2018 Ford Expedition

Since the 2018 Expedition already has an above fifty grand starting price we suggest picking the base XLT trim which gets more than necessary features. While there are two generous optional packages 201A and 202A along with a bevy of stand-alone optional features list in case you need more features. 

The 2018 Ford Expedition comes in three trims namely XLT, Limited, and Platinum. There is also an extended wheelbase version of the Expedition that goes by Expedition Max which we have covered separately so don't forget to check it out. The 2018 Expedition has a steep starting price of $53,085 for XLT trim which gets a bevy of comfort and convenience features with a lengthy list of optional features. Moving to the Limited trim, it sees a starting price of $63,970 and you add a host of premium features and bigger alloy wheels. 

Sitting right at the top is the Platinum trim starting at $74,325 and comes with no dearth of premium features combined with a plush and loaded cabin. The 2018 Explorer offers one engine and gearbox option with a choice of 2WD or 4WD configuration. While the Limited trim gets a higher state of tune of the same engine. Other than this, there is a list of individual packages for each trim and their own set of standalone optional features. 

The Special Edition options package adds the heavy-duty tow package, LED headlights & fog lights, and the automated parking system to the Limited trim. The second-row captain's chair seats and the rear-seat entertainment system with dual headrest-mounted displays can be had as standalone options with the Ford Expedition. The FX4 Off-Road package is also available which adds 3.73 limited-slip rear axle ratio, off-road shocks, skid plates, and all-terrain tires. 

The 2018 Ford Expedition returns gas mileage of 17 MPG in the city, 24 MPG on the highway, and 20 MPG combined as per EPA. Opting for the 4WD configuration sees a dip of 2 mpg on the highway gas mileage while the city gas mileage remains unchanged. The Expedition gets the smallest 23.3-gallon fuel tank among the competition still it manages 559 miles of range from a tankful of gas.

Powered by a bigger V8 engine there is no chance the rivals can beat the gas mileage of the Expedition which is powered by a twin-turbo V6. The closest among the rivals i.e. the Chevy Tahoe and the GMC Yukon manages 1 MPG less across the three parameters compared to the Expedition. Both the Sequoia and the Armada gulp more fuel and in spite of employing a larger gas tank, struggles in terms of driving range.

"As with its namesake, the Expedition is well suited for journeys undertaken by a large group of people. Its cavernous interior can fit up to eight and offers massaging front buckets and a rear-seat entertainment system." -Caranddriver

The 2018 Ford Expedition's cabin has a stark resemblance to that of the F-150, which does lend it a truck-like personality. The cabin is big but all the controls are thoughtfully placed and within easy reach of the driver. But what gets our goat is that an SUV with a starting price of $51,190 gets subpar leather quality. Although the fit and finish level are good with no rattling or squeaking from body panels. The tall ride height and a high seating position coupled with a range of adjustments allow for a commanding view and driving position. That said, being a tall SUV you will need to use the grab handles and the footboard to climb in or get out of this big SUV. The large dimensions of the Expedition ensure there is no dearth of space in any of its rows.

There is a sufficient amount of head and legroom even for taller passengers to the extent that even the third row can be used to sit adults. Even access to the third seat is fairly easy with a tilt-and-slide mechanism for the second-row seats. The 2018 Ford Expedition gets an all-new SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen display but the XLT trim still gets the old SYNC voice-control system with a small 4.2-inch display. The higher trims that get the SYNC 3 infotainment system also bundle in Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The 2018 Ford Expedition offers 20.9 cubic feet of cargo space with all the seats up which can be further increased to 63.6 cubic feet by folding the one-touch down 60/40-split folding rear seats.

The 122.5-inches of wheelbase and gigantic dimensions of the Expedition make sure that it has class-leading legroom in the second and third row while for the first two it gets beaten by 1.4-inches more legroom offered on the Tahoe and Yukon. The headroom in the Expedition is also the best in this comparison but the overall shoulder room is best in the Toyota Sequoia. The Expedition offers an unbeaten cargo space with all the seats up but the Sequoia with the rear two rows folded has the highest 120.1 cubic feet of cargo space which is 15.5 cubic feet more than what you get in the Expedition.

Interior Features:

• Six-way power-adjustable driver's seat
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Tilt and telescoping steering wheel
• Available leather-upholstery
• Available power-adjustable front seats
• Available dual-zone automatic climate control

Although based on the Ford F-150 pick-up truck the looks of the 2018 Ford Expedition resembles more that of Ford's crossovers. The front has a well-rounded look with a wide grille and a Ford logo sitting in between. There is a rectangular chrome strip that sits on the grille and is neatly integrated into the headlight. Move to the sides and you will witness the massive Expedition that is 210-inches in length and has 122.5-inches of wheelbase between its wheels.

The Expedition has a three-box SUV design with a blacked-out C-pillar and B-pillar to give the roof a floating appearance. At the rear, there is a thick chrome strip running throughout the tailgate with the “EXPEDITION” badging written right at the center. Ford offers a maximum of 9 paint color options with the Expedition and there are alloy wheels sizes ranging from 18-inch to 22-inch. The Expedition ground clearance of 9.8-inch is also amongst the best and helps tackle some terrain with ease. 

Lengthwise the Expedition has no match among the rivals. But when it comes to other dimensions then the Chevrolet Tahoe beats it in terms of width by 1.6-inches, the Toyota Sequoia is taller than the Expedition by 0.4-inches and has a 0.1-inches higher ground clearance than it. The Nissan Armada too has a high stance and is longer than the Chevy and Toyota SUVs, but the Expedition is the largest amongst them all and yet weighs pretty low due to its aluminum-intensive build. 

Exterior Features:

• 18-inch alloy wheels
• Rear parking sensors
• Heated side mirrors
• Running board
• Roof rails
• Available 20-inch alloy wheels
• Available hands-free power liftgate
• Available panoramic sunroof

The 2018 Ford Expedition hasn't been crash-tested by IIHS while NHTSA has full-tested it. As per NHTSA, the 2018 Expedition gets a perfect five out of five stars overall safety ratings with a perfect score in the side and front crash test. While the roll-over mitigation was given a lower score of three out of five stars.

Safety Features:

• Rear parking sensors w/ rearview camera
• Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Ford MyKey
• Available 360-degree camera
• Available forward-collision warning w/ automatic emergency braking
• Available automatic high beams
• Available lane keep-assist w/ lane departure warning

2018 Ford Expedition vs 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe

The Chevrolet Tahoe is the age-old rival of the Expedition and has always given the Ford SUV a tough fight. Although with time the Tahoe didn't receive enough attention from Chevrolet and the result is that the Expedition has leaped ahead of the competition with modern features and mechanicals. 

The Tahoe gets a slow and thirsty V8 which is no match to Expedition's new twin-turbo V6 which delivers plenty of performance and good gas mileage. In terms of cabin space and practicality, the Tahoe is no match to the Expedition. So no doubt the Expedition is a much better overall SUV compared to the Tahoe.

2018 Ford Expedition vs 2018 Nissan Armada

The Nissan Armada has been a strong contender in the full-size SUV segment with its potent performance and strong hauling abilities. The low starting price, comfortable ride quality, and low maintenance cost, all tip the scales in its favor. That said, the Expedition in its newest guise also brings in a lot to the table. 

The 2018 Expedition offers a more premium experience inside its cabin than the Armada and there are more creature comforts on offer too. It scores better in terms of reliability and safety and also offers more standard technology and driver safety aids. Unless the budget is really a concern, the Expedition should be the go-to option here. 

2018 Ford Expedition vs 2018 Toyota Sequoia

The age-old brute from the Japanese brand takes the competition head-on with the Ford Expedition. The Sequoia gets a big V8 but is priced cheaper than the Expedition. Being powered by a naturally aspirated engine the Sequoia can't beat the Expedition in terms of power and torque figures or performance.

And neither the Sequoia can match the towing capacity of the Expedition. Add to that the heavier Sequoia has an abysmal gas mileage and smaller cabin compared to the Expedition. Although it does offer slightly better cargo space but that's not enough for it to take against the Expedition.  

The 2018 Ford Expedition is leaps and bounds ahead of its past self now. The major highlight is its new and powerful engine that is also fuel-efficient at the same time. Cabin space and cargo capacity have never been a concern for a mini-bus-sized Expedition. But lack of premiumness inside an SUV that starts upwards of fifty grand remains the only chink in its armor. With that small complaint aside the Expedition is a perfect match for families who need a big and powerful SUV that has decent gas mileage and generous cabin space.