upgrades, new materials, and an improved engine that put the new Ford Expedition solidly at the head of its class, with even the sales-leading Chevrolet Tahoe eating its dust.
Like the Ford F-150 from a couple years ago, the new Expedition makes extensive use of aluminum in its body structure. Basically, anything you can see is made of the stuff -- the frame and other components are still steel -- but the weight savings has a cascade effect on the rest of the truck. The twin-turbo V6 has no problem hauling it around while still delivering excellent fuel economy (for the class), and the Expedition feels lighter on its feet than ever before. There's still tons of passenger space, and a huge cargo area if you opt for the Expedition Max, which replaces the Expedition EL.
It's not flawless, of course. The Expedition, like all full-size SUVs, is still a hassle to park, a climb for shorter drivers, and the standard model offers less cargo space behind the third row than the Ford Explorer. It's also not cheap, with a starting price of nearly $53,000 climbing all the way to nearly $80,000 for a Platinum Max model. Still, there's something to be said for the sheer brashness and do-anything utility of a full-size SUV, and when it comes to those duties, the Expedition is without equal.