2016 Ford Expedition

The 2016 Ford Expedition faces tight competition from rivals such as the GMC Yukon, the Chevrolet Tahoe, and the Nissan Armada. Additionally, the 3.5L V6 on offer is powerful and competent enough to match the performance levels of rival V8s. In this review of the 2016 Ford Explorer, we help you decide if the SUV is worth your money or not.

The 2016 Ford Expedition is offered in four trims: The XLT, Limited, King Ranch and top of the line, Platinum. While the base Ford Expedition starts at $45,435, the top-end Platinum demands a $15,000 premium over the base trim. All Expedition trims are available in 4WD, and can be upgraded for about $3,000. A 6-speed automatic transmission is standard on all the trims along with the 3.5L turbocharged V6 gasoline engine.

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If you do plan on getting a 2016 model year Expedition, we suggest shelling out some extra bucks. The $55,000+ Limited trim is far more upscale than the XLT. It features Chrome accents on the outside, 20 inch wheels and a Sony audio system, and much more. It lacks the Brunello leather option of the Platinum but is more affordable and offers decent value to the buyers.

The 2016 model year Ford Explorer is offered with a 3.5L V6. The Explorer’s engine makes a healthy 365 horsepower and a staggering 420 lb-ft of torque, which is more than sufficient for comfortable highway cruising and easy city overtakes. Overall NVH levels are decent, and the powertrain feels impressively refined for daily driving. 

The turbocharged V6 makes decent power and torque and catapults the huge vehicle from 0 to 60 MPH in just 6.5 seconds. The transmission is a smooth shifting 6-speed automatic. Another impressive component of the vehicle is the brakes. The braking performance of the Expedition leaves the rivals in the dust by stopping from 60-0 MPH in just 121 feet.

Among the competition, the Nissan Armada has the highest power output on offer, while the Ford Expedition comes with the most torque. All vehicles in this comparison are equally quick to 60 mph, while the Nissan Armada puts down the best quarter-mile time. Additionally, the Ford Expedition offers the best braking performance. 

The 2016 Ford Expedition delivers fairly average fuel economy, and matches the standard offered by most vehicles in this segment. The 2016 model year Expedition returns 16 MPG in the city, 22 MPG on the highway, and a combined fuel economy of 18 MPG. The Expedition also comes with a sizable 28 gallon fuel tank, which results in pretty impressive driving range figures. All in all, the Ford Expedition’s fuel efficiency is not exactly low, but doesn’t exceed expectations either. 

However, the 2016 Ford Explorer does lose the MPG battle against the Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon, even though they offer generally-thirstier V8 engines. The main reason for Ford losing out of the gas mileage race is the excess weight on the Explorer. Comparing the competition, the 2016 Nissan Armada stands as the worst performer in this front, trading in fuel efficiency for increased power output and marginally better performance. 

The 2016 Ford Expedition resembles the F-150 on the inside because both vehicles share the cabin. The plastics used do feel cheap which Ford is usually criticized for as well. However, getting the higher trims would fetch you a good deal of luxuries, such as a heated leather steering wheel, and impressive perforated leather seats. 

The Ford Expedition also comfortably seats up to 8 occupants, with the third row passengers not having to compromise on space. The top-end Expedition also boasts a crisp hybrid gauge cluster, along with illuminated cup holders and premium stitched upholstery. There’s a good deal of practicality associated with the cabin too, thanks to a large armrest storage, door bins and a cavernous glove box. 

Overall, the interior is very spacious with massive cargo capacity. The addition of power folding rear seats is also welcomed. Comparing the competition, the Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon twins seem to be the winners in terms of first row space, while the Nissan Armada offers the most room in the second row. All four SUVs offer nearly equally spacious third row seats. Some highlight interior features offered with the 2016 Ford Expedition include:

• Leather Steering Wheel. 
• Perforated Leather Seats. 
• Illuminated Cup Holders. 
• Stitched Leather Upholstery.
• Hybrid Gauge Cluster. 
• Seat Memory Settings. 
• Grained Wood Trims. 

2016 Ford Expedition Infotainment

The 2016 Ford Expedition offers impressive infotainment features, and the very best of what Ford has to offer in 2016. Lesser Expeditions get the basic 4.2-inch display, while fancier trims get the impressive 8.0-inch infotainment screen. The larger screen now features Ford’s SYNC 3 system, which feels intuitive and well-organized. There’s also a SiriusXM Radio on offer, and you can choose to upgrade to an impressive Sony Sound System. USB and Aux Support offer flexibility to your music needs. Some key infotainment features offered with the 2016 Ford Expedition include:

• Standard 4.2-inch Display. 
• 8.0-inch Infotainment Screen. 
• SYNC 3.
• SiriusXM Satellite radio
• Bluetooth Audio Streaming. 
• USB and Aux Support. 
• Smart App Link. 

The 2016 model year Ford Explorer’s traditional SUV styling feels pretty decent on its skin. However, the Expedition does look old since it has only been slightly updated from the past eight years. The headlights especially look very outdated for 2016. The added chrome accents are a nice feature. But the rival in terms of exterior looks ages ahead from the Expedition. Ford offers you the option of going for either 20-inch or 22-inch wheels, with the latter giving the Expedition a Lincoln Navigator-like air of dominance. All in all, the slightly retro styling does make the Expedition stand out, while not quite appealing too well in terms of contemporary aesthetics. 

Among the competition, the 2016 Ford Expedition stands as the heaviest SUV in the lot. The Nissan Armada is the longest, while the GMC-Chevrolet twins measure the widest in this comparison. The Ford Expedition stands the tallest. However, the Nissan Armada has the greatest ground clearance on offer, as well as the longest wheelbase. Some highlight exterior features offered with the 2016 Ford Expedition include:

• Automatic Headlights.
• Integrated LED Fog Lights.
• 20-inch Alloy Wheels.
• Optional 22-inch Wheels.
• Two-Tone Paint (King Ranch).
• Chrome Front Grille. 
• Chrome Door Handles. 
• Rear Windshield Wiper. 

The 2016 Ford Expedition is offered with a good deal of safety features. As the flagship model, the Ford Expedition gets some of the best safety tech under Ford’s belt. The Expedition boasts several active and safety features offered as standard. While the IIHS has not yet rated the 2016 model year Ford Explorer, the NHTSA has acknowledged the SUV’s safety merit with an impressive 5-Star Safety Rating. Some of the key safety features offered with the 2016 Ford Explorer include:

• Dual-Stage Airbags. 
• Front and Side Airbags.
• LATCH Anchors. 
• Blind-Spot Monitoring. 
• Passive Anti-Theft System
• Forward Collision Warning. 
• Post-Crash Alert System
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System.
• Trailer Sway Control.

The 2016 Ford Expedition is an old school full-size SUV that looks the part as well. Sure a full refresh is long due but it still offers great performance along with respectable mileage. The turbocharged V6 is reliable as well.The interior is spacious although a lot of things need an update like the cheaper materials used. At last, if you are looking for a full-size SUV that offers great performance and high cargo capacity, Ford Expedition is a decent choice if you don’t mind the long due exterior refresh.