2024 Ford Expedition and Expedition Max Review: MAXimum Practicality

While compact SUVs may be all the rage among younger shoppers in the USA, those with large and growing families often prefer full-size models with up to three rows of seats. The 2024 Ford Expedition slots into this category, and in Max guise, it has even more space to work with, especially in the trunk. The 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 engine is particularly lively, even for such a big car, and it offers up to 440 horsepower and can be paired with a highly capable four-wheel drivetrain. Only a few other cars really compete with it, such as the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Chevrolet Tahoe, but they are also quite impressive, so does the aging Expedition have what it takes to stand out?

New for 2024

There are no significant updates to the new Ford Expedition SUV's standard equipment, but there is a new paint color, and models equipped with AWD and the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow package get front tow hooks. Inside the cabin, the second row has upgraded to USB-C ports. Lastly, Ford's three-year complimentary Connected Navigation has been reduced to one year.

2024 Ford Expedition and Expedition Max Price: Which One to Buy

Starting off with the regular XL STX, the price of the 2024 Ford Expedition is set at $55,525 MSRP. The XLT comes next at $59,590, or $62,590 if you opt for the longer-body Max version. Similarly, the Limited will cost you $68,410 or $71,410, respectively, while the off-road-focused Timberline can only be had in standard configuration for $71,700. At the penultimate level, the King Ranch will cost you $78,465 at standard length or $83,465 if you need a bit more room. Finally, there is the Platinum, which is also presented in two body lengths - $80,695 for regular and $83,695 for Max. These prices don't include the hefty $1,895 destination charge or any other admin fees.

If we were buying, we'd probably start by looking at the Limited trim. It has a bit more power to work with thanks to some tweaks to the V6 engine, but it also offers some significant upgrades to the interior in the form of leather upholstery, a panoramic vista roof, and a premium Bang & Olufsen sound system. However, if you intend on spending a great deal of time off-roading, then the Timberline might be the smarter choice thanks to its selectable drive modes, hill-start assist, and large all-terrain tires.

Interior and Features

Excessive space is the highlight of the interior, along with a massive touchscreen display, but these don't detract from the fact that the styling is old-school and there are some low-quality materials.

There is plenty of space inside the Expedition, even if you don't go for the larger Max body, but some of that expansive area is covered in mediocre materials, which is unfortunate given the price, especially higher up in the lineup. Still, Ford does a good job of keeping hard plastics out of sight. The dashboard is a little busy, but the large touchscreen takes center stage and allows you to access the majority of features easily. This display grows to massive proportions at the top trim levels, completely overtaking the few physical buttons you'd find lower down, consolidating everything into a single access point, though the steering wheel retains some buttons to quickly switch settings while driving.

Space

Whether you opt for the regular or a new Ford Expedition Max, you always get eight seats with plenty of space. Switching the second-row bench out for captain's chairs improves comfort for those passengers and allows people to access the third row more easily. It is easy to get inside for any other position thanks to the high roof and convenient step-in. As standard, both the first- and second-row seats offer in excess of 40 inches of head- and legroom, and the rear-most seats in the Max manage a respectable 36 inches of legroom. Large windows in every row and a commanding seating position give the driver excellent visibility.

Cargo

The main difference between the regular Expedition and the Max is the extra cargo capacity of the latter. Behind the third row, you'll find 20.9 cubic feet, which is generous for a three-row SUV. This grows to 63.6 cu-ft when you fold down those back seats, or a gargantuan 104.6 cubes if you fold down everything but the front row. Around the cabin, there are various locations to store smaller items. These include a chunky and spacious center armrest cubby with cupholders in front for the first-row passengers and another two behind for those in the second row. However, there are actually a total of 15 cupholders spread throughout the cabin if you look, and the four doors each boast a decent-sized pocket.

Materials and Colors

Things start off quite basic in the XL STX, which gets Black Onyx cloth upholstery only, but interior colors expand once you reach the XLT and upgrade to leatherette, instead. Here, Sandstone joins the palette. The next step up in quality comes in the Limited, which boasts genuine leather in the same colors, as well as Mahogany. The Timberline deviates from the upward progression in quality, relying on combination cloth/vinyl upholstery. Meanwhile, the King Ranch can only be had with Java Del-Rio leather, and the top-tier Platinum gets perforated leather with quilted boosters, allowing buyers to choose between Black Onyx, Light Sandstone, and Carmelo themes. These upper echelons also see the dash and door panels appointed with genuine wood accents, and the steering wheel wrapped in leather.

Features and Infotainment

When you're spending over $50k on a new car, you should expect a decent helping of features, even in the entry-level trim. For the Expedition, this is the XL STX, which comes outfitted with an eight-way power driver's seat, tri-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, cruise control, and a set of four power outlets. The infotainment is accessed through a 12-inch touchscreen and comprises wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi capability, all paired with a six-speaker sound system. Moving up to the XLT gets you SiriusXM, additional USB ports in the third row, which now boasts power recline, as well as an auto-dimming rearview mirror. A ten-way power driver's seat and wireless charging are added at the Timberline level, while the Limited gets power-deployable running boards, a 12-speaker B&O sound system, and HD Radio. Nearing the top of the lineup, the King Ranch adds a panoramic moonroof and the massive 15.5-inch touchscreen, which comes with 22 B&O speakers. Multi-contour front seats with heating, ventilation, and massage round out the list for the Platinum.

Performance

Despite its incredible size and weight, the Expedition and its Max variant are surprisingly quick, thanks to a twin-turbo V6 with up to 440 hp and 510 lb-ft of torque.

Where many rivals have switched to smaller turbocharged engines, the Ford Expedition retains a thrumming twin-turbo V6 that displaces 3.5 liters for outputs of 380 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. These are boosted to 400 hp and 480 lb-ft in the Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum, or 440 hp and 510 lb-ft in the Timberline. Every model makes use of an excellent ten-speed automatic transmission, and aside from the 4WD Timberline, you get a choice between a rear- or four-wheel drivetrain.

In a large SUV like this, performance isn't a key factor, but it only takes between five and six seconds for the Ford Expedition to go from 0-60 mph, depending on trim. Instead, it excels at off-road adventuring thanks to its highly adaptable transfer case and open center differential. It's an extremely large and heavy vehicle, though, so managing it on the road can be tricky. Without the Heavy-duty Towing Package, the Expedition can tow 6,600 pounds, but the maximum towing capacity is an impressive 9,300 lbs.

Fuel Efficiency

As one might expect from a massive eight-seater SUV, the Ford Expedition gets abysmal mpg. In regular rear-wheel-drive guise, it manages 17/23/19 mpg, which drops slightly to 16/22/18 mpg with the four-wheel drivetrain. As the heaviest model in the range, the Timberline gets the worst gas mileage of just 16/19/17 mpg.

A high fuel capacity of 23.2 gallons helps to overcome this, to some extent, bestowing the large SUV with a maximum range of 441 miles in its most efficient configuration.

Safety

It comes as no shock that such a tall and heavy vehicle scored poorly on its rollover crash test, but the NHTSA still awards to the Expedition and overall rating of five stars.

The NHTSA safety review of the Ford Expedition returned favorable results, with an overall rating of five stars. However, the rollover crash test was somewhat disappointing, with only three stars. Sadly, there is no recent IIHS review to cross-reference these results with.

Standard safety features include a rearview camera, pre-collision warning with automatic emergency braking, blind-spot assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-keep assist. This is on top of the six airbags, ABS, stability and traction control, and trailer sway control. Models with a four-wheel drivetrain also get hill-start assist and hill-descent control. Upper trim levels expand on the basic list with lane-centering assist and forward pedestrian detection, and there is also the option for BlueCruise hands-free driving on compatible roads.

Reliability

Though it doesn't have an official reliability rating from the likes of JD Power, the Expedition is considered to be quite dependable. There have been no recalls for the current model, so it would appear that the two issues in 2023 have been corrected. These included missing head restraint instructions and front axle pinions that were not heat-treated.

Every new 2024 Ford Expedition is covered by a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Warranty

Design

It's hard to give such a large SUV sharp styling, so Ford has instead leaned into the bold and chunky approach. The grille runs the entire breadth of the front fascia, divided into three sections by dual bars. LED headlights are located at the edges of the middle section, with C-shaped daytime running lights skirting the grille. At the back end, there is very little to draw the eye, especially not the blocky taillights. The Timberline is a bit more distinctive with Ember Red front tow hooks, steel skid plates, and a Twin Spar Black grille. As standard, the Expedition rides on 18-inch wheels, which grow to bold 22-inch alloys on the top trims.

Verdict: Is The 2024 Ford Expedition A Good SUV?

When it comes to large eight-seater SUVs, there are key factors to consider. Chief among these are power and practicality, which is where the Ford Expedition really shines. It can accelerate surprisingly quickly for its weight, and it has loads of interior space, both for people and cargo. The enormous infotainment touchscreen is also quite a draw, and the list of standard safety features is nothing to sniff at. But there are a few areas where the 2024 Expedition falls a little short, such as middling-quality materials around the cabin and terrible fuel economy. It's also not the easiest vehicle to drive. For those that can afford this pricey three-row SUV, these probably won't be big enough deterrents, especially when you consider how strong it performs in most other areas.