{"id":34504,"date":"2025-05-17T15:55:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-17T19:55:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/?p=34504"},"modified":"2025-05-17T15:55:56","modified_gmt":"2025-05-17T19:55:56","slug":"payne-full-steam-ahead-in-the-2025-ford-expedition-land-yacht","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/henrypayne.com\/index.php\/2025\/05\/payne-full-steam-ahead-in-the-2025-ford-expedition-land-yacht","title":{"rendered":"Payne: Full steam ahead in the 2025 Ford Expedition land yacht"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Louisville, Kentucky<\/em>\u00a0\u2014 I usually review cars from bow to stern. But since this sumptuous 2025 Ford Expedition is a rolling land yacht, let\u2019s start with stern.<\/p>\n

Like the rear deck of a ski boat, the Expedition\u2019s stern is a cool place to hang out. New for \u201825, the Ford offers a rear split gate \u2014 the upper portion a hatchback for loading, the lower a tailgate. So you can lay out a picnic spread at a Kentucky Derby tailgate party here, or relax out back (complete with seatback) on the sidelines of your kid\u2019s soccer game.<\/p>\n

Speaking of kids, they\u2019ll want dibs on the third-row seat.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/div>\n

\n
The 2025 Ford Expedition is all-new with redesigned interior and exterior.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/p>\n

Third row<\/h2>\n

On a morning journey into Indiana, I opted for the third row, which easily accommodated my 6\u20195\u201d frame. I slipped my Pure Leaf iced tea into a cupholder (there are three back here). If I had been carrying an Egg McMuffin and hash browns, I could have popped them on a side tray. A yuge panoramic roof flooded the cabin with sunlight \u2014 and if it got too toasty on this May day; I could have removed my sweatshirt and hung it on one of four third-row coat hooks.<\/p>\n

I had work to do, so I booted up my laptop, connected it to the boat\u2019s \u2014 er, SUV\u2019s \u2014 WiFi hotspot (it can support 10 devices), and plugged it into the 110-volt outlet behind me in the cargo bay. Speaking of cargo, the Expedition comes in a stretched Max version (for an extra $3,000) for more luggage space.<\/p>\n

For a little extra comfort, I reclined my third-row seat, then depressed the latch on the side of the second-row chair (since no one was sitting in front of me) \u2014 collapsing it into an Ottoman for my legs. When I needed a break from work, I took a sip from my tea and chatted with my media colleague, Mike, driving up front (more on driving later) thanks to the quiet, insulated cabin.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/figure>\n
\n
The 2025 Ford Expedition Tremor is new to the lineup with significant off-road ability.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

Expedition rolls off the same Kentucky Truck Plant line as its luxury sibling Lincoln Navigator, which I tested earlier this year in San Diego. For another $30K, Navigator floats on smooth adaptive shocks, but you\u2019d never know the Expedition was built on a ladder track frame either, thanks to its independent rear suspension.<\/p>\n

Sit in the bed of a Ford F-250 truck and you\u2019ll know \u2014 WHUMP! \u2014 that it sits on a leaf-frame suspension. But in the third row of the Expedition and Navigator, the giant SUV was smooth as silk. No wonder Detroit automakers dominate this mega-ute space and American families order them by the thousands.<\/p>\n

Navigator is posh with second-row heated, cooled, massaging seats \u2014 but they can\u2019t turtle into Ottomans like the ones in my Expedition tester. Score one for the $63K Ford.<\/p>\n

\"Drop<\/figure>\n
\n
Drop the second row seats and you have an ottoman for third-row passengers in the 2025 Ford Expedition.<\/em><\/div>\n

Henry Payne, The Detroit News<\/em><\/div>\n

Row two<\/h2>\n

Expedition options a second-row bench seat so you can sit a ridiculous eight people in the cruise liner if needed. Maybe Ford will offer a pool deck next. Our $72K Activ tester was equipped with second-row captain\u2019s chairs that were roomier than Delta coach seats, with a center aisle wider than an airliner for easy access to the third row. I could comfortably sit behind myself sitting behind myself in the cabin.<\/p>\n