2013 Ford Expedition

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The Ford Expedition is an old-school full-size SUV with rugged body-on-frame construction. Although this setup means the Expedition is heavier, thirstier and less wieldy on the pavement than most crossovers, it also possess towing and off-road abilities that those wagons-on-stilts can only dream of.

The Expedition is the second-largest SUV in Ford's model range, with the massive Expedition EL being the biggest.

All Expeditions sport an independent rear suspension, a refinement-increasing feature not common in the full-size SUV market. Motivation comes via a 5.4-liter V8 good for 300 horsepower at 5,000 rpm, and 375 lb-ft of torque at 3,750 rpm that the EPA rates at 14 mpg city and 20 mpg highway for the rear-wheel-drive Expedition. The four-wheel-drive model is rated at 13/18 mpg.

The motor is coupled to a six-speed automatic, the only available powertrain combination. Towing capacity is an impressive 9,200 lbs, when properly equipped and in the RWD configuration.

Inside, the Expedition boasts a sizable and comfortable cabin, although some of the materials feel a bit low-rent. Cargo space is a healthy 18.6 cubic feet, increasing to 55 cubic feet with the 3rd row seats folded. The interior's party trick is an available first-in-class PowerFold third-row seat and class-exclusive second-row CenterSlide that combine to allow interior space to be configured as needed quickly and painlessly. Without the option, the seat also folds into the floor, though manually.

Trim-level Breakdown
The Expedition is available in XL, XLT, Limited and King Ranch trim levels.

The entry-level XL includes front and rear A/C, power windows and locks, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, a AM/FM/CD/SiriusXM stereo system with an audio input jack and 17-inch aluminum wheels. Also included is trailer sway control, which uses selective braking and engine management to tame unwanted trailer movement.

Stepping up to the XLT brings Ford's SYNC connectivity system, a reverse sensing system, body-color lower exterior moldings and 18-inch aluminum wheels. The next rung up the latter is the Limited, which adds leather upholstery, heated and cooled front seats, heated outboard second-row seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, woodgrain appliques, a power liftgate and a PowerFold third-row seat,

The King Ranch adds Chaparral leather upholstery, pale adobe metallic bumpers and front lower fascia, a premium sound system, power adjustable pedals, MyKey, body-color heated power exterior mirrors with integrated blind spot mirrors and front assist parking sensors.

Newly optional on Limited and King Ranch models are 20-inch chrome-clad aluminum wheels and a DVD entertainment system with two screens.

All Expeditions are built at Ford's Michigan Truck Plant in Wayne, MI.

Occupant Safety
All Expedition models come with dual front, front side and full-length side curtain airbags in addition to traction and stability control systems and a tire-pressure monitoring system.

Key Competitors
The Expedition squares off against other full-size, traditional SUVs like the Chevrolet Tahoe/ GMC Yukon twins, the Nissan Armada and the Toyota Sequoia.

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