The Ford Expedition is a full-size SUV manufactured and marketed by the American automotive manufacturer Ford. The Expedition was introduced in 1996 for the 1997 model year in a five-door configuration to succeed the three-door Ford Bronco.
The Ford Expedition has been sharing the same platform with the corresponding generation of the Ford F-150 which also included sharing some mechanical and body components.
In this article, we will take a brief look at the Ford Expedition generations in trying to learn how the vehicle has evolved throughout its production life. Please read on.
1997 – 2002
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Ford introduced the first-generation Expedition in 1997 as the successor of the Ford Bronco. The Expedition became the first full-size Ford SUV in a five-door body.
Exterior looks of the ford included a front fascia with rounded horizontal headlights, a mesh-grill surrounded in chrome or body color, and a chromed bumper beneath it. Illuminated running boards and side steps were optional.
Inside, the Expedition came in a two-row five-seat configuration with a third-row eight-seat configuration as an option. The first row seats are captain’s chair seating, the second row has a bench seat with captain’s chair seating as an option, while the optional third-row seat is always a bench. Cloth upholstery is standard with leather as an option. Other standard and optional features include dual-zone climate control, a power moon roof, heated side-view mirrors, and Ford’s Mach audio sound system with rear subwoofer.
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This first generation Expedition was fitted with a standard 4.6-liter V-8 petrol engine with 215 hp and 290 lb-ft of torque paired with a 4-speed automatic transmission. The 5.4-liter V-8 petrol engine with 230 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque was available as an option. This generation Expedition came with an automatic full-time four-wheel-drive drivetrain with a two-speed dual-range transfer case and a center multi-disc differential.
2003 – 2006
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The second-generation Expedition was unveiled in 2002 for the 2003 model year. This model featured a four-wheel independent long-travel suspension system which was something new in a full-size SUV.
The release came with a new look with its facial featuring a redesigned mesh-grille with a chrome borderline and Ford’s blue-oval badge at the center. Front panels and headlights styling inspired by the F150. At the rear, the Expedition has a big liftgate with blacked-out D-pillars that create the impression of a wrap-around window on the trunk area.
Inside, the Expedition comes with cloth seats as standard. Higher trims add wood-grain and leather seats as an option. Three-row seating is now standard with an all-new manual (Power-assisted PowerFold fold-flat is optional) fold-flat stowaway setting. This solves the need for owners having to remove the third-row seat for extra storage space.
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The cabin is versatile, it allows the vehicle to be configured into a sleeping place or a minivan, it has also received better insulation than before, making it much quieter.
Other features include a DVD-based rear entertainment system, a premium six-disc changer audiophile sound system with a rear subwoofer, a CD-ROM-based in-dash navigation system, power-adjustable accelerator and brake pedals, auto-dimming electro-chromatic rearview mirror, rear park assist/backup sensors, power moon roof, and second-row captain’s chair luxury seating.
Under the hood, this Expedition was fitted with the V8 engines from the previous generation, but with major changes and improvements. The standard 4.6-liter petrol engine now produces 232 hp and 291 lb-ft of torque, while the optional 5.4-liter petrol engine now produces 260 hp and 350 lb-ft of torque.
2007 – 2017
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In 2007 Ford introduced the third generation of the Expedition as an updated version of the second generation Expedition. A new long-wheelbase Expedition EL (aka Expedition Max in other markets) as an extended-length version of the regular.
As in the previous models, this model’s designers were inspired by the F-150 from which they borrowed the cues. The front end now features Ford’s signature three “hollow-bar” grille and new multifaceted headlamps. Other features are side-view mirrors with LED indicators, sleeker bodywork, and redesigned tail lamps.
In 2015 the Expedition was redesigned with changes including a new three-bar grille with step-stacked bars, new thinner headlamps, and a new front bumper with a large lower air intake, a lower chrome bar, and LED fog lamps.
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The interior comes in an eight-seat 2-3-3 configuration as standard with the option of two captain seats on the second row with a passage-through in between to the rear three-seat bench. The size of the cargo with all seats up is 526 liters, with the third row folded, it increases to 1557 liters, and with the second and third-row folded flat you get 3066 liters.
The Expedition is powered by a 5.4-liter Triton V8 petrol engine with 300 hp and 365 lb-ft of torque. This engine is paired to a 6-speed automatic gearbox as standard. It was available with a front- or all-wheel-drivetrain.
The Expedition was upgraded in 2015, this upgrade saw the introduction of a new twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter 24-valve DOHC Ti-VCT EcoBoost V6 petrol engine with 365 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque as the only available engine, with the V8 engine no longer available.
2018 – Present
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In 2017 Ford released the fourth edition of the Expedition as a 2018 model which featured improved technology, comfort, and safety.
Available trims are XLT, Limited, and Platinum in long-wheelbase body style (Expedition Max) or regular.
This Expedition comes with eight seats (2-3-3 arrangement) in three rows as standard, or with a seven-seat (2-2-3 arrangement) option which features second-row captain seats. Inside, the cabin is spacious, looks handsome, and is well built with lots of storage spaces for both front and second-row seats.
Comfort-wise, the powered seats with a cooling and heating function have good lumbar support, and the 2nd and the 3rd-row seats offer awesome head- and legroom.
Access to the 3rd row is made easy by the 2nd-row electrical seat which folds at the push of a button, a function also available on the 3rd-row seat which could also be folded by pressing a button located in the cargo area.
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Standard features found on the XLT trim include the SYNC infotainment system with a 4.2-inch screen, a nine-speaker stereo, Bluetooth, four USB ports, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, satellite radio, cloth upholstery, push-button start, rear parking sensors, a rearview camera, and Ford MyKey safety system. The Limited trim adds the SYNC 3 infotainment system with an 8-inch touch screen, a 12-speaker premium sound system, a Wi-Fi hot spot, wireless phone charging, Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, heated front and rear seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, front parking sensors, proximity keyless entry, and remote start.
The 1998 Expedition came fitted with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 petrol engine with 375 hp and 470 lb-ft of torque paired to a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Conslusion
From this article, we have learned that the Ford Expedition is a large SUV with very good ratings in terms of practicality, performance, durability, and reliability. It’s among the best in the class. Available as a two- or three-row SUV, it offers spacious seating and plenty of cargo room. To add to that, the Expedition also has composed handling for a vehicle of its size.
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Written by: Samuel H. Mponezya
