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Five cool things about the 2025 Ford Expedition mega-ute
Posted by Talbot Payne on October 7, 2024
Detroit — The Detroit land yacht wars are red hot. Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, GMC Yukon, Jeep Wagoneer/Grand Wagoneer have all rolled out new three-row models in recent years, staking claim to the mainstream, truck-based mega-ute market.
Now it’s the 2025 Ford Expedition’s turn.
Based on the F-150 truck chassis, the all-new, fifth-generation Expedition turns up the heat by leaning in to Ford Motor Co. strengths like high-tech, hands-free driver assist and off-road capability. Here are five notable things about the Blue Oval’s living room on wheels.
1) Jumbotron. Ford has been a tech pioneer from infotainment software to onboard power systems for work sites. Expedition continues that tradition with an innovative, 24-inch screen (essentially a giant head-up display) below the windshield — and above the steering wheel — designed to keep the driver’s eyes on the road by projecting driving essentials including navigation, speed and radio information. The system was introduced in Ford’s Lincoln luxury brand and Expedition essentially adopts it — but with half the screen width. Lincoln models like the Nautilus wrap a 48-inch screen from A-pillar to A-pillar with even more content options.
Both Expedition and Lincoln screens are operated by an 11-inch command screen in the center console. Both also share square steering wheels with twin, haptic-touch buttons to control vehicle speed and entertainment. Hover your thumb over the left button, for example, and your adaptive speed controls are reflected in the screen in front of you. Navigate via Ford’s native, Google-like maps system — or by wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Just bark your destination with Google/or Alexa vice commands and go.
2) Look ma, no hands. The screen-tastic controls are particularly useful if you opt for Ford’s hands-free BlueCruise system. On divided highways, the screen’s left quadrant will light blue, letting you know you can take your hands off the wheel to eat a meal or just relax. Pull the turn stalk and the land yacht will change lanes automatically.
Sound freaky? It is, and Ford has made it attractive to test. Unlike GM brands, which require an up-front $3,000-plus to activate their similar Super Cruise system, Ford offers immediate access depending on the Active, Platinum, King Ranch or Tremor model you buy. Higher trims get BlueCruise standard. Other options include a 90-day free trial. Or you can buy BlueCruise annually. Or, if you only take a long road trip to, say, Florida each year — you can purchase the feature for a month. Freaky friendly. Once you go hands-free, there’s no going back.
3) Rolling domicile. Detroit automakers own the mega-ute space because the SUVs are based on Motown’s dominant, full-size pickup trucks. And the most dominant pickup for the last five decades has been the F-series on which the Expedition is based. Expedition translates that into truck-like utility.
There’s the so-called Flex Powered Console that can move backward toward the second-row seats by 8 inches so you can share cupholders/bag storage between passengers. Speaking of rows, Expedition has three — and the (folding) third boasts a class-first 40/20/40 split so you can pass long boards/fishing poles/paddles/etc. down the center of the vehicle. Ford has even put eye-holes on the console to help tie down your cargo.
Carry big Thermos containers for road trips? Second-row side doors have extra-deep insets to hold them upright. When camping, Ford has equipped the tall ute with outdoor zone lighting so you can see your way around the vehicle for off-loading — or for setting up your campsite. That convenience is complemented by 10-device Wi-Fi system that extends 50-feet from the SUV.
4) Off-road beast. F-150 sports some of the most capable off-road pickups in the land, from the Baja-eating Raptor to the rock-crawling Tremor. For the first time, Expedition adopts the Tremor badge so you can kick some dirt with the fam.
Features include all-wheel-drive, huge 33-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires, 10.6-inch ground clearance and 7,000-pound towing without load-leveling bars (ultimately, Expedition can be equipped to tow up to 9,600 pounds). Other off-road goodies include bash plate, tow hooks, electronic locking rear differential, trail-turn assist and rock-crawl mode. Oh, and Tremor gets Expedition’s beefiest engine option with a 440-horsepower/510 torque, 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6. Dude.
5) Tailgate. No mega-ute is complete without tailgating abilities and Expedition aims to please for the ongoing Lions football season.
With an available seatback, the tailgate can be turned into a couch that holds 500 pounds. The same seatback transforms into a serving table for your food spread. Useful power outlets are just a step away. Expedition also comes with a standard split-gate, which combines hatchback utility and the cargo management of a truck. Three-quarters of the gate rises like a traditional liftgate, while the lower quarter drops like a pickup’s tailgate.
If more room is needed, Expedition comes in an extended-length MAX model.Henry Payne is auto critic for The Detroit News. Find him at hpayne@detroitnews.com or Twitter @HenryEPayne.