Is there a vehicle as American as the full-size sport utility vehicle? OK, maybe a pickup.

But both offer the same attributes: hauling ability, towing capacity, power, go-anywhere attitude and voracious appetite for petroleum. But you can’t tow a horse trailer with a Toyota Yaris. The Expedition provides the space and capability buyers in this segment expect. 

Overview

The 2022 Ford Expedition is offered in ascending XL, STX, XLT, Timberline, Limited, King Ranch and Platinum trim. Of those, the Timberline model is new for 2022, designed to meet the requirements of the 36% of baby boomers and 56% of millennials who do some sort of outdoor activity, such as cycling, hiking or kayaking.

With a front skid plate borrowed from the F-150 Raptor, 33-inch Goodyear Wrangler off-road tires, a two-speed transfer case and a higher, 10.6-inch ground clearance, the Timberline seems aptly named, as long you don’t mind piloting such a massive vehicle off-road.

Our Limited test vehicle was fitted with the $9,880 Stealth Edition Package, which features murdered-out exterior trim, red brake calipers and a suspension tuned for on-road handling. And, Ford has added its new BlueCruise hands-free driving system to Platinum models. 

There’s also an Expedition Max, which adds nearly a foot in overall length and 15 cubic feet of additional cargo room. Just be careful when parallel parking. 

Exterior

If you doubt that color can make a difference, consider that our test vehicle’s $395 Blue Tinted Clearcoat matched with blacked-out exterior trim and wheels elicited a number of favorable comments. The Expedition’s power-deploying running boards made climbing into the cabin a snap. Just be careful when opening the door near a snowbank. This is high, wide and handsome SUV made an impression with its striking hue. 

Interior

Climb inside, and you’ll find it’s easy to tailor the perfect driving position thanks to a power tilt/telescopic steering wheel and power-adjustable foot pedals. The view out is clear, and is aided by auxiliary cameras. 

The seats proved spacious, supportive and comfortable, and with the roomy cabin’s three rows of seats, you can stash squabbling children in different rows — they’ll probably be in different zip codes. Both the spacious second row captain’s chairs and the adult-sized third-row bench seat fold, while rear seat headrests can fold out of the way to improve visibility. With all the seats in use, you’ll have 19.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity, and as much as 104.6 cubic feet with the seats folded. 

The interior remained quiet until more juice was requested from under hood. 

Material quality was very good, with beautiful leather trim and contrast stitching on the instrument panel and doors was a distinctive touch. But overall ambience isn’t quite what you expect given its lofty price tag.

Powertrain

All 2022 Ford Expeditions come standard with a standard twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. But its power depends on trim level. XL, STX, and XLT models produce 380 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. Opting for the Limited, King Ranch, or Platinum nets 400 hp and 480 lb-ft of torque. Timberline and Stealth grades generate 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque. All models use 87 octane gasoline.

Despite the EPA fuel economy rating of 18 mpg in combined city/highway driving, our Stealth Edition Package-equipped test vehicle returned 11 mpg, enough to make oil company fat cats jump for joy. While treehuggers may protest, Expedition buyers are aware of the cost of fueling it. They need the room and the ability to tow, and this car fits the bill, which is able to yank 9,300 pounds.

Both rear-wheel and all-wheel drive models are available.

Safety and Technology

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration rates the Expedition 5 stars in crash protection, but only 4 stars for rollover with all-wheel drive, 3 stars with rear-wheel drive. 

Standard driver-assist features include adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go, pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking and forward collision warning, lane-keeping assist, active park assist, an active air dam and cross-traffic alert. Evasive steering assist, Ford BlueCruise, intersection assist, reverse brake assist and road edge detection are optional.

Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility is standard, as is Bluetooth. Our test vehicle came equipped with a massive 15.5-inch touchscreen similar to the one used in the Mustang Mach-E. Its large screen icons make it easy to use. 

Driving Impressions

Despite its fully independent suspension, the Expedition is every bit as clumsy to drive as you might expect, a feeling not helped by the vague steering It’s controllable, however. Its soft ride results in lots of noticeable body motion for a vehicle tuned to on-road handling, although it never gets out of hand.

But the Expedition’s size is hard to mask. Stab the throttle and you’ll find it’s quick off the line for such a big beast, yet you’re always aware of its heft and bulk, particularly when parking. It can also be felt when braking, as the pedal is spongy and stops are a little longer than some may be used to. 

None of this is a deal breaker. You don’t buy a vehicle like this for sports car athelticism. Its utility is what makes it shine. But if you are going to go off-road, be sure the paths you traverse are big enough to handle it. 

2022 Ford Expedition Limited Specifications

Wrap Up

While the Chevrolet Tahoe may hold an edge over the Ford Expedition when it comes to handling, the Expeditions overall package seems like the better buy, with a higher quality cabin, far more power and a useful amount of towing capacity. 

But a Ford F-150 Lighting makes a lot more sense if you don’t need three rows and have a spot to regularly plug in. 

2022 Ford Expedition ­— Frequently Asked Questions