2019 Ford Expedition

The Ford F-150 based SUV was redesigned just last year and yet Ford has made a few changes for the 2019 model year. To begin with, the Expedition now has more power and also features a new transmission along with minor modifications to the cabin. The prices start at an MSRP of $53,525 and go all the way up to $77,910 before options, which makes it stand against the likes of the Lincoln Navigator or the Land Rover Discovery. In this segment, it competes against other popular SUVs which include Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Nissan Armada, and Toyota Sequoia. 

The 2019 Expedition is offered in three different trims with no powertrain choice and a 4-wheel drive drivetrain being optional. Even in the base XLT guise, the Expedition is loaded with plenty of features that offer a plush experience overall. The mid-range Limited trim adds a ton of creature comforts and a few safety features while the Platinum trim adds a lot of premium elements to the mix. 

Which trim should you buy?

The prices of the 2019 Expedition rises exponentially as we got higher up the trim ladder even before adding the optional features. Therefore it is best to opt for the mid-range Limited trim with 4WD and opt for the optional features if need be to better spec the SUV. 

The 2019 Ford Expedition is powered by a 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine as standard which is paired up with a new 10-speed automatic transmission that powers the rear wheels as standard. The engine is rated for 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque in the lower trims while the top-end Platinum trims bump it to 400 hp and 470 lb-ft, which although is dependent on premium octane fuel only. 

Performance from this small engine is rather strong as it takes under 6 seconds for the 0-60 mpg sprint while the quarter-mile is covered in just 14.6 seconds. Although the standard towing capacity is limited to just 6,000 lbs, opting for the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package increases its potency to a class-leading 9,300 lbs. Although the gas pedal is abrupt in response, driving in Eco mode smoothes out the throttle response rather well. 

The 2019 Expedition is the most expensive one in this lineup of cars while the Nissan Armada is the most affordable, though it is also the oldest one here. It takes half a second more in the 0-60 mph test but has solid towing capabilities. The Chevy Tahoe is the most underpowered of the lot and hence has a similar performance to offer, while the Sequoia has decent towing power but is slower than the Armada in the straight-line acceleration tests. 

How does the 2019 Ford Expedition SUV handle?

The large and brawny Expedition is deceptively quick off the line but one can never get away from the heft of this full-size SUV. It has plenty of lateral body movement and hence is best driven with a light foot, especially in the corners. The steering response is pretty slow as well and there is hardly any feedback from it either. The steering wheel too feels too large and truck-like which does not encourage high-speed maneuvers.

An unloaded Expedition might feel bouncy and jittery on the road, similar to the trucks, but it does settle down once there is sufficient weight in the cabin. Although the Expedition also gets 4WD with low gear ratios and a lockable rear differential, the large dimensions of the SUV mean that one has to be really careful of the placement of the vehicle while negotiating tricky terrains and isn’t the easiest one to be driven off-the-road. 

2019 Ford Expedition Braking Performance

The brake pedal does not offer a great amount of feedback and isn’t too reassuring either even in the panic braking scenario. The pedal travel is longer than one would like, which becomes cumbersome in city driving conditions. That being said, the 13-inch front and 13.5-inch rear disc brakes assure a 60-0 mph braking distance of a pretty respectable 133 feet for this almost 5,500 lbs SUV. 

The Nissan Armada has the largest front and rear brake rotors combination and hence in spite of its heavyweight, it has the shortest stopping distance. The Toyota Sequoia is the heaviest of the lot and yet has a pretty decent 60-0 mph braking distance in our tests. The Chevrolet Tahoe is the sore loser here, as it travels the farthest even though it is the lightest SUV in this comparison. 

The large, powerful, and heavy full-size SUVs aren’t really frugal in nature as most of them also employ a V8 under their hood, but since the Expedition gets a downsized V6 with dual turbochargers, it returns a pretty solid 20 mpg for a combined city and highway circuit. The 23.3-gallon fuel tank may be smaller in a capacity as compared to its peers, the driving range of around 450 miles is on the higher side in this segment. 

The underpowered nature of the Chevrolet Tahoe’s V8 helps it return very respectable fuel economy figures, which when doubled up with the large gas tank, offers a pretty long driving range. The Nissan Armada isn’t the most frugal of the lot while the Toyota Sequoia has the highest fuel consumption amongst the SUVs present here. It also features the largest fuel tank capacity to compensate for it. 

The one place that Expedition makes no compromise is the cabin space. It makes full use of its large dimensions and offers abundant space all around the cabin. Not only are the front and second-row spacious and comfortable, the third row too can sit adults comfortably as it offers legroom and headroom on par with most modern compact sedans. The standard power-folding third-row seats and the available heated and reclining second-row ensure utmost comfort. 

Ford has updated the material quality on the higher trims and the fit and finish are on par with even the Lincoln Navigator. The large door openings, sufficient grab handles, and the power running boards make ingress and egress easy for people of all heights. The tall stance of the SUV offers a great commanding view of the road ahead, but the thick pillars do hamper outward visibility in certain areas. The rear window feels a mile away and the standard rearview camera does not make things that much easier as well. 

In terms of storage space, there are a plethora of storage hooks, tie-down points, and flexible seating arrangements to make hauling easier than ever. The 20.9 cu-ft of luggage space at the rear is enough for most buyers and while folding down the third row opens up 63.6 cu-ft of cargo space, the maximum cargo space is measured at over 104 cu-ft. Apart from that, there are enough cup holders and door pockets to store all the stuff the family might need on a road trip. 

There is no competition to the sheer space that is on offer with the Expedition in any of its rivals. The Toyota Sequoia offers a pretty spacious third row as well but compromises a bit in the front two rows for that. The Tahoe is considerably smaller than all other SUVs in this comparison and hence has a smaller hauling capacity as well, while the Nissa Armada does better than the Tahoe, it too is far less spacious than the Ford and Toyota. 

• 10-way power driver and passenger seats w/power recline and 2-way power lumbar
• Heated & Cooled Perforated Leather Front Bucket Seats w/pecan stitching
• 40-20-40 Folding Split-Bench Heated Reclining Leather Rear Seat w/Manual Fore/Aft
• Fixed 60-40 Split-Bench Vinyl Third Row Seat w/Power Recline & Power Fold into Floor
• Power Tilt/Telescoping Steering Column w/Heated Leather Steering Wheel
• Dual Zone Front Automatic Air Conditioning and Rear HVAC w/Separate Controls
• Genuine Wood & Metal Interior Trim w/Leather and Chrome Interior Accents
• Memory Settings for Driver Seat, Door Mirrors, and Pedals
• Power Adjustable Pedals

What’s there to keep you entertained in the 2019 Ford Expedition?

The dashboard of the 2019 Expedition is too button-laden for the 2019 standards even with the latest SYNC 3 infotainment system. Although it adds ease of access while on the move, the appearance is very old-school. There are plenty of functions and technology on offer trailer backup assist and a 360-degree parking camera and while the navigation is an optional add-on, the graphics feel a bit dated. 

The standard audio system is great for most parts but feels slightly distorted at higher volume levels. Smartphone integration is pretty intuitive and smooth and one can even connect two phones simultaneously for different tasks and still find things effortless. The voice commands recognize all the basic commands well and the commands for navigation are better with either the Android Auto or Apple CarPlay. 

• 8.0-inch touchscreen SYNC 3 Communications & Entertainment System
• 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen Sound System 
• Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
• AppLink and 911 Assist
• HD Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio w/6-month prepaid subscription
• Integrated Navigation System w/Voice Activation
• SiriusXM Traffic Real-Time Traffic Display
• Smart Device Remote Engine Start and Tracker System

The front fascia of the 2019 Ford Expedition resembles an F-150 truck with C-shaped headlights and chiseled body lines. The chunky bumper and chrome grille offers a softer look than the industrial look of the trucks, but yet feels imposing while on the road. At the sides, the shoulder line is straight as an arrow and the window line sees a thick chrome strip which is complemented by the chrome elements on the running board and polished aluminum wheels. 

The rear is rather simple with LED taillights and a chrome slab in the middle reading out the ‘Expedition’ name of the car boldly. 18-inch wheels as standard with the higher trims featuring 20-inch and 22-inch wheels, all of which offer a strong presence that overshadows most cars on the road. The tailgate and running board gets powered functionality for ease of access while the massive panoramic sunroof adds to the premium appeal and spacious feel of the cabin. 

The Expedition is no doubt the largest SUV in the segment and yet Ford has managed to keep its curb weight well in check as it is only about 200 lbs heavier than the Chevy Tahoe which is considerably smaller in terms of dimensions. The Chevy also has the lowest ground clearance on offer while the Sequoia has the highest ride height. The Nissan Armada is one of the larger SUVs here and also has a pretty high stance to offer.

• Automatic Aero-Composite LED Auto High-Beam, Daytime Running Lights & Preference Setting Headlamps
• LED Brakelights
• Power Liftgate & Running Boards
• Roof Rack
• Metal-Look Power Heated Side Mirrors w/Driver Auto Dimming, Power Folding, and Turn Signal Indicator
• Speed Sensitive Rain Detecting Variable Intermittent Wipers w/Heated Wiper Park
• Express Open Sliding And Tilting Panoramic Row Sunroof w/Power Sunshade
• 22-inch Polished Aluminum Wheels

There is a long list of safety features on offer, most of which are offered as standard which helps it achieve the perfect 5-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA. Though the IIHS has not yet tested the Expedition for the 2019 model year, it should come out with flying colors whenever it goes under the hammer. There are a lot of safety functions and driver assistance features available across the lineup, a highlight of which has been listed below. 

• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) And Roll Stability Control (RSC)
• Collision Warning with Brake Support and Cross Traffic Alert
• Blind Spot Information System
• Lane Keeping Assist and Lane Departure Warning
• Active Park Assist Automated Parking Sensors
• Mykey System
• 360-degree View Camera w/front and rear camera washers
• Tire Specific Low Tire Pressure Warning

2019 Ford Expedition SUV vs Chevrolet Tahoe

Chevrolet’s answer to the Ford Expedition, the Chevy Tahoe might offer similar levels of luxuries but falls short in various segments. The performance is nowhere near what Ford has to offer and the Expedition is far more frugal than the Chevrolet Tahoe. There is no comparison to the cabin space and cargo capacity either. Although the Expedition is pricier than the Tahoe, it feels worth the additional money.

2019 Ford Expedition SUV vs Nissan Armada

The 2019 Nissan Armada might not be the most cutting edge or the latest SUV on offer in this segment, it is affordable and has solid acceleration, braking, and towing performance. Other than that, it lacks in terms of efficiency, cabin space, and even technology, the latter two being the major contributing factor to most buyers of this segment. 

2019 Ford Expedition SUV vs Toyota Sequoia

Another popular offering in the full-size SUV segment, the Toyota Sequoia offers respectable levels of performance and comfort at an affordable price tag. It lags behind in the efficiency section, but the cabin is very spacious and also offers a long list of creature comforts. Though it too does not manage to overshadow the Ford Expedition, it is worth considering if affordability is also what you seek. 

The new Ford Expedition might be too in your face and humongous for some, but there is no going around the fact that there is hardly any SUV that comes even close to being as well-rounded as it is. There is tons of space, the latest technology, powerful performance, massive towing capacity, and exhaustive safety features which all justify the high prices of the SUV. Therefore, if money isn’t a major concern for you, you can never go wrong with the 2019 Ford Expedition.