Those familiar with Peugeot's i-Cockpit will feel at home in the driver's seat of the new Expedition. Even the oval steering wheel is there.
Everybody else will be introduced to the concept of an instrument panel above the steering wheel and not behind it. They will probably find it easier to drive that Peugeot rental car on their vacation at any place where these cars are available.
The American automaker just named it differently, calling the idea a "family command center" or, if you prefer a more formal and fancy name, the "Ford Digital Experience."
It is composed not only of the large 24-inch panoramic display that extends from the area right above the steering wheel up to the cabin's center. Ford prefers to say it "is positioned near the lower edge of the windshield."
The idea is to make it easier for drivers to check the information they need without deviating their eyes from the road. Head-up displays exist with the same goal, but Ford probably thought it already made the Expedition French enough – or it just felt that a screen offers more benefits.
Who knows? Another crucial component of this command center is the large central infotainment screen, which will remind you of a certain American manufacturer of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Ford did not disclose how big it is.
More than the hardware, the carmaker seems to be excited about the software. It said the Ford Digital Experience counts on Google Assistant, which was "designed to prioritize the use of voice" commands. Those who are more at ease with Alexa may also use it.
They can send text messages, make calls, control connected home devices, search for information, find a destination, control the audio system, and regulate climate control.
If you think about it, only the last three actions really matter in a car, but who cares about that nowadays?
Geeks will probably decide to contract the Ford Connectivity Package, which gives the Expedition a WiFi hotspot that can service up to ten devices. The car seats eight people but can tow a trailer with many more.
We'll get there in a bit. The carmaker also said that "Google Play apps and embedded Google Maps" are another advantage the package offers. Still, anyone with a car that can deal with Android Auto already has that.
The trick probably lies in the "embedded" part of the story, meaning you do not need to be connected to a smartphone to have all that. By the way, the Expedition has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connection.
Ford's pride in software has its pinnacle on the BlueCruise. The hands-free highway driving system can be offered in "nearly 90% of all Expedition models" because they now present the necessary hardware for this driving automation software to work.
There are several buying options for it. You can make a one-time purchase (meaning you only pay for it once), a one-year option, or you can have it for free for 90 days. Supposing you like it, you can activate it yearly or monthly. Ford wants you to believe "BlueCruise can help reduce some of the stress of driving."
For the old-school people who are more into hardware than software, the fifth-generation Expedition has more in store than I have already mentioned. One of its main gimmicks probably is the Flex Powered Console. This option consists of a central console divided into two parts.
The upper part slides backward "nearly eight inches" (20 centimeters) to give access to a storage space between the front seats. You can put bags, gadgets, and anything else that people would break your window to steal in there.
Just make sure you close the compartment again before you leave. As a plus, the back of the central console gets closer to the second-row passengers, which makes it easier for them to reach cupholders and controls for the audio and AC systems.
Another new feature that the fifth-generation Expedition offers is the standard (for obvious reasons) Ford Split Gate, which divides the glasshouse from the inferior segment of the tailgate. While the first raises, the lower part folds down. It can stand 500 pounds (226.8 kilograms).
That makes more sense when you learn that you may turn into a bench with a seatback that also works as a table, as the video below shows. All you have to do is order the Cargo Tailgate Manager option.
If you take it to a campsite, you'll be glad to know the Expedition offers four exterior lighting zones – for a price. They are around the vehicle, allowing you to control them individually through the infotainment screen.
Buyers may also consider purchasing the Open-on-Approach, which makes the two parts of the tailgate open automatically a while after you approach it with the key fob. If whatever you have to carry is long, such as a surfboard, you can just fold the middle seat of the second row and also of the third. This last 40/20/40 split seat in the Expedition is called Third-Row Flexible Seating and is another extra.
Perhaps the most important news about this SUV is the Tremor version. This is the first time the Expedition offers this off-road derivative. As such, it gets a more powerful version of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine that powers all units of Ford's flagship, pumping out 440 hp (446 PS) and 510 pound-feet (692 Nm) instead of the 400 hp (406 PS) and 480 lb-ft (651 Nm).
While it is standard for the Tremor, the Platinum trim also has this more powerful V6, but solely as an option. The only gearbox available is the 10-speed SelectShift.
In other words, apart from minor improvements, it is the same powertrain the fourth-generation Expedition had. If it were not for the stronger V6, Ford would have probably skipped talking about it in its press release.
Luckily, the technical specifications reveal that the power and torque improvement probably have to do with a single aspect: the EcoBoost breathes better. Instead of a single, it has a dual exhaust. Everything else, including turbo pressure, is the same. It is possible that the twin independent variable camshaft timing (TI-VCT) also has minor differences, but that would be all.
At least Ford dedicated enough words to tell what makes the Expedition Tremor truly special. The suspension was modified to endure trails, which gave the SUV a higher ground clearance. Instead of 8.7 in (22.1 centimeters) on the regular SUV and 8.8 in (22.4 cm) on the MAX, the Tremor has a 10.6-in (26.9 cm) ground clearance, which can also be credited to 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain rubbers.
Raptor-inspired front skid plate, running boards, and underbody protection for the fuel tank, transfer case, and front axle complete the package, which also counts on additional driving modes: Rock Crawl Mode, Trail Turn Assist, and Trail 1-Pedal.
Considering most potential Expedition buyers must have trailers at home that they want the SUV to tow, this article would not be complete without information about that. Ford said the new Expedition can tow up to 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) without the aid of a load-leveling bar.
When a weight distribution hitch is available, make that 9,600 lb (4,355 kg). To help buyers hitch their trailers with no hassle, Ford offers the Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, which uses the rear camera and corner radars to position the SUV in the perfect spot automatically.
Pro Trailer Backup Assist helps drivers back up as if they were playing a video game. All they have to do is rotate a knob left or right to position the trailer where they want. The system... steers the wheel.
Since I started this story by mentioning how people are talking about how big modern vehicles are, we have to say Ford seems to be paying attention to the discussion. It even made millimetric concessions to those who think it is time to shrink them. That's the best way to get them to order the SUV from October 24. Deliveries should only begin in Spring 2025.
The new Expedition is 209.9 inches (5,331 millimeters) long, while the fourth generation was 210 in (5,334 mm) long. That's why the vehicle also has the MAX derivative, which has a length of 221.7 in (5,631 mm).
It is still smaller than the Excursion it once aimed to replace – and which was 226.7 in (5,758 mm) long – but massive nonetheless. The fourth-generation Expedition MAX was 221.9 in (5,636 mm). The things an automaker will do to keep a vehicle desirable, right?
