2011 Ford Expedition

The 2011 Expedition is offered in 4 trims: XL, XLT, Limited, and King Ranch. The XL is stuffed with a generous amount of features, but as you pay higher prices for the upper trims, the feature list either gets additions or the existing ones get better.

The XL comes fitted with 1st-row bucket seats, 40/20/40 and 60/40 split for 2nd and 3rd-row seats, AC, auxiliary rear climate control, cruise control, automatic headlamps and fog lamp, and a 6-speaker audio system among others. As you go higher, features like 20” premium painted aluminum wheels, premium sound system, and leather seats. Some of the available optional packages include the Trailer Tow Package, Leather Seating Package, and Sport Appearance Package.

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The most practical trim to buy is the XLT model since it adds a plethora of features with a reasonable price increase.

The 2011 Ford Expedition engine is a 5.4L V8 unit coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The power is transferred to an RWD system as standard however, there is also an optional 4WD layout on offer. The engine produces 310 horsepower and 365 lb-ft torque and is capable of towing an admirable 9,200 pounds. The motor propels the SUV from 0 to 60 MPH in 8.9 seconds and completes a ¼ mile stretch in 16 seconds. 

The Chevrolet Tahoe and the GMC Yukon are mechanical twins hence come with similar powertrain and power output figures. Both the SUVs also have identical acceleration times as well, clocking 8.5 seconds. The Nissan Armada houses the biggest V8 under its hood and generates a sheer 385 lb-ft of torque, the highest among the rivals here and is the quickest.

Big V8 engines under these full-size SUVs are generally guzzlers. Nevertheless, the 2011 Ford Expedition gas mileage numbers stand at 14,20 and 16 MPG in city, highway, and combined respectively. Since the vehicle comes with a large 28-gallon fuel tank, it offers an impressive driving range of 560 miles on the highway with a tank full of gas.

Despite the Tahoe and Yukon offering good performance, their mileage figures are surprisingly good and better than the Expedition. The Nissan Armada has the lowest fuel economy numbers on offer but is blessed with a huge gas tank of 28 gallons like the Expedition, hence manages to offer a decent driving range as well of 532 highway miles. 

Ford offers a vast number of creature comforts and interior features depending on the trim you bring home. The 2011 Ford Expedition interior is spacious and can accommodate a total of 8 people with a decent amount of head and legroom offered in all three rows. The seats are wide, cushioned well, and upright. The standard features include an AC, Analog Instrument Cluster, Carpeted floor mats, leather-wrapped steering, and gear knob.

Upper trims will get you some truly premium and convenient features such as power-adjusted pedals, power windows, steering with audio and cruise control buttons. You also get 18.6 cubic feet of standard cargo space, but folding the rear seats will offer you a massive 108.3 cubic feet of cargo space.

What makes the Expedition standout from the rest, it offers a spacious and uniform space in all three rows. However, overall the Nissan Armada offers a segment-leading passenger space and the biggest trunk space of 20 cu.-ft. Both the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon offer similar interior dimensions but the Yukon is more luxurious and is feature-heavy as compared to the Tahoe.

Standout interior features:

• 10-way power adjusted, heated, and cooled front bucket seats
• Chaparral/perforated leather seats
• Woodgrain interior trim
• Dual-zone automatic temperature control
• Leather-wrapped steering and gear shifter

How intuitive is the 2011 Ford Expedition’s Infotainment Unit?

The 2011 Ford Expedition‘s base trim comes fitted with an I.U. that is loaded with a 6-speaker audio system assisted by AM/FM/CD and MP3 player and a 6-month subscription to Sirius satellite radio. Apart from the default features, upper trims offer a premium 7-speaker sound system, message center, Ford SYNC voice-activated connectivity, and an optional voice-activated navigation system. You also get an 8” touch LCD by Garmin which displays maps and other multimedia, 10GB of music storage, a dual LCD screen at the rear and a trial subscription of Sirius travel link and traffic.

Standout infotainment features:

• 7-speaker premium audio system with subwoofer
• AM/FM/DVD-CD/MP3 player with Aux support
• 8” touch LCD by Garmin
• 10GB of music storage
• Dual LCD screen at rear seats
• Voice-activated navigation system
• Sirius travel link and traffic (6-month trial)

The 2011 Ford Expedition exterior design remains unchanged. The styling looks decade old and orthodox. The headlights don’t suit the hefty body and some may find the chrome grille too intimidating. The most striking attributes of the SUV are the large three-spoke chrome grille sitting between the large headlights which house the automatic dual reflector headlamps and fog lamps below. Though the taillights look dated, they are fitted well and offer a traditional appeal. There is a wide range of options when it comes to wheel choices. 

As standard, Ford offers 17” aluminum wheels which look pretty. However, to level up the looks, you can fit the better-looking 18” machined or 20” painted/polished aluminum wheels with the King Ranch logo which will significantly season the appeal. 

As we have talked before about the bully-like figure of the 2011 Expedition, the SUV enjoys a 119” of wheelbase”. It also comes with a fair amount of ground clearance at 8.7” and the AWD system makes it a capable SUV which can perform well even in snow, sand, jittery roads. The Nissan Armada is the lightest SUV here which is surprisingly the largest in terms of size too. It has the largest wheelbase of 123.2 inches and exemplary ground clearance of 10.5 inches, but the big and muscular body can be tough to handle and challenging to park. The GMC Yukon is the opposite, though it’s fairly heavy weighing 5,636lbs, it is significantly smaller than the others.

Standout Exterior Features:

• 20” polished/ premium painted aluminum wheels
• Dual Reflector headlamps
• Automatic headlamps and rain lamp
• Complex-reflector system headlamps
• Keyless entry keypad
• Black roof-rack side rails with crossbars

The 2011 Expedition arrives with a respectable amount of safety and driver-assist systems. The SUV is based on the brand’s legendary T1 platform, which the Ford F-150 happens to share too. The platform consists of a tensile and sturdy chassis that is made from steel and aluminum and is further coupled with capable 4-wheel independent suspension for vehicle stability. All the wheels of the truck are fitted with disc brakes programmed with ABS, EBD, and Emergency Brake Assist. A standard arrangement of airbags is also fitted inside the cabin which comes in aid at the time of the collision.

Standout safety features:

• Ford MyKey System
• Complex-reflector system headlamps
• Trailer sway control
• Reverse sensing system
• Rearview camera
• Tire pressure monitor
• SOS Post-Crash Alert System
• SecuriLock passive anti-theft system

The Expedition is one of the most preferred SUVs in the states. Post its introduction, it has stood the test of time and proved itself to be a money launderer for Ford. It is a family-friendly SUV that can seat 8 people with enough room and comforts to offer. Moreover, Ford offers a vast number of options and additional packages. Priced at $36k, the Expedition justifies itself and has been a pampered family member for decades now, because of the practicality and value it provides.