2014 Ford Expedition

Though Ford has kept the trims and optional packages scene very simplistic, the thing is you can have almost everything a King Ranch offers on an XLT. Literally everything except for those 20-inch wheels, which will destroy the ride quality anyway, and for 2014 there is no air suspension as well. So, the XLT trim with Equipment Group 202A would be our recommendation. It comes equipped with every convenience feature the King Ranch comes standard with plus the trailer tow package. 

The 2014 Expedition comes in 3 trim levels, XLT, Limited & King Ranch. On top of it, the body styles have 2 variants- Standard length and Extended length. For people who have above-average cargo needs, the EL variant seems to be the fit as it adds 15 inches to the overall length. This increases both cargo capacity and passenger space. All models of the Expedition also get an option for a 4WD drivetrain for better drivability for an added cost of $2,900. 

The XLT trim comes with a satisfactory set of features like a power-adjustable driver seat, cruise control & automatic headlights, cloth upholstery, a six-way power driver seat, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The optional Equipment Group adds features like dual-zone automatic climate control, 10-way power-adjustable seats, and many more. The Limited trim comes with all the features of the Equipment Group, plus adds front parking sensors and heated second-row seats.

The King Ranch trim everyone knows is all about creature comforts & luxury. It is fitted with all the features of the previous trim and comes with bigger wheels, upgraded headlights, and premium leather upholstery. Most of these features can be had on other trims except for those 20-inch wheels & load leveling rear suspension. A remote engine start, power moonroof, heated second-row seats, captain's chair with leather upholstery, and load-leveling suspension are available as standalone extras.

The fuel economy is the last thing expected from a big SUV and thankfully the Expedition is doing just fine. As expected the 2WD variants are the most fuel-efficient here no matter what body style you have. It returns 14 mpg in the city and 20 mpg on the highway. The 4WD variant will drop the fuel economy to 13 mpg in the city & 18 mpg on the highway. The fuel tank on the 2014 Expedition is big at 28 gallons and provides the best, combined range of 448 miles.

Both of our Asian guests are lacking in the fuel economy section here, something considered criminal by Japanese standards. The Chevrolet Tahoe is the king of efficiency today with the best mpg figures in every driving condition but it comes with a small fuel tank.

One thing is apparent in the 2014 Expedition’s cabin, Ford doesn’t want to let go of their truck roots. The overall dashboard design resembles that on the F-150 pickup. Though the switches and panels are of better quality. The wooden trim inlays on the dashboard try to give it a premium look though it pretends more than it actually looks in our opinion. The overall cabin space is huge and no matter what row you are sitting in, you will feel comfortable. 

The front seats are big and wide and have soft cushioning. The second row as well offers immense legroom even though they are flat. The 40/20/40 folding seats allow the middle seat folding so that you can reach your kids back in the third row. Speaking of the third row, it is spacious even in the standard-length variants and you can fit 3 adults in here easily depending on their build. The legroom is limited but your knees won’t touch the front seats and that’s really great for a third row. 

Regarding the creature comforts, you get cloth seats on the base trim which can be upgraded to Premium "Chaparral" leather upholstery and wood-grain interior trim on the King-Ranch trim. Moreover, you get an eight-way power driver seat with power lumbar adjustment and memory functions, a power-folding third-row seat with Limited trim.

The cargo-carrying capacity with all the seats up is great in the standard body length and in the EL variant, it becomes 42.6 cubic feet. Folding all the seats reveals a massive 108.3 cubic feet of space on regular and 130.8 cubic feet of space on the EL variant of the Ford Expedition. The Nissan Armada is the most spacious of the lot in the first two rows and cargo capacity but its third-row feels a bit cramped. Standout interior features:

• Wood trim
• Leather-wrapped gear knob
• Wooden inlays on the steering
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Power moonroof
• Power folding third row
• Dual glovebox storage
• 10-way driver & 6-way passenger power seats

How intuitive is the 2014 Ford Expedition’s infotainment system?

The base trim of the 2014 Expedition comes with a Ford's voice-operated Sync system, a 6-speaker sound system, and a CD player but the optional package adds a 6.5-inch touch screen along with a 340-watt sound system. Considering the size of the vehicle Ford also has an optional entertainment package for the second row and third-row passengers with dedicated screens and wireless headphones. As standard, you get iPod/USB audio interface and Bluetooth phone connectivity, CD player, satellite radio, an auxiliary audio jack, and rear audio controls. Standout infotainment features:

• 6.5-inch touchscreen
• Bluetooth
• iPod port
• DVD/CD player
• Ford Sync system
• AM/FM
• 340-watt sound system

The 2014 Ford Expedition has those typical SUV looks even though it might look dated for some people. We like how Ford has kept everything symmetrical on the outside. For the most part, the SUV doesn’t have any lines or curves only except for that bulge on the hood. The grille has very wide openings; good for ventilation but the radiator is going to be a graveyard of bugs and insects after some time. 

As we talked about symmetry earlier the 2014 Expedition has almost the same height throughout its length allowing the third-row passengers to have some headroom. The panoramic rear glass is now a signature style move for SUVs in this class. It actually looks like an identification thing, like do you have a big panoramic rear glass, yes? Then you are qualified for this segment. Overall, the 2014 Expedition isn’t anything spectacular design-wise, pretty much the same as last year.

The Nissan Armada has the largest wheelbase in the group today even though the overall length is similar to its peers. It even has better ground clearance than the Ford. Chevrolet Tahoe is the shortest SUV in the group and that resulted in a cramped third-row with a little legroom. However, it has the highest ground clearance of the lot. Standout exterior features:

• Triple slotted grille
• 20-inch alloy wheels
• Running boards
• Roof rails
• Sunroof
• Panoramic C pillar glass

The NHTSA has given 4 stars to the Ford Expedition for overall safety. The Expedition gets 4 stars in frontal crash tests and rollover safety. Rollover rating is especially great for such a big vehicle. The side crashworthiness gets a 5-star rating. The IIHS hasn’t tested the 2014 Expedition SUV yet but the NHTSA results are more than satisfactory. Standout safety features:

• Side curtain airbags
• Trailer sway control
• Stability control
• Parking sensors
• Programmable MyKey
• Traction control

The Ford Expedition is a big family SUV that can do any job you throw at it. The interior has acres of space on all the rows. The availability of optional packages can make the XLT a near King Ranch experience. The performance of this SUV is great if you are not towing. Yes, it has a decent towing capacity but the engine somehow doesn’t respond well to heavy loads. Overall, the 2014 Expedition is a very good family SUV but just sort out your preference before considering one.