The fourth-generation Ford Expedition carries over many of the refreshing external cues found on the 2018 model. Rather than looking like an F-150 in the front and an SUV in the back, the 2019 Expedition now closely resembles a Cadillac Escalade. In fact, if both models were parked next to each other, most consumers wouldn’t notice the difference. Don’t believe us? Search find 2019 Cadillac Escalade images on Google and compare them to the 2019 Expedition. Can you spot the differences?
However, as much as the Ford Expedition resembles the Cadillac Escalade, you’ll find there’s quite a difference in pricing and available features. To further differentiate the two from one another, we’ve gathered the specifics on the 2019 Expedition below. If you’re looking for a workhorse and not necessarily a show pony, Ford might just be the way to go.
Performance Specifications
Ford offers one basic engine option on the 2019 Expedition: a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6. Base output tops out at 375 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque, while the engine featured on the top-tier Platinum trim has 400 horsepower and 480 lb-ft of torque.
The only transmission available is a 10-speed automatic, but potential buyers can choose between two-wheel and four-wheel drive. The Expedition is rated to tow up to 9,300 pounds when properly equipped.
Fuel Efficiency
The 2019 Expedition can easily tow its own weight and then some but you should expect truck-like fuel efficiency from this family-hauling machine.
Two-wheel drive versions will see around 17 city and 23 to 24 highway EPA-estimated mpg. Four-wheel drive variants post about 17 city and 22 highway mpg but expect to lose a point in both measurements for the longer MAX version, which is true for the two-wheel drive models as well.
Entertainment and Safety Features
Although the 2019 Ford Expedition has not yet been rated by the IIHS, the NHTSA awarded it five stars for the overall safety rating.
If you’re not sure which trim level you should choose, take a look at the following highlights we’ve put together. Really, there are only three to choose from, ranging in price from just under $50,000 to upwards of $80,000.
The base XLT models ride on 18-inch wheels and feature roof rack rails, rear parking sensors, a push-button start, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. You’ll have to sit on cloth seats but simulated leather is an option. Infotainment features include an eight-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.
Options on the XLT also include a hands-free liftgate, keyless entry, remote start, heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, power adjustable pedals, dual-zone climate control, 20-inch wheels, a panoramic roof, and navigation. Advanced safety options include blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning, while the Driver Assistance package features adaptive cruise control, lane keep assist, and a forward collision warning system with automatic emergency braking.
Limited models take 20-inch wheels as standard equipment, along with second-row heated seats, a hands-free liftgate, keyless entry, remote start, heated steering wheel, and heated and ventilated front seats. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic warning are standard, but you can also add on the optional 360-degree parking system that comes equipped with its own washing system to keep you in the know.
Optional equipment on the Limited trim includes the Stealth Edition, which rides on 22-inch black wheels and features black exterior accents, red interior stitching, a panoramic sunroof, navigation, LED headlights and fog lights, and an automated parking system.
High-rollers should check out the Platinum trim, which packs on the luxury items. Customers will enjoy interior wood accents, massaging front seats, leather seating with leather door trim, and active noise cancellation. Look to the Limited trim for additional optional features.
Want just an extra foot of space in your 2019 Expedition? Ford has a solution for you. It’s the MAX Edition, which is exactly one foot longer than your standard Expedition. Sadly, Platinum models are not available in the MAX Edition.
How the 2019 Ford Expedition Stacks Up
If it came down to a contest of cupholders, the 2019 Ford Expedition would win. There’s 15 in total. So if you’re hauling your eight-seater Expedition at capacity, some unlucky soul will have to hold one drink. Sorry, bud.
In all seriousness, the Expedition has to tick a lot of boxes when it comes to succeeding in the three-row SUV segment. As more and more people drive longer distances, fuel economy ratings inch higher and higher on priority lists. While large vehicles that can haul more than their own weight are desirable for certain hard-working Americans, the Expedition is targeted to a niche market in that sense, one most often dominated by trucks, not SUVs.
When considering the Expedition in its own right, car review experts had mixed feelings about this capable behemoth. Kelley Blue Book (KBB) awarded the 2019 model its Full-Size SUV Best Buy Award, based on the vehicle’s value, ownership experience, and best-in-class fuel economy. KBB experts even went so far as to call the Expedition’s gas response “sprightly,” not a characteristic you’d expect to find on the eight-seater mini tour bus.
Consumer Reports created some controversy in reporting the Expedition seats were more comfortable than those in the Lincoln Navigator. That seems a little backward for an economy-luxury brand relationship. However, Consumer Reports, Edmunds, and KBB experts all urged customers to choose as many advanced safety aids “as your checkbook can manage.” Unless you’ve driven semi-trucks your whole life, driving the large Expedition requires a steep learning curve.
Edmunds recommends the XLT or Limited trim levels, as the options list runs on for pages. And though KBB experts noted resale values on the Expedition trail other competitors, the Expedition doesn’t lack features. With plenty of customizable features and the capacity to blend both SUV and truck worlds, the Ford Expedition may be a no-brainer for some potential customers.
Pros
- Incredible towing capacity for an SUV
- 360-degree parking camera
- A respectable amount of standard features
Cons
- Unwieldy to park and maneuver for some
- Low resale value versus competitors
The 2019 Ford Expedition may not beat the luxury offered by more expensive brands, but it certainly measures up to be a very capable SUV. If you’re looking for a vehicle that rises to the task at hand, check out what the Ford Expedition has to offer. Test drive one at your nearest Ford dealership today and see just how well you fare in maneuvering it around.
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